For the den or man cave of the fly fisherman, here is a rustic painting on plywood panel of a trout leaping to catch what appears to be a large yellow moth or butterfly flitting just above the water's surface. The painting is actually titled "Butterfly" at bottom center. At right corner is the name of the artist, W. L. Mohl or Mahl, and "White Pine Pk. 1939". There is a "White Pine Peak" in both Utah and Nevada. This was found in Fresno, in central California...

Acquired as one of a number of works by late Bozeman, Montana artist MARION "MAL" LEWIS (1925-2010), this is a fine collage work, undated, titled "Silhouette Collage" on original accompanying sticker, not framed (just matted), likely from late in the artist's life. While traveling through Montana I came upon a group of mostly collage, abstract works by this artist, though there is at least one non-abstract work, a New Mexico drawing, that I will be listing...

From a high end Southern California estate, a fine oil on canvas laid down on Masonite, 23" by 18 3/4" (27 1/2" by 23 1/2" in late 20th century frame), apparently unsigned, in the style of the renowned 17th century Dutch artists such as Jan de Heem. The details of the various types of flowers are impressive, as are those of the snails, the moth, and the water droplets on the leaves. The more one studies this the more one sees...

Contemporary pastel portrait of a contemplative young brunette, 19" by 14 1/2" (25" by 20 1/2" in gold framing), signed at lower left with what appears as "Fredric Golds" (or, "Goldstein", or "Goldey" or similar). The obviously-trained artist has demonstrated his skill with pastel. The work probably dates to the 1970's or 1980's and is in excellent condition. There is some gold loss on the frame in a few places.

Large contemporary Haitian painting with an enormous amount of detail and pleasing color, 31 1/2" by 23 1/2" (37 1/2" by 29" in shiny black plastic framing), signed at lower right by artist Felden Lafleur. Take some time to study the images, filled with amazing intricacies that must have taken days to create. The work is in excellent, unusually fresh condition; frame has some wear.

Small gouache on paper painting of famous Mount Vesuvius volcano towering over Italy's Bay of Naples as it emits puffs of smoke, 6" by 8 3/8" inside the mat, 11 1/4" by 13 1/4" in inexpensive modern framing, unsigned. This is quite possibly or even likely a work of the artist Giuseppe Corelli (1858-1925); compare to another, signed work by that name in my shop...

A fine oil on wood panel painting of a swirling, flouncing traditional Spanish dancer, signed at upper right with the typical signature, then titled on reverse "Sevillanas" and also "Henka" (the name of the dancer?), and signed there again by the noted American artist HELEN SAWYER (1900-1999). The work measures 13 3/4" by 10 1/4" (19" by 15" framed). The panel at extreme upper left bears a rubber stamp of a gallery or art supply outfit in Paris...

A beautifully executed watercolor painting of ladies on the shore of an Italian lake, high mountains and a red-roofed town on the opposite shore, signed at lower right by artist "L. Vian". This is likely a scene of one of the famous northern Italian lakes such as Lago Maggiore or Lago Como. The bright light is captured with skill and perspective and color is obviously well handled by a talented artist...

A charming pencil on paper study of a human hand, the sheet 9 3/4" by 9", annotated at lower left "For Papa Apl. 28. 1832" and is signed at lower right "T T P dd." (Latin abbreviation commonly used in 19th century by artists---means "del delineavit" (he/she drew it) Florence". This drawing possibly by a youngster is a true survivor, coming up on two centuries of age. It is in good condition with corners glued to a backing sheet, and lower right corner is missing...

Watercolor painting of a blue-eyed dark haired younger man with long sideburns, seated in a chair, circa 1860's, possibly a bit earlier, apparently unsigned, 9" by 6 1/2" (12 1/4" by 10 1/4" framed). The drawing shows some evidence of 150 years of age, with some light surface scratches in a few spots, a circular discoloration on the paper at left wall, and a little other foxing/discoloration. Found in Florida. I would lean towards the work being of American, rather than English, origin.

An early 20th century pastel landscape of trees and a small creek at left, 20" by 27 1/2" as framed behind glass, no mat, signed at lower right by artist H. W. Carr. This was a period of great activity in pastel landscape painting; displaying original art in one's home, instead of a mere print, was considered a symbol of status. The frame is worn, with chipping.

A print I first thought could be Pennsylvania Dutch imagery, but which now appears to be of some European origin, perhaps the Appenzell area of Switzerland, or elsewhere in Europe. A Google search reveals that the imagery is actually used on the cover of a Spanish reader book, so perhaps this is a Spanish origin. Measurements are 17" by 13 1/2" framed. Condition is very good, with just some overall age toning of the paper and some light rumpling at bottom margin...

