Paul Lachapelle. Sculptor. Wood carver. Terrebonne, Quebec.  Active mid-20th century.

Paul Lachapelle made fine naive painted carvings of birds as well as relief carvings of Laurentian scenes. He worked in Pine and ‘as found’ colours and signed his work in script.  Seen at a show: Wood carving of a  “Red Tailed Hawk with Prey”. Signed on the base:  ‘Paul Lachapelle, Terrebonne, Quebec’. One of his relief carvings is shown below with his mark in the lower right corner.

A Winter Scene by Paul Lachapelle. C. 1940:

 

Emile Bluteau. Sculptor. Eastern Townships, Quebec. Active 1970’s-.

Emile Bluteau is one of Quebec’s great primitive artists. He started carving in the late 1970’s, birds at first, and then after a break, he began carving the human condition in all its moods and shapes. Emile’s sense of humour is visible in nearly every carving. And it is even more obvious when he talks about himself.   He was born in ‘various places’ according to him but we think it may have been Roxton Pond, Quebec on June 29, 1931. He spent some years growing up in Charlevoix County, Quebec, with relatives, again, according to Emile.

He was involved with the antiques business (had a significant collection of older Quebec calendars he once told me). He was a ‘brocanteur’ as it is said in Quebec. (A ‘buyer and seller’.) And a folk artist/woodcarver/primitive artist and maker of ‘assemblies’. He prefers to work with ‘as found’ materials; from wood-plastic-metal (whatever crosses his way), to the final colour. He is not fond of actually buying material. A drive down a road or street on trash day with Emile can take a long time his spouse once told me. He prefers to find it. He now lives in Wickham, Quebec.

Emile Bluteau carves what comes to mind and he can be very playful. He told me one Spring day, after showing me a carving of a Man and a Woman, that many many people had asked him to make Wedding couples; so he thought he had better make a divorced couple. He carves our heroes and he carves our villains; our present day and our past. All with his tongue firmly in his cheek.

Below are some illustrations of works by Mr. Bluteau showing the range of his art.

Two early Bird Carvings by Emile Bluteau. (1970’s):

 

An example of Emile Bluteau’s work at its very best: ‘The Pig with her Piglets’.  A later work. The first image showing the reverse side with title and signature and  evidence of ‘as found’ materials.

(From a Private Collection.)

 

 

Emile Bluteau. Reclining Lady. ‘Madame Sur sa Fauteuil’:

 

Emile Bluteau. At play:

 

“Man and Bird:

 

Man Walking his Bear:

 

Table at an out door ‘Gallery’. Back in the Day:

 

 

A Crucifix by Emile Bluteau:

 

Emile Bluteau. Carving of a Motorcycle. Pre-war Indian model with rider (himself) and sidecar. His dream machine:

Detail:

 

Emile Bluteau’s first work. Done in the early 1970’s, it is carved in a block of Yellow Birch wood in the round that he took from his firewood pile. He said that it took him forever to finish and he never carved hard-wood again! A stunning work, about 16 inches long:

 

 

 

 

R. Giguere. Sculptor. Woodcarver. Quebec City area. Active late 20th c .

The mark “R. Giguere” was seen on  a painted relief carving of a landscape with house. It was signed and dated: ’80.

Roland Couture. Sculptor. Wood carver. Breakeville,Quebec.  Active late 20th century.

Roland Couture’s subjects were varied and almost always painted. He carved birds, often trees filled with them, smaller animals but people were his favorite subjects. From golfers to soldiers and people at work. Finely detailed and always in Basswood. He signed all of his later carvings, often with titles and sometimes numbering the carvings in a series. He sometimes used a wood-burning tool for detail; specially in bird and animal carvings. His work was always finely and delicately done.

Some examples of his work:

Roland Couture. Carving of a Soldier:

Detail of his Mark:

A pair of Golfers in Kilt and Plus Fours:

His mark:

 

 

A link to an article (in French) about Roland Couture:

http://pages.infinit.net/cvpv/artisan/couture/set_cou2.html

Paul-Emile Caron. Sculptor. Wood carver. St.-Jean-Port-Joli, Quebec. Active mid-20th century.

The brother of sculptor Jocelyn Caron; he was the first wood carver of their family to establish a studio in Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, Quebec.  He began carving in the early 1950’s; making painted carvings of traditional Quebec figures of people in their occupations and costumes. He went on to carve forest animals and also made arrangements with the Beauceware potteries to create carvings that incorporated ceramics from the Beauceware company. Paul-Emile always signed his work with a chisel: “P.E.Caron”. An example is shown below with the mark.

A Squirrel on a stand with a Beauceware Pottery ashtray:

P. E. Caron mark:

Paul-Emile Caron in his studio: