Bonneville-Latour Anita

Article from Todd Lihou
Seaway News, September 19, 2013

CORNWALL, Ontario - Whenever Anita Bonneville-Latour needs some inspiration, she doesn't have far to look. The Cornwall grandmother often relies on her grandchildren, Annisa-Beth and Crystal, to help her fill empty canvasses.

Bonneville-Latour is an amateur painter, but her creations often exude professionalism, including her pride and joy - the panda. Once again her granddaughter, who was born in China and adopted by Bonneville Latour's daughter, was the inspiration, as the panda is synonymous with Chinese culture.

"I like painting things that have my family in them," she said. "I'm not too fond of' commissions. I'm really interested in Chinese things ... because of my granddaughters "I like to keep their culture (close by) even though they are Canadian now."

Bonneville-Latour made her living as a nurse, and didn't pick up the paint brush until she retired 20 years ago. Since then it has been nothing but paints and canvasses." There are a lot of artists in my family," she said, adding her sisters Rita and Michelle both do extensive works with pastels. "I suppose I come by it honestly."