California watercolor landscape scene of a water tower above outbuildings in a tawny landscape, signed at lower left by artist Compton. The work measures 14" by 20" inside the present mat and 25" by 31" as framed in simple light wood, (no glass). The painting is in excellent condition despite the lack of glass. Mats are soiled and should be replaced. A well executed work squarely in the "California Style" of watercolor painting.

ONE OF A NUMBER BY THE ARTIST IN MY SHOP**This is a small etching (the sheet 7 1/2" by 5 1/4", respectably matted but not framed), by the noted California artist HARRIET GENE ROUDEBUSH (1908-1998), titled at lower left margin "Chinatown" and pencil signed at lower right by the artist...

For the dog fancier, an unusually charming drawing of what I believe to be perhaps a border collie or Australian Sheepdog, 13 1/2" by 10 1/2" (16" by 12 1/2" framed), signed illegibly at lower right and dated 1979. The artist was obviously talented and perhaps listed, but I cannot to date decipher the signature. The dog's expression is unusually energetic, charming, and even amusing. This is certainly among the most lifelike portrait drawings of a dog I have encountered...

Watercolor and gouache impressionist painting of the Dead Sea in Israel, signed in pencil at lower right in modern Hebrew script as "Hana Bar(-on)" or "Chana Bar(-on) and dated there 1970. Below that in Hebrew is written "iam hamelach" (Dead Sea). I am not able to read Hebrew but was able to show this to a Hebrew reader...

A small but nicely executed watercolor painting of the dramatic mountains surrounding Mexico's commercial capital, the city of Monterrey in Nuevo Laredo state in the northeastern part of the country. The work is signed in red at lower right "A. Hoeck" and dated there 1909. The artist was a relative of a Santa Monica, California artist who recently passed away, and this was found among her personal effects. At lower left again in red is "Mexico Monterrey", and interestingly, on the reverse, the...

Oil on canvasboard painting of flowers in a Southwestern pot, another colorful vessel nearby, and an interesting checkered pattern at bottom adding depth and complexity to the imagery. The work is signed at lower right by artist A. M. WEBER, and signed again on the reverse and titled there "MEXICAN STILL LIFE". Measurements are 19 1/2" by 24" and 24 1/2" by 29" framed. The work could date from about 1940 to about the early 1950's. I do not see a listing for this obviously talented artist. T...

ONE OF A NUMBER BY THE ARTIST IN MY SHOP**This is a small etching (the sheet 5 1/4" by 7 3/4", respectably matted but not framed), by the noted California artist HARRIET GENE ROUDEBUSH (1908-1998), titled at lower left margin "Fisherman's Wharf" and pencil signed at lower right by the artist. The image features the fishing boats tied up at the wharf, long before today's mass commercialized tourist scene made the area virtually unrecognizable. Roudebush was born in Portland, Oregon and moved to ...

Oil on canvas laid on board painting of a traditionally-dressed woman, facing away from the viewer, balancing a water jug on her head while walking in a rural setting. The work measures 13" by 10" framed and there is no apparent signature. I opened the backing and see that the canvas has been laid directly on a board. The painting might date to approximately the 1860's; similarly dressed figures are seen in mid nineteenth century paintings of the Roman campagna. One wonders if perhaps this l...

A contemporary American painting of a tabby cat next to a vase with flowers, 13 1/2" by 10 3/4" (16" by 13" in white frame), signed at lower right RS and dated there 2008. The artist was a talented amateur but he/she has created an attractive and coordinated scene in black, white, gray and blue. The frame has some smudges that come off with some rubbing and there are a few corner chips.

Pencil with white highlight drawing on brown paper, 9 1/2" by 15 3/4" (17" by 23" framed), the subject a number of different types of boats along a dramatic coast, possibly Whitby, England, circa 1860, signed at extreme lower left corner in pencil "Fowler". The drawing, which is laid on a thin board, features various types of sailing craft, and, in the foreground, a rowboat. A castle like structure crowns the prominent hill. Eastern England's coastal Whitby, often depicted in artworks, has a ...

Very detailed, complex, good-sized (21" by 15 3/4", 29" by 23 1/4" as framed) ink and watercolor whimsical drawing of a cartoonish scene including Victorian type house, car, old lady pushing shopping cart, cat, bird, dog, -----well, let's say it's hard to describe....just see the images yourself! At first glance this looks like a print or reproduction, but it is absolutely ORIGINAL ART. Carl Muecke is a veteran of political satire expressed in art, going back to his days at UC Berkeley. More ...

Highly impressionistic watercolor painting of a small boat in a foggy harbor, 14" by 20", unframed, signed at lower left by the listed American artist JOSEPH MARGULIES (1896-1984). Margulies was born in Vienna and by the 1920's was studying art in New York at the Art Students League, one of his instructors being Joseph Pennell. He also received training at the National Academy, Cooper Union, and in Europe. Margulies came to be known for his portraits and landscapes, many of the Cape Ann area ...

