Fenton Dukeshire. Sculptor. Wood carver. Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Active mid 20th century.

Fenton Dukeshire carved people in real and imaginary situations; often making dioramas. His carvings were naive and primitive and very expressive. And always full of color. I have also seen: a very elaborate model of a Victorian house; carved and painted by him.

Shown is a diorama of a school room with students and what seems to be a harsh mistress:

Fenton Dukeshire. Sculptor. Nova Scotia. Schoolroom diorama.

Image used with the compliments of Folk Art Maritime.

Scott Higgins. Sculptor. Wood carver. Painter. Harrietsfield. Nova Scotia. Active late 20th century-.

Scott Higgins began carving when he was in his teens; carving painted works that focused on social commentary and whimsy. He generally titles his work and signs with the date. His work is powerful and full of colour. Scott Higgins stopped carving in the 1990’s and is now painting. He is collected widely, both privately and in Museums, and is cited in artscanada and the Journal of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.

Ref: artscanada, Winter 1991.

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

Ref: The Black Sheep Gallery.

William McLelland. Sculptor. Port Grenville, Nova Scotia.  Active mid 20th century.

Bill McLelland was a naive sculptor.  He made carvings of people (nudes occasionally), Model Ships and birds. He often worked with ‘as found’ materials and colors.  He usually signed “Bill McLellend or William McLelland, Port Hawkesbury, N.S.

A Seagull by W. McLelland. Signed on the base:

Seagull by William McLelland.

A Scotsman 22 inches tall. Signed Bill McLelland:

Signed Scotsman by Bill McLelland.

Ralph Boutilier. Sculptor. Painter. Woodcarver. Milton, Nova Scotia.  Active mid-20th century.

Ralph Boutilier was an accomplished painter very early in his life and turned to carving in the 1960’s. While he has made carvings, some life-sized, of people; he is most known for his elaborate mechanical whirligigs of metal and wood in the form of  various kinds of birds. His whirligigs tended to be big and rather heavy and often required considerable wind to drive them. They are essentially concept sculptures.He has been published and is in Museum and private collections throughout North America.

Ref: Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, A Life of Its Own Chris Huntington and the Resurgence of Nova Scotia Folk Art (1997).

Ref: Nova Scotia Folk Art Festival Society, A Joyous Vision – Contemporary Folk Art in Nova Scotia(1995).

Ref: Marie Elwood. Folk Art of Nova Scotia. Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. Halifax. 1976.

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

A short film from the CBC Archives. Web link:

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/lifestyle/pastimes/handmade-in-canada-the-art-of-craft/ralph-boutilier-folk-artist.html

Ellison Eagles. Sculptor. Woodcarver.  North River (Lunenburg), Nova Scotia.Active mid 20th century.

Ellison Eagles made carved and painted primitive works of people and their activities. He also carved animals, birds and made sculptures and assemblies for his yard.

Ref: Marie Elwood. Folk Art of Nova Scotia. Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. Halifax. 1976.

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

Ref: Anne Sutherland and Zalman Amit. The Sutherland/Amit Collection. Smith Falls, Ont. 1994.

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