Chocolate River Shad (2026)
Medium: Acrylic still-life painting
Dimensions: 24″ x 30″
“Chocolate River Shad” is a 24 x 30 inch still-life painting depicting a shad fish sourced from the Bay of Fundy, specifically the Petitcodiac River (colloquially known as the Chocolate River), a waterway which I grew up beside, alongside a piece of driftwood from the same area.
Life along the Bay of Fundy is home to tides among the largest in the world, and these rhythms continue to shape the ecosystems, labour, and daily experiences of coastal communities.
My practice, grounded in my Acadian heritage, explores memory and cultural continuity through still-life painting and hand-hooked rugs. Rather than approaching ecological issues through direct critique or spectacle, I elevate these subjects into something decorated and beautiful. In this painting, the fish is treated with the same care I give my still-life subjects, arranged within a carefully lit composition that emphasizes light, shadow, and pattern.
Chocolate River Shad invites the viewer to look closely and sit with what is often overlooked or quickly passed by. The work reflects on what moves through waterways and what is left behind, while remaining rooted in lived experience and place. It brings attention to freshwater and tidal ecologies alongside the cultural histories of Acadian communities in New Brunswick, where survival has long depended on adaptation, care, and an intimate relationship with land and water.
Artist Bio
Danielle Boudreau is a multidisciplinary artist based in Moncton, New Brunswick. She grew up in the rural community of Memramcook and now works from her home studio, where she creates still-life paintings and hand-hooked rugs. Self-taught in both mediums, Danielle’s practice is shaped by a deep responsiveness to objects and atmosphere: led by instinct, visual curiosity, and a desire to create moody, dreamlike spaces filled with emotional resonance. She has exhibited her work in cultural venues across Southeastern New Brunswick, including Moncton, Memramcook, and Alma. Grounded in Acadian heritage and informed by a deep sense of place, Danielle continues to explore themes of memory, beauty, and material storytelling through her evolving practice.
Website: www.danielleboudreau.art | Instagram: @danielleboudreau.art
Navigate to other Artworks (by Artist)
Copyrights notice:
These works are protected under Canadian and international copyright law and may not be downloaded, reproduced, distributed, or otherwise used without the express written consent of the Artist. The Artist possesses the exclusive right to produce, reproduce, publish, perform, exhibit, transmit or retransmit the work by telecommunication, create derivative works, sell, rent, offer for sale or rent, exhibit by way of trade, or distribute the work in whole or in part. It is unlawful to exercise any of the above rights or to alter or modify the work without the prior written consent of the Artist. Anyone violating the Artist’s rights may be subject to legal action or criminal prosecution.