Oil on gray art board painting of a pretty lake surrounded by trees, houses on the distant shore, signed at lower left in ink "F. C. Hawkes" or similar, probably circa 1935. There does not seem to be a listed artist name that would correspond, but the painting stands on its own. It is quite dirty so a cleaning and a fresh frame would be transformative. There is a diagonal crack to extreme upper left corner. Restorer should exercise caution around the signature since it is in ink and could be...

Watercolor painting of a dramatic western American mountain, unframed, executed on a 12" by 17 1/2" sheet of watercolor paper, unsigned. The mountain resembles the pyramidal Going to the Sun Mountain in Montana's Glacier National Park, but I suppose this could be elsewhere in the great American west. Condition is excellent; the work needs only framing.

A posthumously published (1993) etching "Men at Rigging", the plate apparently originally cut by famous and important California artist ARMIN HANSEN (1886-1957) circa 1924, even though the work is dated 1930 after the faint plate signature. According to the printed narrative on the backing, the plate was never printed in Hansen's lifetime. It was finally printed in 1993 in an edition of 50 by the Monterey Peninsula Museum of Art (and two others "for the estate").  This one is numbered 15/50.�...

Interesting painting of the Southwest, showing Native Americans at a nocturnal religious ceremony or festival such as Penitente, probably in New Mexico, many candles flickering in the scene also populated with processional crosses. The blues of the nocturne dominate the composition, and the yellow crosses and many candles receding into the distance complete this most agreeable painting. The work is signed at bottom right with what appears as "Judith Rossio" or "Romo" or similar. To date I can...

This is a well executed impressionistic watercolor of haystacks on a marsh, a popular theme in American art, addressed most notably during the third quarter of the nineteenth century by the great Martin Johnson Heade, in the marshes of coastal northeastern Massachusetts. This painting on heavy paper was laid down to an old board a long time ago. Unfortunately it does not appear to be signed, at least not on the front. The painting itself measures 10" by 14", 18 1/2" by 22 1/4" in its late 19t...

Ink and watercolor drawing of cows in a field, 13 1/2" by 21 1/2" (20 1/2" by 29" framed), signed at lower center "Sam Smith" The modeling of the animals shows that the artist was a keen observer of their forms and a talented draftsman. Apparently this is not by the listed New Mexico artist Sam Smith (1918-1999) as the signature is not similar and the work itself does not resemble that artist's work. This watercolor is in excellent, fresh, clean condition, the paper very white.

Attractive nicely framed American watercolor that dates likely to about the 1940's, signed at lower left with what appears as "A W Edwards". The landscape measures 13" by 18" (21" by 25 1/4" framed). Obviously the artist was skilled at and trained in the use of watercolor. More research might turn up information on the identity of this painter. Condition is excellent. Hand drawn mat lines add to the appeal.

Small contemporary painting on canvas, 10" by 10", unframed. The work seems to be in mixed media, the yellows particular appearing to be gouache, the green strokes shiny, the remainder of the painting flat. A decorative piece.

Watercolor painting of a harbor scene in New England, 12 3/4" by 18 3/4" inside the mat, 20 1/4" by 26 1/4" in silvery metal framing, signed at lower left in red "J. Stephenson" and dated there '77. This is likely a scene of Maine or Massachusetts, judging from the lobster traps at left on the dock. The artist does not seem to be listed but I have seen other similar works by this hand while traveling in New England. The watercolor has a number of brown noticeable foxed areas in the sky, as s...

A fine watercolor painting of tulips in a vase, painted in a modernist style, 15 1/2" by 12" (28" by 24" framed), signed in pencil at lower right by artist JULIAN E. LEVI (1900-1982). The work is fresh and clean, and nicely matted and framed. Levi was born in New York and spent much of his life there. He did venture to Philadelphia for training at the Pennsylvania Academy under Arthur Carles, Daniel Garber, and Henry McCarter. The first half of the 1920's found him in Europe, absorbing the s...

Accomplished drawing of a young mother holding her baby, painted and with pencil underneath, unsigned, but on the reverse is a printed label of the Kherwadi Social Welfare Association of Mumbai, India, giving the name of the artist as Savita Shershing Ashiwal, age 9 years. The work being so advanced, it is difficult to believe that it could have been created by a young child. Most certainly the style resembles that of some very well-known Indian artists, including Maqbool Fida Husain and Jamin...

Autumn landscape painting, oil on masonite panel, 9" by 12" (16 1/2" by 19" framed), signed at lower right, and on reverse bearing title "Fall on Geer Mtn." and the artist's then-address in South Kent, a small town in northwestern Connecticut. This is an early, 1966 palette knife work of contemporary Connecticut impressionist RICHARD STALTER (1934-). Stalter was born in Dayton, Ohio, exhibiting early talent. Work in advertising was not satisfying, leading the young artist to come at age 30 to...