Much of his inspiration comes in the company of his wife Jean, with whom he has shared life's moments since they met in 1984. Whether they're indulging in the sunshine of the Greek Islands, or canoeing and hiking in the Rockies, Rene is constantly photographing elements of interest to augment his reference files. In addition, viewing the landscape from an aerial viewpoint has also influenced this artist. By chartering small aircraft, Rene has acquired reference photographs of rare views of such as the Barrier Reef off Belize, and of the Canadian Rockies. These photos form the basis from which paintings eventually emerge.