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...

Painting of two children hugging tenderly, 24" by 20", unframed, signed at upper left by the noted Brazil-California 20th century artist OZZ FRANCA (1928-1991). Franca is perhaps best known for his paintings of Native American women, and "Big Eye" children, but he also painted a wide range of other subject matter. The Askart listing says he painted, among other subjects, fantasy, dreams/mystery, female figure, still life, cityscapes, seascapes, and pure abstraction...

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 canvas contemporary painting of a young woman in a sundress and stylish sun hat, on the deck of a ship, not signed. The work, 19 3/4" by 19 3/4", is unframed and unsigned. Condition is excellent overall, though I note two very light scuffs at right to the left of the lifesaver ring. A cute whimsical work for your wall.

Contemporary oil on canvas painting of the desert, 9" by 12" (15" by 18" in gold frame with linen liner), painted in an impressionist hand with the skilled use of various beautiful shades of blue, signed at lower right and dated there 1994 by contemporary artist RUTH OSEID JOHNSON, an oil painter and printmaker with Minnesota roots who spent years living and working in California and Arizona. In her work, she focuses on the effects of light in interior settings and in landscapes...

Painting on board of quail and black Native American pot, probably Santo Domingo Pueblo or Santa Clara Pueblo (??), 8" by 10" (13" by 15" framed), signed at lower right by listed western American artist HAROLD WATT (1925-). Watt was trained at the Jepson Art Institute and also at the Art Center School of Design in Los Angeles. Instructors included Rico LeBrun, Lorser Feitelson, and Francis DeErdely. Watt worked for the Hollywood studios and also commercially as an illustrator...

For the collector of early, 19th century California art, here is an east coast-style still life work, 10" by 14 1/2", unframed, signed at lower right "Bertie L Emery" and dated there 1892. The shallow dish holds oranges, grapes, a banana, and possibly slices of cake or bread, the dish resting on a white cloth, on an unseen tabletop. Interestingly for art history, Emery signs her first name as "Bertie"...

A charming, somewhat naïve antique oil on canvas painting, 16" by 23" (18 3/4" by 27" in late 20th century frame), unsigned, featuring a winter's day in the country, mountains in the distance, and two figures in the foreground braving the cold to chat, a glow in the central home at right center indicating that a fire is warming it. At far left in the distance is the rest of the village...

A nicely painted oil on canvas of flowers in a vase, 20" by 16" (22" by 18" in original frame), signed at lower right by Canadian-born, California impressionist artist GEORGIA P(ERKINS) FOSTER (1881-1965). On the reverse is the original label of the Oakland Art Gallery, giving the artist's name and address in Berkeley, and the title, "Marigolds". The impressionist technique is skilled and pleasing, and the work is in good condition, though a cleaning would be complementary...

Oil on board painting of a waterside building with dirt road, small boat, fences and tree, extensive water in the distance, signed at lower left twice, with a signature that appears to be "M G Johnston". The work appears to be of a coastal New England view, which leads me to believe that it would be by the hand of listed artist MARY GRANT JOHNSTON of Massachusetts and New York, but I have no other works with which to compare it...

An oil on canvasboard painting, the subject a tawny western American landscape populated by four cowboys and six horses, signed at lower left by contemporary artist Richard Harris. I do not see a listing for an artist by this name but obviously, he was talented, seeing as that he captured so beautifully the horses-- a notoriously difficult subject to paint well. The work reminds a bit of that of listed California artists Bill Bender and James Colt...

‏Oil on canvas laid on board painting of snowy high mountain framed by a lake and trees, 12" by 16" (15 1/2" by 19 1/2" framed). Although unsigned (and Detreville's output frequently WAS unsigned), the handling, subject matter and color palette strongly suggest the hand of the noted California painter. I have owned and sold other unsigned paintings as being by Detreville, and I will stand by this being one of his works...

Oil on masonite still life painting, 24" by 18" (33" by 26" framed), signed at lower left by California artist CLARETTA ELLIS WHITE (c. 1915-2002). This is a briskly painted work by an artist who was quite active in the Southern California art scene at mid century. An unusually detailed and complete website, evidently created by relatives, gives a complete history of her active life. The artist was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma into a cultured family. She grew up in Tulsa and went on to work as a s...

