Unframed oil on paper on board painting of a desert Southwest landscape, 8 1/2" by 12", signed at lower right M. Edwards. The painting probably dates to the 1920's or 1930's I would guess. It has accumulated a lot of soiling and varnish has yellowed, so it desperately needs a cleaning. Note the left extreme edge, which must have been behind a frame, to get some idea of the potential after cleaning. There is also a small dig at right edge, and upper right corner of the paper is missing...

An original drawing on paper of couples sitting at tables in a formal garden patio setting, attended to by a waiter, signed at lower left margin by the well-listed California artist CLARK HOBART (1868-1948). The sheet, unframed and currently in a protective plastic sleeve, measures 10" by 8 1/2". Hobart was born in Rockford, Illinois. He was in California as a child, then studied at the San Francisco School of Design under Stanton and Giuseppe Cadenasso and also privately with William Keith...

Painting on canvas of urban skyline with foreground boats, painted in modern and stylish grays, black, white and red, signed at lower right "LF Mark" or similar. The piece, in strip typical late sixties or early seventies frame, measures 18 1/2" by 26". Condition is very good save for a small puncture at lower left that actually blends in with the design and is not all that easy to find. Frame at left and lower right is also ever so slightly askew...

Oil on canvas painting of a white bench in a park or garden, the sun dappled vegetation depicted in colorful palette of purple, yellow, and green, signed at lower right by Southern California contemporary artist PATRICIA SHILLING-STEWART. The work measures 16" by 20" (20" by 23 1/2" in shiny white laminate frame)...

Oil on board painting of the famous Matterhorn in Switzerland, two small wooden structures in the foreground and elegant trees at left completing the composition. The work is signed at lower right "M M Cole" and is dated there 1981. On the reverse of the frame is written "Miriam '81", so, we likely have an American woman as the artist. Measurements are 18" by 22" and 21 1/2" by 25 1/2" as framed...

A rarely seen hand signed (ball point pen, lower right margin) poster printed to publicize the 1992 Taos Arts Festival, the poster featuring a painting of the Taos Pueblo against snow capped mountains, western horses in the foreground. The piece measures 27" by 20 1/2" as framed (no glass). ILA MAE McAFEE (1897-1995) was an American painter, muralist, illustrator and author born in or near Gunnison, Colorado...

For the Anglophile, this is a piece of classic old England, a watercolor, 10" by 14", (16 3/8" by 20" as framed), signed at lower left by artist MICHAEL VICARY, the scene a narrow riverboat barge on the Thames under the classic view of Windsor Castle outside London. A few pieces by Vicary have crossed the auction block, but the main appeal of the work lies in its fine detail and craftsmanship...

This is an interesting example of a monotype, in which art is created on a piece of glass which is then pressed against paper to produce a unique image. The artist is well listed and his paintings sell well at Canadian auctions. At first glance, this work could easily pass for a watercolor; a monotype is something of a hybrid, with characteristics of prints and original art. It measures 17 3/8" by 13 1/2" inside the mat; with an additional 5 1/4" of mat and frame on a side...

A very pretty impressionist work that appears to show spindly eucalyptus-like trees in a hazy landscape, some small red tile roofs suggesting this could be California or possibly Mediterranean Europe. The piece is signed at lower right "J R HUPPI" or similar. It measures 9" by 12" (canvas laid on board) and 16" by 19" as framed. There is a Salt Lake City framers or gallery stamp on the frame ("Tivoli Gallery"). A light cleaning to remove some yellowed varnish would be beneficial...

Offered as a pair, pastel drawings of fruit (an apple, and an orange), each signed by contemporary Alabama studio artist JOHN KELLEY. The drawings are each 4" by 4", and 11" by 9" as framed in light wood. Kelley was born in St. Louis but moved to a rural area near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where he works diligently, producing paintings and drawings of fruit, four seasons landscape, and portraits. Technically very adept, Kelley has kept a low profile...

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.

This is a nineteenth century European painting facsimile, consisting of hand coloring over a photo-mechanical print, the finished product quite convincing and possessing considerable decorative value. The work measures 10" by 7 3/4" (16" by 13" framed). The name of the artist who created the original painting from which this was derived appears in red at lower right, the name "Marqueta" or similar. These facsimiles of oil paintings can fool even some gallery and auction house personnel if the...

Watercolor of a drylands or desert landscape, wind blowing a large sparse tree or bush, measurements inside the mat 14" by 20 1/2", 21" by 28" framed, signed faintly at lower left by the listed California watercolor artist ROBERT UECKER (1929-2005). Uecker was born in Los Angeles and won a five year scholarship to the Chouinard Art Institute, where he was instructed by the likes of Rex Brandt, Ed Reep, and Pruett Carter. Later in life he became a teacher himself, as well as owner of art supply s...

Black ink on paper still life including wine bottle, Asian pot in foreground, potted plant and objects on a distant table, 17 1/4" by 11 1/4" (25" by 19" as framed), signed at lower right by well listed artist WAYNE LA COM (1922-). The economy of draftsmanship in this ink drawing reminds of the skilled pen technique of Henri Matisse and his famous nudes. La Com is known for his skilled watercolors in the 20th century California Scene style. Many works were executed in Hawaii of familiar Hawaiia...

Early California watercolor painting, circa 1920's or 1930's I would guess, possibly earlier, titled at lower left Cathedral Peak/Emerald Bay, signed at lower right "A.L.M.". This is a view of Lake Tahoe and the grand scenery at the south end of that famous mountain lake. The painting measures 11 1/2" by 8 1/2" inside the mat, and 16 1/4" by 14 1/4" as simply framed. The style suggests the artist might have been a student or possibly familiar with the work of influential Northern California w...

An impressionist work, possibly mixed media on paper or board, the scene a birds-eye view of a house on steep hillside surrounded by pink-blooming trees, a view to a plain beyond. The painting, 7" by 9 3/4" (14 3/4" by 17 3/4" framed) is signed at lower left by the noted Utah artist KIRK RANDLE (1952-). Randle, a Utah native, received a Presidential Scholarship in 1971, which he used to further his studies at The University of Utah. He maintains a studio at his home in Bountiful, Utah. The art...

A beautiful pencil drawing of human hands, likely 19th century, measuring 4 1/2" by 5 1/2" inside the ornate French mat, 10 1/4" by 11 1/4" as framed in gilt closed corner framing. There is a little wear in the corners of the frame but the overall look with mat and frame is upscale. I very carefully opened the backing (with its English "Stephanie Hoppen" circular label and 150 British Pounds original price in ink), and found no further information inside or on the reverse, as to authorship, th...

Watercolor on paper painting of a classic stone castle with figures outside its portals, 14" by 10 1/2" (26 1/2" by 23" as framed), apparently unsigned. This is a circa 1850 work which has survived in presentable condition. There is foxing in the sky principally, as shown, but no large stains. To be sure, there were a lot of anonymous skilled watercolor artists in the British Isles in the 19th century, though this might well have been created by an artist that would be "listed" today.