Canadian Folk Art and Outsider Art
C. Arturo. Sculptor. Woodcarver. North Bay, Ontario. Active late 20th century.
C. Arturo made character carvings of people in occupations as well as birds. His work is well painted and usually signed on the base. I have no information yet as to his dates.
Ref: Collectivator Website.
Donald Carmichael. Sculptor. Model Ship builder. Renfrew, Ontario. Active 1920’s- 1930’s.
Donald Carmichael was a barber in Renfrew, Onraio. He spent much of his spare time making ship models. These were famous named sailing ships of the line. He mounted his models in highly finished Walnut and glass cases. The models were fully rigged and detailed with all cannon (and cannon balls), anchors and deck equipment. His models are in collections in Quebec, Ontario and Western Canada.
Click here for one of his models for sale in the Gallery:
A detail of one of his Model Ships:
Detail of a Donald Carmicheal Model Ship. The HMS Bounty
Dave Wilson. Sculptor. Woodcarver. Painter. Goderich, Ontario. Active mid-20th century.
Dave Wilson was a carver of Birds. They were well carved with energy and movement and finished with ‘as found’ colors. His carvings were usually signed on the base: Dave Wilson with the name of the species and the town Goderich,Ont. He also signed ‘D. W. Wilson’.
A Sample of his work:
Dave Wilson. Sculptor. Woodcarver. Goderich Ontario.
His Mark:
Dave Wilson. Goderich Ontario. His mark.
Ref: The Collectivator Website.
Harold Lee. Sculptor. Woodcarver. Otterville, Ontario. Active mid to late 20th Century.
Harold Lee. His mark is seen* on a labelled and well made painted naive carving of Paul Revere with the name of the artist and dates. The carving was made in the 1960’s.
Ref: From a post on the ‘collectivator’ website.
Robert McCairns. Sculptor. Turkey Point, Ontario.Active 20th Century.
Robert McCairns. Born in Scotland in 1905, he immigrated to Canada in 1923. He became a Gamekeeper at a hunting reserve near Turkey Point and over the years began to carve birds of the area (usually those found in Western Ontario). His carvings were well done, very expressive and always painted. He usually signed his work on the base. The example shown here is carved in Pine, with shaped metal legs and is mounted on a chunk of split hard wood.
A carving of a Shore Bird by Robert McCairns:
Robert McCairns. Woodcarver. Turkey Point Ontario.
His mark:
Robert McCairns. His mark.
Ref: Thanks to Irene Lescher for the image.
Ref: Artists in Canada. (Website.)
