The Illuminated Life of Maud Lewis

by Lance Woolaver, Bob Brooks (Photographer)

Maud Lewis (1903-1970) was recognized and revered in her own lifetime. She offered her endearing, whimsical, vibrant images to the passing world through her roadside sign, "Paintings for Sale," and was rewarded by the enthusiastic response from the local community, tourists, as well as from serious art collectors.

The Illuminated Life of Maud Lewis is an invitation to share once again with the world the perceptions of this celebrated Nova Scotia folk artist in prose, photographs, and reproductions of her works.

Maud Lewis is the subject of the film Maudie (2016), starring Sally Hawkins and Ethan Hawke.

Genres: Nonfiction, Art, Canada, Biography, Historical

102 pages, Paperback

First published January 25, 1996

Reviews

[Terri Durling]

A beautiful tribute to a special folk artist, Maud Lewis, who lived in the area I grew up in - Digby, NS, this book delivers a powerful punch in just a few pages with lots of photos, artwork and interesting facts about Maud and the humble life she lived. I loved its simplicity and the sweet style of writing that was much like the artist herself - humble and unassuming. Although she faced many challenges, Maud made the best of her impoverished lifestyle and found joy in her artwork often created under very difficult circumstances. Although I am familiar with many of her paintings, there were lots of surprises, all beautifully presented and captioned. Her husband, Everett, was known to be an eccentric miser and that goes without saying but there was also a good side to him that helps readers and fans of Maud understand their peculiar relationship better. You were one of a kind, Maud, and I applaud this lovely look into your life and art.

[Lorry Chwazik]

After watching the movie “Maudie,” I had to read more about the character on which it was based. Nova Scotian folk artist Maud Lewis painted scenes of local life and nature on cards, scrap boards, and the inside and outside of her house. Her scenes were invariably sweet and cheery, each belying the fact that Lewis’s life was one of tragic loss, unrelenting pain, and grinding poverty. The constraints her disabling rheumatoid arthritis placed upon her were more than matched by those provided by her marriage to a man whose parsimony was unrelenting. Yet Maud herself was reported to be kind and uncomplaining, perhaps saved from the stinginess of her surroundings by her uncompromised imagination and her singular talent. This book pays beautiful tribute to Maud by its well-researched words and the inclusion of many of Maud’s paintings. A short film from the National Film Board of Canada about Maud Lewis can be seen at https://youtu.be/5hrLcX0aahQ.

[rehab saleh]

" As long as i have a brush i don't care and a window, i love having a window and a bird singing near me it's always different..all life pre-painted there".
Mrs. Maud lewis is a true inspiration i love her simplicity she was strong and positive.
Her vision was wonderful and her paintings are heaven and pure, she is such a beautiful lesson.

[Carolyn Walsh]

This is a book about primitive Nova Scotian artist Maud Lewis. I am fortunate to have two of her paintings which I love. They are fine examples of folk art and this book displays colored illustrations of her work. It also relates the impoverished and isolated life in a tiny house without electricity or water and very little heat, and her lifelong struggle with deformity and pain. But such joyous paintings!!
She was married for 31 years to a miser who refused to spend any money on improving or repairing their tiny shack, but she decorated it with bright paintings of flowers, butterflies and birds. During President Nixon's term in office her paintings sold for about $5 each. He requested 2 paintings for the White House and she requested the money be sent first. Nixon sent a letter of condolence to the husband after Maud died but he was unaware of it since he could neither read or write.
Despite his scrounging for supplies and his miserly ways, they seemed to care for each other. She was unable to do housework due to her infirmities, and he took on this chore, giving her time to paint. There were rumors that he had money buried around the house, but when Maud was dying he offered a taxi driver $50 to take her to Halifax rather than the local hospital. He is almost the only human depicted in her paintings. Her husband was later murdered by a burglar trying to find any money he might have stashed away.
I read this book for a second time as was delighted to discover that her life has been made into a movie which will open soon.

[Jessica Thurlow]

I learned lots of things I didn't know about the interesting, and sad life of Maud Lewis. Definitely have a better appreciation of her artwork.

[Nora]

I moved to Nova Scotia about 6 months ago and only recently discovered Maud Lewis. I love her colorful, quirky paintings. She is my favorite example of folk art that I've seen and makes me feel more like a folk artist, as when I do art projects I have a similar aesthetic to her. (For example, I painted our propane tank with green hills, blue sky, flowers and cat.) This book helped me dive deeper into the world of Maud and appreciate her even more.

[Rachel]

"'I’m contented here," she said. "I ain’t much for travelling anyway. As long as I’ve got a bit of brush in front of me, I’m all right." (p.29)

"When Maud was working, her tiny, quick strokes at the panel resembled a sparrow pecking at a bit of bread. As she painted each scene many times, she didn’t need to contemplate. She worked straight through until it was finished, not stopping for tea...Maud worked as efficiently as a farm wife rolling and cutting a pie crust." (p.57-58)

"...the life of Maud Lewis was restricted and interior. She was shy, almost reclusive, and her painting exudes the joy that she must have felt overcoming the odds. At times this was simply being able to survive. Her inner stamina allowed her to accept whatever came her way with patience: the death of her parents, the abandonment of her home, the separation from her child, her disfigurement and pain, and the imposed impoverishment of life with Everett." (p.70)

"For all of Everett’s faults, he was a true companion. Not only did he take care of the house, at least to his own standards, he kept the fire going, tended the garden, and prepared the meals at the end of the day...he made it possible for Maud to do what she loved best: paint as much as she wished as often as she could." (p.79-80)

[Hugh Coverly]

I recently visited the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia where the Maud Lewis House is located along with dozens of her pictures and other decorated items. In the early 1970s, when Everett Lewis lived there alone, I was privileged to have seen the Lewis’ home in situ; although as a 10 year old I didn’t fully comprehend or appreciate the opportunity.

