Harold Cromwell. Painter. Folk Artist. Weymouth, Nova Scotia. Active 1980’s on.

Harold Cromwell’s medium was primarily pencil, ink and paper. He made pictures of Nova Scotia life on the land and sea and was an accomplish artist. At one time he was represented by a Gallery in New York city.

To quote a Nova Scotia curator:

“Cromwell …………. would have been a Canadian folk art icon had the public seen the scope of his work, especially the larger pieces that were quite significantly different than his smaller works,” says David Woods, an associate curator of Black Nova Scotian art at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.”

“Cromwell’s major drawings documented his life and time, and it was their social significance that elevates them beyond the simpler if more colourful works of Maud Lewis, another Digby County artist”.

An example:

Harold Cromwell. Berry picking.

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

Ref: Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Folk Art of Nova Scotia (1976).

Austin Vardy. Sculptor. Woodcarver. Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia. Active late 20th century.

Austin Vardy was born in Toronto, Ontario and moved to Mahone Bay when he retired. He made carved birds and they were painted by his wife Claire Eisner (one of the Eisner family of woodcarvers). A Crow by Austin Vardy is shown here (about 12 inches long).

A carved and painted Crow by Austin Vardy, Mahone bay, N. S.:

Austin Vardy. Mahone Bay, N. S.

The mark on the base:

Austin Vardy. Mahone Bay, N. S. The base mark .

Basil Doucette. Sculptor. Woodcarver. Halifax, Nova Scotia. Active late 20th century – .

Basil Doucette is a naive artist who makes painted carvings of animals and birds as well as horse-drawn farm implements. He usually signs his work.

Carving of a Logging Sleigh by Basil Doucette:

Basil Doucette. Halifax, N. S. Logging Sleigh.

The Mark:

Basil Doucette. Logging Sleigh. The Mark.

Stephen Outhouse. Sculptor. Woodcarver. Brighton, Digby, Nova Scotia. Active mid 2oth century – .

Stephen Outhouse makes carvings of birds and fish – every species that can be found in Maritime waters and above all very fine painted relief carvings of maritime scenes.

Jesse Clayton Obed. Sculptor. Woodcarver. Blanche, N. S. Active early 20th century.

Jesse Obed was a lighthouse keeper on Half-Moons Island, Shelburne, Nova Scotia. He was known for his carvings of hunting decoys.

Ref: Guyette, Decoys of Maritime Canada.(1983).