A Quebec City artist who penned an open letter to Paul McCartney criticizing his upcoming free concert says he was misunderstood.

Luc Archambault said he didn't mean to suggest McCartney wasn't welcome in the provincial capital, where the singer plans to play a show on Sunday marking Quebec City's 400th anniversary.

He said he simply wanted to make a point about his desire to see Quebec artists play a bigger role in the celebrations.

Archambault's open letter, signed by several artists and sovereigntist politicians, stirred up a firestorm in the province, which prompted McCartney to comment publicly on the flap.

Archambault said his words were twisted in media reports and his true intent – to inform McCartney about the area's history – was lost along the way.

In an interview with CBC News, the painter said he hoped the former Beatle wouldn't be put off.

"Don't be afraid, we also give peace a chance," Archambault said on Friday.

Parti Québécois culture critic Pierre Curzi also issued a statement clarifying his support for the open letter.

Curzi, a former actor, said he's been a long-time fan of the British rock star, and put his name to the letter because he wanted to remind McCartney of the fragility of the French language.

In an exclusive interview with Radio-Canada on Thursday, McCartney suggested his critics smoke "the pipes of peace," and encouraged "Quebeckians" to love him.

His free show on Sunday on the Plains of Abraham is expected to draw a crowd of 200,000.