Patrick Melanson. Painter. Shediac Bridge, New Brunswick. Active 1990’s and on.

Patrick Melanson paints wonderful impressions of Maritime landscapes. He paints on framed panels and he paints up to, and over, and around the frames. He prefers small canvases and in his early career he painted on Pine; often cut in the shape of fish. (These have become rare now.) Pat likes to paint night scenes as well; filling his work  with light and movement (see “Moncton at Night” shown below). His night scenes are a favorite of many collectors. All of Pat’s landscapes are vibrant and full of color. He works with acrylics and finishes with glossy varnish. He signs his work on the reverse of the panels.

Here are a few examples of his work.

“Moncton at Night”:  Two Views.

(The moon faces left)

Patrick Melanson. Shediac Bridge, New Brunswick. Moncton at Night. 1

(The Moon faces right)

Patrick Melanson. Shediac Bridge, New Brunswick. Moncton at Night. 2

And another by Patrick Melanson; “Air Mail Drop”:

Patrick Melanson. Shediac Bridge New Brunswick. ‘Air Mail Drop’.

Gordon Brewster. Sculptor. Riverview, New Brunswick. Active late 20th century.

Gordon Brewster carved the birds of the Maritimes. He mounted his carvings on driftwood and often put them on flat river stones. His bird carvings are very compelling and attractive. He usually carved the settings of the birds including any flowers or leaves or fruit. His work was of the best. (Usually signed his work.) Occasionally Mr. Brewster would make small carvings of the animals of the forest around. Always in paint and strong colors.

An example of his work; mounted on a flat river-stone:

Gordon Brewster. Sculptor. Riverview, New Brunswick.

Narcisse. Painter. Sheciac, New Brunswick.

“Narcisse was the signature name of Leo Robichaud. See the article on Leo Robichaud.  Link below:

http://lyleelderfolkart.com/artist-bios/leo-narcisse-robichaud/

Prudent Vianneau. Sculptor. Woodcarver. Tabusintac, New Brunswick. Active last quarter 20th century.

Prudent Vianneau carved birds and mounted them on Black Spruce saplings and wooden dory models among other settings. His color pallet was always primary colors and white. Mr Vianneau was the last of the Vianneau folk artists  from the Tabusintac area. The Vianneaus were makers of decoys and decorative bird carvings from about the middle of the 19th century. Tabusintac is on the New Brunswick shore in the Acadian Peninsula.

Born in the 1930’s; Prudent Vianneau carved over a period of fifteen years and was forced to retire around 2003 by ill health. He kept his yard full of Birds; Trees, Boats and Gulls on iron rods. Every Spring he would repaint them. His bird assemblies were striking and very intuitive and are in public and private collections around Canada and the U.S.

An example of his work in red and yellow:

(As we can see, his birds are flat-plane carvings and done in three pieces)

Prudent Vianneau. Tabusintac, New Brunswick.

Another setting of his birds:

Prudent Vianneau. Sculptor. Tabusintac New Brunswick.

Another example. Birds on a paddle:

Prudent Vianneau. Tabusintac New Brunswick. Wood carving. Birds on a Paddle.

Prudent Vianneau. A Yard Bird. (Sea Gull on an iron shaft):

Prudent Vianneau. Tabusintac, New Brunswick. Seagull. About 24 inches long.

Leo ‘Narcisse’ Robichaud. Painter. Shediac, Nova Scotia. Active 2003 till he passed away in 2009.

Leo Robichaud was a naive painter. Leo Robichaud painted on anything and everything. And he painted in every waking moment even at meal times. A family member once said that he would paint in his bath if he could. He filled his paintings with the world that was around him with a very special focus on the human condition and our day to day lives. His work was joyful and filled with color. He painted most often on paper but any other material that came to his hands and signed his work: ‘Narcisse’.

The Red Taxi. Acrylic on Masonite by Leo Robichaud:

The Red Taxi. By Leo Robichaud.

Ref: Folkartmaritime.

A link to a video about Leo Robichaud (a one man show at the Moncton Library):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgTQHRxIrZw