Novacap founder Marc Beauchamp, HBA ’67, has fully embraced his lifelong passion for painting, working from studios in both the city and countryside during his retirement years.

Interview by Mark Witten

As a child, my mother showed me a painting created by my aunt. She said I could change the world with the swoop of a paint brush. I was fascinated by that.

My lifelong interest in art began with drawing. As a boy, I drew my teachers in class when I was bored. I remember getting in trouble when some didn’t appreciate their portraits. 

I went on to have a long and exciting career as the founder of Novacap, a private equity firm. Yet, my passion for art was unwavering. Painting offered an outlet from a demanding career, and Monday nights were always set aside for it. For over 20 years, I was part of an art group, painting life models and holding exhibitions at the local YMCA. In retirement, painting became something deeper – helping me step away from Novacap, reclaim my time, and reinvent myself.

When I retired about eight years ago, I began spending four or five afternoons a week painting at a Montréal atelier with a beautiful 20-foot ceiling. There, I paint landscapes from photographs using acrylics, experimenting with colour to capture mood. 

I also have a studio in a barn loft at our country property in Knowlton, Québec, where I paint oil landscapes in the summer and fall months. I often paint in Knowlton alongside my friend and mentor, a former painting professor at Dawson College, whose guidance on structure and composition helps refine my work.

I love to paint while travelling. My wife is from France, and for 15 years I spent a week painting landscapes in Provence. Another favourite destination is Monhegan Island in Maine.

While I don’t sell my paintings, I have supported the community through my art, including donating 45 pieces to a benefit auction in Knowlton that raised funds for a local theatre and hospital. What motivates me most is that painting keeps me learning. Every painting is a journey into the unknown – it sharpens my mind, stimulates my senses, and pulls me beyond the day-to-day. When I return, I see the world differently.

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