As a Christmas present to my little niece Agnes (who loves pink), I decided to paint her a beluga. But then it occurred to me that a painting of a whale might not be that exciting for a child, and so I decided to create this scene instead – my sister’s family whale watching in Quebec. I was very happy to see Agnes’ eyes light up as she identified herself and her new brother Gruff. The painting may have also served as subtle propaganda to encourage a trip to Quebec..