Georges Desmeules. Sculptor. Saint-Paul-de-la-Croix, Quebec.

Active mid-20th century. Father of Aime Desmeules. (B. 1917) Maker of sculptures of animals in wood, usually in a larger size, with rope and leather often used for tails and ears and painted with ‘as found’ colors. His work was meant to be displayed outside in yards and on verandas.

When he was recorded in Les Patenteux du Quebec, it was for the groups of painted cut-out people, and other things that he had made and filled his yard with.  But if we look closely, in the shadows on  those black and white photos, we can see in among the people, larger sized wood carvings of animals. Mostly horses. He also carved the animals for a Creche scene in the village .

A Camel by Georges Desmeules:

Georges Desmeules. Saint-Paul-de-la-Croix Quebec. Carving of a Camel.

A Feeding Black Horse by Georges Desmeules:

Georges Desmeules. Grazing Black Horse.

Ref: Les Patenteux du Qubec. Louise de Grosbois, Raymonde Lamothe and Lise Nantel, Les Editions Parti Pris, Montreal, 1978.

Ref: Blake McKendry, An Illustrated Companion to Canadian Folk Art (1999).

Ref: Kobayashi/Bird, A Compendium of Canadian Folk Artists (1985).

Aime Desmeules. Sculptor. Saint-Paul-de-la-Croix, Quebec. Active mid to late 20th century.

A sculptor of animals of every kind. Wild, domestic and exotic. He was the son of George Desmeules  (B. 1891) who was an artist also and who he worked together with as he learned his art. It was only later in his life that he began to sign his work- on the underside – usually the initials “A. D.”. ( There is often confusion over the ‘A’ as it was in script and could look like an ‘A’ or a ‘G’.)

Both Desmeules, Pere et fils, carved larger sized works (horses and cows for example were usually 16 or 18 inches high. They also used other materials: leather or leatherette for ears and braided rope for tails and glass eyes. (As in the Camel shown here.) In the early days their work was meant to be outside and was painted in ‘as found’ colors (oil based house paint).

A Carving of a Fox by Aime Desmeules:

Aime Desmeules. Carving of a Fox.

Detail showing his mark:

Aime Desmeules. Carving of a Fox. Detail of the mark.

(Georges Desmeules was first recorded in ‘Les Patenteux’.)

Ref: Les Patenteux du Qubec. Louise de Grosbois, Raymonde Lamothe and Lise Nantel, Les Editions Parti Pris, Montreal, 1978.

Rosaire Laplante. Sculptor. Woodcarver. Sherbrooke, Quebec. Active late 20th century.

A naive artist, a sculptor of animals and people doing unusual things in every day situations. Mr. Laplante had a remarkable sense of humor that made  his later work stand out. His work was painted in bright strong primary colors and was usually highly varnished. He signed with his initials in the beginning. Near the end of his career he began signing his name.

A link to a work by Rosaire Laplante in the Gallery:

http://lyleelderfolkart.com/gallery-artists/rosaire-laplante/

His Mark in later years:

Rosaire Laplante. Sherbrooke, Quebec. Later Mark.

His Early mark:

Rosaire Laplante. His Early mark.