Oil on canvas, 20" by 24", 23 1/2" by 29" as framed, the subject a vase of orange flowers in a complex still life setting, an old timer wood dresser against the wall, other elements including books, smoker's pipe, ashtray, picture frame, tobacco can completing the scene. The painting is signed at lower left apparently "DAILEY" and is dated there "42". Also on the stretcher, faintly in white chalk, are the words " Still Dailey" (partly unreadable). I have researched the name and feel that t...

Oil on masonite, 18" by 24", (23" by 29" as framed), the subject a copper kettle on a small wooden stand on a table, with a cup and saucer, small blue milk pitcher and poinsettia in a decorative blue vase filling out the scene. The painting is signed at lower right "L. Johnson". I do not seem to be able to connect this to any listed artist so am offering it as a decorative work. It was found in San Diego, and the poinsettia suggests a California origin. Frame is vintage and no doubt origina...

Oil on canvas modernistic still life, 12" by 20" (13" by 21" in a narrow wood frame), signed at lower right "R. FORTIER" and dated there 1948. The work reminds me a little bit of Braque, Picasso or some of the other 20th century giants who painted modern still life. This painting was evidently owned by a heavy smoker or was in a bar or restaurant where smoke was very much a part of the scene, as it is very heavily yellowed and smells of smoke. I believe that once cleaned, yellows, blues and p...

An early oil on canvas painting, 10 1/4" by 8 1/2", unframed, unsigned, featuring a nocturne moonlight view of Mission Delores in San Francisco. At the time the landmark was a popular subject for artists. Manuel Valencia was apparently fond of painting it as it appears in a number of his works. This example is in displayable condition, though the painting is soiled, and canvas is lumpy/uneven since it is splitting at two of the tacking edges, as shown, and the varnish is missing in many porti...

Oil on canvasboard painting of flowering yucca ("Spanish Bayonet") in a landscape, signed at lower right by Barbara White, a talented artist from Silver City, New Mexico, who was elected first president of the organization in 1968. There does not seem to be much other information readily available on the net, but one reference does indicate that she is deceased. The painting measures 9" by 12" and 15" by 18" framed. The artist wrote her name, address and the title "N. Mex Yuccas" on the board...

Oil on canvas unframed painting of two chairs and a glass-topped table on a peaceful terrace overlooking an extensive landscape, likely California, 16" by 20", unsigned. The artist is anonymous but his/her work is quite skilled and pleasing. The impressionistic handling of this scene makes for a most decorative and appealing painting. The regular size should make framing easy and inexpensive.

A circa late 1930's to early 1940's painting titled on the reverse "Molas Lake and Needle Mountains, Silverton Colorado", signed at lower right by artist C. H. Rising. The oil on canvas measures 12" by 16" and is unframed. A light cleaning would be helpful but you could just throw a regular sized frame around this and enjoy it on your wall. Nicely executed work by a talented yet apparently unknown artist. The mountains are well painted, streaked with snow of the previous winter. The lake re...

Oil on canvasboard circa 1960 painting of a variety of flowers in a ceramic yellow vase artistically placed on a textile with another ceramic vessel nearby, signed at lower left "Betty Way". The work, which measures 24" by 18", also bears a label on the reverse with the artist's name and address in Springfield, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. To date I have not located a known artist by this name. A Betty Way of Harrisburg, PA was a newspaper circulation manager. There might well be ...

A vintage oil on canvasboard painting of distant green gentle mountain ranges, a cluster of structures (a farm) and surrounding trees in the foreground, unsigned but written apparently by the Claremont, New Hampshire framer on the backing paper appears "Mark V. Miller/For Mother/1949/Lyme Rd., NH/Looking over into VT". Also, written in pencil on the canvasboard is "Mrs. Leon Miller/8B/pick up colors". So apparently this is a mid 1940's view from Western New Hampshire looking west over the Conn...

Oil on canvasboard painting of a dirt road through a pine woodland, signed at lower right by artist ADDIE SYLVESTER. On the reverse side it is titled "Deep in the Heart of Texas", signed again and dated 1950. I do not see information on the artist. Curiously there was a woman by that name who passed away in 1989 in Manhattan, Kansas area; on the backing paper, most of a label is missing, but the remaining letters of what would be the town in the address are "MAN...". There may or may not be ...

Oil on board painting of autumnal trees, (California sycamores?), hazy mountains in the distance, unsigned, circa 1930's or 1940's. The work measures 9" by 12" and 11 5/8" by 14 1/2" in old probably original frame. The lack of a signature frustrates an effort to identify this talented artist, who might well be listed. The ornate frame is in good condition save for a missing chip at upper left. Painting is a bit soiled consistent with its age. There is a vertical line of soiling or foreign m...

