Odessa Belisle. Sculptor. Wood carver. Saint-Antoine, Quebec. Active mid-20th Century.

Odessa Belisle was a maker of Horse drawn farm wagons. He made carvings of the farm wagons and horse-drawn implements  seen around a farm in 19th century Quebec. His equipment and harnessing  was accurate and complete; from axes and cant hooks on the logging sleds to the family dog running alongside. Odessa Belisle worked with Pine wood, metal, leather and bright ‘as found’ oil based house paints. He usually signed his work in script with a pen on the bottom of the carvings: ‘Odessa Belisle, 1475 Rte 41, St. Antoine, Que.”

Here is a detail from one of Odessa Belisle’s carvings. Loading a sled with firewood (1960’s):

Odessa Belisle. Sculptor. St. Antoine, Quebec. Sleigh Carving detail.

A sleigh with a load of wood by Odessa Belisle:

Odessa Belisle. St-Antoine, QC. Carving of a Sled.

Valmont Belanger. Sculptor. Wood carver. Matane, Gaspe, Quebec. Active late 20th century.

Valmont Belanger carved small animals and birds. He was most known for his impressionist carvings of birds with movable wings that were often found for sale along the Gaspe shore. Two are pictured below. He made other, more life-like carvings. Canada Geese, often with the wings spread, and other birds found on the Gulf of the St. Lawrence. But his Gulls stay with us. He carved in Eastern White Pine and occasionally Cedar. His pcolours were latex house paint. He was very fond of polka dots. He signed his work with a stamp, in blue, that often had the date 1991 on it as well as his name. (See the separate article on this style of bird carving by Albert Saint-Laurent. http://lyleelderfolkart.com/artist-bios/albert-saint-laurent/)

Valmont Belanger. Sea Gull wood carving with movable wings:

Valmont Belanger. Sculptor. Wood Carver. Matane, Quebec. Sea Gull.

Valmont Belanger. Black and White Gull:

Valmont Belanger. Matane, Quebec. Black and White Seagull.

His mark:

Valmont Belanger. Matane, Quebec. His Mark.

A. Bilodeau. Sculptor. Quebec. Active 1930’s.

This artist’s work first surface to me in the Montreal area. I have no other infformation on him or her. Shown is a sample carving. A Trophy Fish. It is signed: “A. B. ” on the work and: “A. Bilodeau” on the brass plate with the date: “1938”. It is carved in Pine and painted in ‘as found’ colors. About 14 inches long overall.

An image of The Trophy Fish:

A Bilodeau. Sculptor. Quebec. 1930’s.

Howard Hannah. Sculptor. Howick, Quebec. Active mid-20th century.

Howard Hannah was the son of Charles Hannah. He was a teacher and carved in his spare time. An excellent sculptor, he died at a relatively young age. His works are signed ‘H. Hannah’ or ‘Howard Hannah’. They sometimes have ‘Howick, Quebec’ or ‘Hannah Sculptures’ added.

Some Examples:

A Group of Wood Carvings by Howard Hannah:

Howard Hannah. Verdun, Howick, Quebec. A Group of Carvings. Photo: Mark Zannis.

The Tramp. Howard Hannah:

Howard Hannah. Verdun, Howick, Quebec. ‘The Tramp’. Photo: Mark Zannis.

‘The Fisherman’. By Howard Hannah:

Howard Hannah. Verdun, Howick, Quebec. ‘The Fisherman.’ Photo: Mark Zannis.

Another mark of Howard Hannah:

Howard Hannah. Verdun, Howick, Quebec. His mark. Photo: Mark Zannis.

With thanks for the Illustrations and History from Mark Zannis. Montreal, Quebec.

Janet Hannah. Sculptor. Wood carver. Born Montreal (Verdun), Quebec. Active mid-20th century.

Janet Hannah was a sister of the three original Hannah brothers. She carved in the flat-plane carving style of her brothers and her work is rarely seen. She signed her work:  ‘J. Hannah’. Never married, she moved to Toronto, Ontario.*

*Ref: Mark Zannis.