LyleElderFolkArt.com > An Index of Canadian Folk Artists > Quebec

Yvon Cote

Born: 1914  |  Died: 1995

Yvon Cote. Sculptor. Wood carver. Grande-Vallee, Quebec. Active mid to late 20th century.

Born in Petite-Anse in Quebec’s Gaspe peninsula, he lived and worked in Grande-Vallee nearby. Mr. Cote was famous for his bird sculptures but he also carved fish including Trout and Salmon and occasionally animals. (He is known to have carved at least one Noah’s Ark with its animals.)

His carvings are recognized by their very high gloss; an effect he often achieved with several coats of clear nail polish. It was a perfect medium as he used anything he had on hand to colour his carvings, from wax crayons to coloured pencils.

He sometimes signed his work with a chisel and many have a gummed label with the species and the price he sold it for. But more often they bear a 1960’s era ‘decal’ with “Souvenir Grande-Vallee” and “Yvon Cote” printed on it. (see illustrations):

Ref: Un Art Pas Si Bete. Cecile Gelinas, Musee de la Gaspesie, Quebec,1993.

A pair of Woodpeckers by Yvon Cote:

Yvon Cote. Grande-Valee, Quebec. Pair of Woodpeckers.

Yvon Cote. Grande-Vallee, Quebec. Pair of Woodpeckers.

 

A Trout and a Cormorant by Yvon Cote:

Yvon Cote. Grande-Vallee, Quebec. Trout.

Yvon Cote. Grande-Vallee, Quebec. Trout.

A carving of a Cormorant by Yvon Cote:

Yvon Cote. Grande-Vallee, Quebec. Cormorant.

Yvon Cote. Grande-Vallee, Quebec. Cormorant.

A carving of a Myrtle Warbler by Yvon Cote:

Yvon Cote. Carving of a Warbler.

Yvon Cote. Carving of a Warbler.

The lable on the tail of the Warbler:

Yvon Cote. His label on the Warbler.

Yvon Cote. His label on the Warbler.

A Rooster by Yvon Cote that is signed on the base:

Yvon Cote. Carving of a Rooster.

Yvon Cote. Carving of a Rooster.

The mark on the base. “Y. C.”:

Yvon Cote. His mark.

Yvon Cote. His mark.

Yvon Cote. Carving of a Gull with his label-mark on the base:

Yvon Cote. Carving of a Gull with marks on the base.

Yvon Cote. Carving of a Gull with marks on the base.

 

 

 

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Anonymous. (a posting of unsigned and unattributed works)

Died: active

A general listing of Carvings and Paintings, with images, of unsigned Canadian Folk Art and Outsider art.   By: Anonymous.

A well-known artist. Especially in the earlier days when Outsider artists and Folk artists were not recognized as such. Sculptors and painters, except for those few who were known in their time, did not sign their work. Some, like Damase Richard, became well known later in life and had carvings brought back to be identified and signed by him.

If anyone has any knowledge of these works and/or the name of the artist; please send us an email.

 A Quebec carving of a man paddling a canoe. Well painted and dating from the second quarter of the 20th century:

Quebec carving of a man in a canoe. Sized.

Quebec carving of a man in a canoe. Sized.

 

 

A very fine painting of Ontario Place, 1950’s. Oil on Panel. Found in Toronto:

 

Unsigned Oil on panel of Ontario Place.

Unsigned Oil on panel of Ontario Place.

 

Carving of a Polar Bear. Painted pine. Found in Quebec. 1980’s.:

 

Unsigned Carving of a Polar Bear. Found in Quebec. C. 1980.

Unsigned Carving of a Polar Bear. Found in Quebec. C. 1980.

 

Two Carved Figures. A Man and a Woman. Painted Pine. Unsigned. 1960’s. Found in Quebec. But carved by Ben Stiles of Moncton New Brunswick. (See his bio in the artist directory:  http://lyleelderfolkart.com/artist-bios/ben-stiles/):

 

Two Carved Figures. Found in Quebec. 1960's.

Two Carved Figures. Found in Quebec. 1960’s.

Carving of a Fish. Painted Pine. On a Wrought Iron Base. Found in Montreal, Quebec. Unsigned. C. 1960:

Unsigned Carving of a Fish. Painted Pine on a wrought Iron Stand. C.1960.

Unsigned Carving of a Fish. Painted Pine on a wrought Iron Stand. C.1960.

Unsigned Carving of a Speckled Bird. Found at Saint-Flavie, Quebec. 1960’s:                                    SOLD

Unsigned Carving of a Speckled Bird. Lower Gulf of St. Lawrence. 1960's.

Unsigned Carving of a Speckled Bird. Lower Gulf of St. Lawrence. 1960’s.

 

Unsigned primitive oil on canvas. Quebec. (C.1900-1925) Found at Quebec: An oil painting on canvas of the farms along the St. Lawrence in Charlevoix. (About 15 by 27 inches. 1900-1925.) It has been attributed( by one source) to Aristide Gagnon of the Quebec City area. A very powerful and dramatic painting. (Now in a private collection.) Here is the image:

Anonymous.Charlevoix County, Quebec. C. 1910.

Anonymous. Charlevoix County, Quebec. C. 1910.

A fine Anonymous Wood Carving of an Indian Warrior. Found in Quebec:

Unsigned. Anonymous Carving of an Indian Warrior. 1960's. Quebec.

Unsigned. Anonymous Carving of an Indian Warrior. 1960’s. Quebec.

 

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Zenon Alary

Born: 1894  |  Died: 1974

Zenon Alary. Sculptor. Wood carver. Saint-Sauveur, Quebec. Active mid 20th century.

Zenon Alary. Sculptor. Saint-Sauveur, Quebec. Zenon Alary was born in St.-Sauveur-des-Monts, Quebec. In his study year in Montreal, Quebec he worked in stone; however, from the mid-1930’s on Mr. Alary sculpted in wood. He was known for his wildlife carvings and was first published in the Gauvreau book: Artisans du Quebec in 1940 (see References). He carved in Pine, Butternut and Basswood and occasionally in hardwoods including Walnut and Birch. He rarely used colour on his work. The example shown is a German shepherd carved around 1950 and signed by him.

A carving of a Mallard by Zenon Alary:

Zenon Alary. Malard Duck.

Zenon Alary. Malard Duck.

Zenon Alary. His mark:

Zenon Alary. His mark.

Zenon Alary. His mark.

 

 

Ref: Artisans du Quebec. Jean-Marie Gauvreau, Les Editions du Bien Public, Montreal, Quebec,1940.

Ref: Jean Simard, Pour Passer Le Temps: Artistes Populaires Du Quebec, Gouvernement du Quebec, Ministere des Affaires Culturelles.1985.

Ref: Historical Dictionary of Quebec Sculpture in the 20th Century.

http://dictionnaire.espaceartactuel.com/en/artistes/alary-zenon-1894-1974/

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