It is hard to imagine that objects of such charm and joy and happiness could be produced in a place that personified hard-scrabble existence. Maud Lewis seemed to transcend the many limitations of her life by finding a way to express her essential self. Lance Woolaver describes the reality of Maud’s largely difficult life from cradle to grave in a way that is not exploitative but heightens an awareness that she made her own happiness and was pleased to share it with others.

Written originally for a 1996 exhibition of her art, the book has recently been updated. It is richly illustrated with many of Lewis’ most recognizable pictures and many others still held in private collections. If ever you have the opportunity to travel to Halifax, be sure to visit the Art Gallery and it’s Maud Lewis Gallery. It will give a better appreciation of her life and the art it helped produce.

[White House Public Library]

What a beautiful and informative book on the life of Mrs. Maud Lewis. Maud Lewis art is a beautiful example of rural folk art. Lewis was born Maud Dowley on March 7, 1903 in South Ohio, Nova Scotia, the daughter of John and Agnes (Germain) Dowley. She suffered from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in her hands. Her whimsical paintings depicting rural life became beloved by many….Her love of painting and her use of color created cheerful scenes of beauty. It was amazing how she took the adverse conditions of her life and looked beyond her circumstances to see a combination of qualities, such as shape, color, or form that pleases the aesthetic senses and successfully shared her mind’s eye through her art.
The reader will learn about her little brightly painted house, her cats, the man she married (who was also a model in many of her painting) and her life as a painter. I appreciated all the full page color photos of her work. Her gentle and childlike wonder are endearing in her paintings and clearly depict her wonderful world of folk art.

[Sherry]

After seeing the movie Maudie (it was excellent) I was interested in the life of Maud Lewis and ordered this book from the library. At first I thought it was a children's picture book from the size but it is written for adults and is illustrated with many of her paintings. It was a quick read but had information on her life - which was limited in scope - thus the book was the perfect length.

[Paula Daniels]

Very interesting. Learned a lot about Maud Lewis's life and gained more of an appreciation for her folk art style of painting. Did not realize that she has work at the White House - purchased during Nixon's presidency.

[Saskia]

One of the few books that is available about Maud Lewis. Not scholarly, but informative.

[Cathleen Adams]

This book from 1996 reviews the life and work of Maud Lewis. Better than the writing, the pictures themselves tell a tale of a woman born with severe physical disabilities who nevertheless saw joy in the world around her and shared it in her own, naïve inimitable style. It is interesting to learn that Maud grew up in a comfortable family environment where she had piano lessons and modern comforts. Comparing this to the shack without running water and only a pot bellied stove that she lived in with Everett makes me wonder at how she continued to find the motivation to paint.
It's a quick read, and Woolaver does a simple analysis of the style of the paintings, pointing out that the churches have the lights on indicating they are occupied and that the oxen wore a red Canadian head yoke with properly executed harnesses.
The beautiful colours and the simple joy of the pictures can help bring some brightness to our lives.

[Tracee]

All the Maud Lewis books I get my hands on have the same photos and text. I realize now it’s because they are newer versions of the original book or newer books based on the original authors’ material.

I have nothing but admiration for Maud Lewis and her creations. She really was a talented, lovely soul. She leaves us some beautiful art and she leaves me to wonder at her ability to create art against more odds than many of us face.

[Christopher Tapp]

Just like Maud Lewis’ paintings, this autobiography of sorts stands the test of time. I didn’t realize it had been written nearly 30 years ago. So much has changed since then, mostly in the value of Maud’s original works and how widely recognized she is now.

A beautiful love letter written by someone whose family had been close with Maud. Accompanied by many pages of Maud’s art, I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a glimpse into the life behind the wonderful and nostalgic paintings.

[Barbara Lovejoy]

This is the book I bought for myself w/ the Christmas gift certificate my husband had given me when I finished reading my 3rd group of 50 books for 2022. What a treasure!!! It was wonderful to learn more about Maude and her life as well as have so many delightful paintings to savor.

[Donna Burtwistle-Popplewell]

After watching the film, Maudie, I had to learn more-here is a Canadian figure who needs to be celebrated!

[Candace Raymond]

Simply easy read, but offers a window into the remarkable world of Maude. What an incredible delight.

[Joyce Wang]

3.5 stars. Intrigued by Maud’s life and the arts are gorgeous, but not really impressed by the writing. It was beautiful in some parts, but mostly very repetitive.

[Kelly Greenwood]

Read this to compare it to the recent movie.

[Steffanie]

What a fabulous tribute to a very remarkable woman. She created such beauty and joy, and yet lived in the most simple and difficult of situations.
What a truly wonderful Canadian!🇨🇦

[Jillian Kelly]

A cool summary of some of maud’s pieces. Seemed a bit self involved with the author at times

[Nancy Noble]

I recently discovered Maud Lewis, so have been trying to gather as many books about her as I can - I loved this book, with the illustrations, and even tone. I learned a lot, and had fun absorbing the details of her artwork. I'm so glad her house, and legacy, has been saved and preserved.

[l]

There's a certain pop psychology approach and attitude of condescension that makes me uncomfortable with this book tbh. Lewis' art is great though.