Clement Pelletier

Born: 1947

Clement Pelletier. Sculptor. Flat-plane carver. Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, Quebec. Active mid to late 20th c.

Before 1940, boys born in Saint-Jean-Port-Joli went into the church or the bush or went to sea. But after 1950 there was another option; learning flat-plane carving from the Bourgault family. In 1965 Clement Pelletier began learning woodcarving under Jean-Julien Bourgault. Like his brother he focused on carving Quebec figures and relief carvings of Quebec traditional scenes. An example of his carving is shown.

A relief carving of a fiddler (forgive the quality – a temporary one):

Clement Pelletier. SJPJ, Qc.

Ireine Belanger

Born: Active 1960 - .

Mme Iriene Belanger. Sculptor. Flat-Plane woodcarver. Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, Quebec. Active 1960’s – .

Like many women in S.J.P.J.; Iriene Belanger made wood carvings to pass the time and augment her income. Her mark is seen on smaller works of flat-plane carving from Saint-Jean-Port-Joli; most often on jewelry: ear rings, brooches, etc. (These can be found both painted and unpainted.). A sample of this work is shown below with her mark attached.

A carved broach by Mme Ireine Belanger. With her mark on the sleeve:

Ireine Belanger. Flat- Plane Carver. S.J.P.J., Qc.

The reverse:

Ireine Belanger. Flat-Plane carver. S.J.P.J., Qc.

 

 

Omer Audet

Died: 2015

Omer Audet. Sculptor. Woodcarver. La Malbaie, Quebec. Active 2005 – 2010.

Omer Audet made large sized carvings of people, animals and birds  on his farm in La Malbaie on Quebec’s north shore. He started carving in his eighties and worked into his 90’s. His works were large, and detailed and can only be described as Impressionism at its naïve best. Collectors are particularly drawn to his carvings of swans and other yard birds as well as his people who are distinctly carved and with character.

He can be seen at work on his farm in two YouTube videos listed here:

(7) Omer Audet, Studio Visit in La Malbaie, Charlevois, Canada – YouTube

(7) Studio of Omer Audet, Artist in La Malbaie, Charlevoix, Quebec, Canada – YouTube

Isreal Menard

Born: Active Mid 20th c- .

Isreal Menard. Sculptor. Woodcarver. Sailor. Saint-Flavie, Quebec. Active Mod 20th C – .

Isreal Menard was a sailor. Like many sailors – especially Quebec sailors – he carved and whittled to pass the time. When he returned to his village (Saint-Flavie) he opened a little shop and sold souvenir carvings to passing travellers.  And he taught his son in law Lionel Tremblay his arts.*

Some words below from Isreal Menard’s grandson :                          “Une tradition familiale: Notre grand-père, Isarël Ménard était navigateur. Durant ses voyages sur les bateaux, il s’amusait à sculpter des petits morceaux de bois comme ‘hobby’. De retour dans son village natal, il a continué à développer son talent pour la sculpture et il a ouvert une petite boutique de cadeaux dans sa demeure pour y vendre ses sculptures. Par la suite, il a enseigné à notre père, Lionel Tremblay, quelques leçons de base de la sculpture.

“C’est dans un modeste atelier de 20 pieds carrés situé à L’Islet-sur-Mer que notre pèreLionel et notre mère Henriette Ménard-Tremblay prennent la relève, au début des années 60,en fabriquant des canards de bois (leurres).”

  • See the entry for Lionel Tremblay. Woodcarver.

 

Andre Boucher

Born: Active 1970's.

Andre Boucher. Sculptor. Flat-plane woodcarver. S. J. P. Joli, Quebec. Active 1970’s.

Andre Boucher was a flat-plane woodcarver – trained at Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, Quebec. He was known for his flat-plane souvenir work and also painted figural and relief carvings of considerable sophistication.

A painted ‘bas relief’ by Andre Boucher:

Andre Boucher. Relief, L’ange Luce. S.J.P.J.

An earlier unpainted 1970’s work with the mark:

Andre Boucher. Flat Plane Fisherman. 1970’s.

The mark: