A rare circa 1930 oil by the noted Northern California woman artist GRACE ALLISON GRIFFITH (1885-1955), the subject a tawny field among rugged hills. The unframed oil on canvas board measures 12" by 15 3/4". The artist signed in red at lower right with her distinctive signature. Griffith was born in Sebastopol, California, near Santa Rosa, in idyllic Sonoma County farm and ranch country. Her father, a fruit rancher, was credited with introducing the Gravenstein apple variety to the area...

For those seeking an early California painting featuring the Golden Gate, consider this circa 1900 (possibly as early as 1880's?) unsigned work on gray artist's board, 18" by 24" (22 1/2" by 28" as framed), the subject the Golden Gate looking north from approximately the Land's End area, Civil War-era Fort Point in the middle distance, and Mt. Tamalpais in the far distance in Marin County, a steam powered boat and a three masted ship in the channel...

Oil on canvas painting of high snowy mountains framed by aspen in late autumn, 12" by 16" (17 1/4" by 20 1/2" nicely framed) signed in the wet paint by well listed American artist EDWARD NORTON WARD (1928-). This might well be a scene in northern New Mexico or southern Colorado, but the artist was known to have painted in many locales in the American west, including Montana, Oregon and Alaska. Ward, a native Californian, moved to the Monterey area in the mid 1950's...

(**One of two works by the artist in my shop**). Unlike most commonly seen works by this artist, which are actually serigraph prints, this is an original oil on canvas painting, measuring 34" by 25 1/2" (39" by 31" framed). The scene is of the Golden Gate with the famous bridge half hidden by the fog, as spinnakers of yachts billow in a brisk breeze. The work is signed at lower right "Dietrich" (HERMANN DIETRICH 1916-2003)...

Oil on board floral still life, 9 1/2" by 7 1/4" (11 1/2" by 9 1/4" framed), signed at lower right by listed artist JANET EDNA GREENLEAF (some give birth date as 1936). Born in Indiana, the artist studied in the San Francisco Bay area and also lived for significant periods of time in Smithfield, Rhode Island. Her generally small paintings of vases with flowers, similar to this one, are often encountered especially in the Northeast...

Oil on canvas, 16 1/2" by 28 1/2" (20" by 32" framed), the scene a Mediterranean California style courtyard garden complete with fountain pond, palms and other vegetation, signed at lower left by the artist, one Daisy Dean Lucas, and dated there 1938. A google search shows an interesting tidbit concerning a woman by that name in Kern County, California, estranged from her apparently wealthy husband and attempting to sue him in the year 1937...

Large (40" by 32", 47 1/2" by 41 1/2" as nicely framed) painting of a woman in a rowboat on a small lake, trees providing some respite from the sun on this high summer, exceptionally bright day, signed at lower left by listed English artist ERNEST G. BEACH (1865-c. 1934), and dated there 1910. This is an impressive work, perhaps one of the artist's best, with beautiful impressionist technique and colors...

Oil on tin sheet painting of a man in cowboy hat, titled on reverse backing "The Old Hat", 16" by 12" (22 1/2" by 18 3/4" framed), signed at lower right and again on the backing, by the well known artist of the American Southwest, RAMON KELLEY (born 1939). This is a sensitively painted work of a subject obviously very familiar to the artist. Kelley studied on a scholarship at the Colorado Institute of Art in Denver, where he counted the artist Charlie Dye among his instructors...

Oil on canvas painting, 18 1/2" by 24 1/2" including the thin red wood frame, circa 1960's or 1970's, signed on the stretcher "John J. Molino". I don't see a listing for the name so offer the painting as a decorative mid century item. It is quite a colorful and dramatic work and will beautifully complement your Eames Era modern decor. I think there's a little bit of Stuart Davis color and imagery in this. Note how the paint is raised in the hard-edge striping. The painting is a little dusty...

Oil on canvas painting, unframed, 24" by 18", titled on stretcher in artist's hand "TAKING IN THE SIGHTS ON ROMANTIC CHURCH STREET, CHARLESTON", and signed at lower left by the late San Diego county artist and poet NATALIE REED. Reed was a familiar name in the arts community in the San Diego area, creating paintings and sculptures and even murals in large scale for public buildings, including a work for the Federal Building in downtown San Francisco...

Oil on masonite painting of a small adobe structure in a landscape, 11" by 14" and narrow frame, signed in green at lower left corner "Clapp". The work is impressionistic, and the subject suggestive of New Mexico. I checked with an authority on the works of Canadian/California artist William Henry Clapp (1879-1954) to see if he thought this might be by that artist, which would enhance its value significantly. He did not believe the work to be by that artist, citing style and signature, and sa...

Sold together as a pair, unframed oil on masonite board paintings of trees in landscapes, the larger piece 30" by 40", the smaller one 24" by 35 1/2", both by the noted Santa Barbara/Ventura area California artist DOUGLAS SHIVELY (1896-1991). Shively was born in Santa Paula among the citrus and avocado groves, and he chose to continue to live in that scenic area his entire life, despite many overseas voyages. After serving in World War I he went into the banking business, ultimately reaching e...

Fresh to the market (acquired in southern Pennsylvania antique shop), an oil on canvas landscape of typical tawny gold hills in late summer, signed at lower left by the well-listed California artist MANUEL VALENCIA (1856-1935). The work measures 15 3/4" by 24" on the stretcher, 20 1/2" by 28 1/2" in present frame. Anyone who has traveled the state after the winter/early spring rains have ended will recognize the unreal gold hillsides against cloudless blue skies, which the artist has captured ...

Oil on canvas painting of a man seated in a library, 28" by 22" (34" by 27 3/4" framed), signed on the book cover at lower right and the subject apparently one "Dr. Young", by well listed Russian-born California artist ALEXANDER IGNATIEV (1913-1995). The work is very 1940's/1950's in feeling, almost mural-like. Ignatiev escaped Russia for China during the revolution and was in San Francisco by 1923, where he studied with Gleb Ilyin. Later in Los Angeles he studied at Chouinard with Millard Sh...

A nicely painted work of Boston-born still life painter CHARLES STORER (1817-1907), the subject red roses, painted on gray art board, measuring 10" by 14" (15 1/2" by 19 1/4" framed). The artist signed at center left edge and dated the painting 1901. This is an excellent example of still life work of the period in New England. Storer was born in Boston, He exhibited at the Boston Art Club and the National Academy. Most existing paintings appear to date to near the end of the artist's life. ...

This is a small California painting on board of the sequoia or redwood forest, 8 1/4" by 11" framed, unsigned, protected behind glass. Condition is excellent. Frame is wood. Though small, the artist captures the majesty of the cathedral-like groves for which the state is famous.

Oil on unstretched canvas painting of a traditional temple's courtyard, signed at lower left "Pociecha", "Nikko", and dated 1920. This is a rare, very early work by a painter known commonly as STAN PORAY (Stanislaus Pociecha Poray, 1888-1948), and most associated with California art. The work measures 15 1/2" by 12 1/4". Poray was born into nobility (his father a count) in Krakow, Poland and was educated in art there and in Paris. For a short time thereafter he lived in Moscow, then in Tomsk...

By the hand of renowned American painter AUGUSTUS VINCENT TACK (1870-1949), this is a beautifully worked portrait of a dark-eyed young woman wearing a lovely blue-white lacy dress, nervously fingering her pearls. The work is signed on the reverse and dated there 1904. Measurements are 24" by 18" (28" by 22" in what is likely the original frame). The painterly impressionist work in the dress area is masterful, as is the obviously skilled depiction of her hand. Tack was a noted artist who work...