Frank Nicholson. Sculptor. Woodcarver. Gilbert Plains, Manitoba. 1888 – 1984.

Frank Nicholson made naïve carvings of birds. His birds are evocative and strongly painted in ‘as found’ colors. He was active in the 1960’s and 1970’s and usually signed his work. Two examples of his carvings are shown here. Frank Nicholson’s work has been exhibited and collected by the Canadian Museum of History in Hull, Quebec.

Frank Nicholson. A Rooster*. 1960’s-1970’s:

Frank Nicholson. Pair of Birds*:

*From a private collection.

Arthur Lawrence Flett. Sculptor. Woodcarver. Winnipeg, Manitoba. Active mid 20th century.

Arthur Flett was a sculptor of naive painted carvings of animals and people in their every day lives. His carvings were expressive and full of humour. He was cited in ‘From the Heart’.

Ref: The Canadian Centre for Folk Culture Studies. From The Heart: Folk Art in Canada. McClelland and Stewart, Toronto. 1983.

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

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

Ed Larocque. Sculptor. Woodcarver. Swan River, Manitoba. Active mid 20th century.

Ed Larocque was a naive sculptor. He made painted carvings of animals, birds and fish. He was not known to have ever signed his work.

A primitive relief carving of a Cat by Ed Larocque:

A Primitive carving by Ed Larocque, Swan River, Manitoba.

Ernie V. Gross. Sculptor. Woodcarver. Winnipeg, Manitoba. Active late 20th century.

Ernie Gross made ornamental carvings of birds. His popular carvings were realistic and always in paint. He signed on the base with the date. An example is shown below with his mark.

A carving of a Canada Goose by Ernie Gross:

Ernie Gross. Winnipeg, Manitoba. Canada Goose.

Ernie Gross. His mark:

Ernie Gross. His mark.

John ‘Dave. Epp. Sculptor. Wood carver. Winnipeg, Manitoba. Active mid 20th century.

David Epp was a bird carver. The biography isn’t complete yet but he carved birds almost exclusively. He made striking carvings of every kind of bird that could be seen on the Prairie provinces. Water fowl and song birds; well mounted on ‘as found’ forest wood, often pieces of burl, and with metal legs. His carvings were beautifully painted and coloured by his wife and partner. Dave Epp always signed his carvings on the base; in Script and occasionally with the date.

Dave Epp’s carvings were sold widely and are rare. They are in public and private collections around North America. Some examples are shown below.

There are images of Dave Epp (holding a carved Bird) and his wife, the colorist, in the Mennonite Archives of Ontario. I am including a link to the page here:

http://archives.mhsc.ca/wood-carving-manitoba-winnipeg?onlyDirect=1

A Snowy Owl by Dave Epp:

Dave Epp. Winnipeg, Manitoba. Carving of a Snowy Owl. 1950’s.

A pair of carved Mallards:

Dave Epp. Winnipeg, Manitoba. Pair of carved Mallards on a stand. 1950’s.

Dave Epp. A pair of Turkeys. 1960’s:

David Epp Wood carving. 1960’s.