Eugene Mathieu. Sculptor. Model maker. Ascot Corner, Quebec. (L’Estrie) Active  late 1960’s – .

Eugene Mathieu began to create after an illness in the late 1960’s initially making small models of Windmills, Lighthouses and so on. Then he negan his master work. Between 1968 and 1976 he built a model of a village in his yard. He built models of houses in Ascot-Corners as well as buildings from other towns in the area. There was the Church, the Manse, General Store and school.  Also in the ‘village’ were animals, wagons and a ‘Grotte’ (Shrine). All to scale and finely detailed and painted. His village had electricity as well and seemed to have a life of it’s own. A typical house was a little less than a metre square. They were roofed in tin or  asphalt shingles, electrified, had windows and floored interiors and were fully furnished. The village consisted of about 25 buildings. It was a tour de force.

Ref: Jean Simard, Pour Passer Le Temps: Artistes Populaires Du Quebec, Gouvernement du Quebec, Ministere des Affaires Culturelles. 1985.

Lionel Guilbeault. Sculptor. Woodcarver. Coteau-Landing, Cte Soulange, Quebec. Active 1940’s – late 20th c.

Lionel Guilbeault made ‘bas reliefs’ and also carved in the round. He moved to Montreal’s east end in his childhood and moved to the Richelieu Valley where he started carving full time in 1963. His subjects were people in all walks of life and farm animals. He carved in Basswood, pine and maple and often made relief carvings of people (Busts). He was known for carving people at rest – an old ‘pensioner seated at the table lost in thought’ – ‘an old man in a home’. Not typical subjects of the popular ‘folk’ artists of the time. He did not have a studio or work shop; he carved at the kitchen table nor did he buy his wood – preferring to work with ‘as found’ materials. He did not colour his carvings anor did he always sign them.

Ref: Jean Simard, Pour Passer Le Temps: Artistes Populaires Du Quebec, Gouvernement du Quebec, Ministere des Affaires Culturelles. 1985.

Charles Goudreault. Sculptor. Woodcarver. Sainte-Anne-de-Chicoutimi, Quebec. Active early 20th century.

The father of sculptor Evelina Goudreault-Brousseau; Charles Goudreault also made painted carvings of birds and small animals. His carvings were always painted and his work was more naive that of his daughter. She took much more care with her colouring and finishes.

Evelina Goudreault-Brousseau. Sculptor. Woodcarver. Saint-Marie-de-Beauce. Active mid 20th century – .

Evelina Goudreault-Brousseau was taught woodcarving by her father Charles Goudreault a talented bird and animal carver. Her birds were carved and coloured from nature with two coats of white primer and finished with glossy enamels. She never signed her work and most went to friends and family. She made every species of shore and marine bird as well as the smaller wild forest animals.

Ref: Jean Simard, Pour Passer Le Temps: Artistes Populaires Du Quebec, Gouvernement du Quebec, Ministere des Affaires Culturelles. 1985.

Victorien Gagne. Sculptor. Woodcarver. Anse-Saint-Jean, Quebec. Active 1975 – .

Victorien Gagne made model boats and dories. Models of the the boats seen along the Saint-Lawrence Gulf where he lived and worked. His models were accurate and included ropes and anchors and equipement and they were usually painted.

Ref: Jean Simard, Pour Passer Le Temps: Artistes Populaires Du Quebec, Gouvernement du Quebec, Ministere des Affaires Culturelles. 1985.