Circa 1940's or 1950's oil on canvas, 25" by 30", (33" by 38" as framed), the subject a vase with pink and white flowers, some blue cornflowers at lower left in front of an open oriental fan, the entire scene suffused with a pinkish, mid-century light. The painting is signed at lower right by the Who Was Who in American Art-listed JOSEPH LANE (1900-), an artist and muralist who trained at the Art Institute of Chicago. Today Lane is most associated with Illinois and his trademark still life wor...

Oil on linen laid on board, 16 1/4" by 23 1/4", the simple modern frame about 1 1/4" wide, signed at lower right by listed California woman artist M.E. HODGDON, not dated but likely before 1920. The painting recently came out of Maine, where it had possibly resided for decades, perhaps brought east by an early day traveler wanting a souvenir. The artist, MARY E. HODGDON, is said by Hughes in his dictionary of California artists to have been a resident of Los Angeles between 1912 and 1922. Not...

This is a pretty, impressionist circa 1930's small landscape painting of trees and a path bordering water, painted on gray art board, measuring 9" by 12" (13 1/2" by 16" framed). There is no signature on the front but on the art board label is written in ink "Swick". This may or may not be the artist. The painting is so nicely executed, but its inherent beauty is dulled by decades of dirt. A professional cleaning will truly transform this one. Frame is likely same age as the painting; it ha...

Oil on canvas painting of small figures walking a dirt track in autumn along the shore of a lake, 19 3/4" by 24" (28" by 32" framed), signed at lower right with what appears as "Fan UDKO". I believe the work is likely by a listed artist but I cannot come up with any listing from the name, at least as I am reading it. Perhaps more research might identify the artist. The painting is competently executed. A new frame would be desirable as this old one shows wear and staining of the linen, and i...

In the style of masters like William Harnett, John F. Peto, Otto Kaye and others, this is a painting of an ink bottle, old style fountain pen, pipe and matches, stamped envelope and calendar, signed at lower right "Roy Fay". The letter, in the trompe l'oeil" (French for "fool the eye") tradition, is addressed to himself, in "Pasadena, Cal", and is interestingly postmarked in Kansas. The calendar is from the "Ohio Grocery", of Pasadena, and the calendar sheet reads November 1912. The painting...

Oil on board landscape, unsigned, the subject a panorama of red rock cliffs and distant butte, likely in Arizona, or possibly Utah, the scene framed by tree at right. The work has some age, a guess would place this circa 1955 to about 1965. Certainly it is good enough to have been painted by a listed artist. The condition is acceptably good. There is a little moisture warp (not stained, just a warp) from possible past storage perhaps in a garage setting, and the back of the board is rough fr...

A circa 1900 oil on canvas painting of roses against a simple dark background, 12 1/2" by 18", and 20" by 24 1/2" in likely original bright gold frame. There does not appear to be a signature. Roses were a popular subject of painters during that period, with many young ladies especially encouraged to take up painting. The American painter George Cochran Lambdin often used dark or black backgrounds for his floral still life works. This painting is in generally good vintage condition, with a v...

Oil on board painting of watermelon, grapes, and banana arranged on a tabletop, 20" by 24" (25" by 28 1/2" framed), signed at lower left by American artist Helen Lubetkin. The work is by a skilled hand, though I can find very little information online relating to this name; the painting was found in Los Angeles, and a woman by that name died in San Marcos (North San Diego County) in the late 1980's, but there is no way of telling if this might have been the artist. The painting has a flattene...

Oil on canvasboard painting, 14" by 18" (17 1/2" by 21 1/2" in simple wood frame), signed on the reverse by artist James E. Carson of Andover, Massachusetts and titled there "Lobster Cove". This is a peaceful scene, most likely of the Lobster Cove near Annisquam and Gloucester, MA, but I see there is also a Lobster Cove in Maine. Regardless of the exact location, this is a classic scene of New England, captured by a talented artist. There is a listed illustrator by this name but I cannot dete...

A PAIR of American oil on board mountain landscapes, each 23 1/2" by 11 3/4" (29 1/2" by 17 1/2" framed), both signed at lower corner A. A. Baker. There does not seem to be biographical information on the Hudson River-inspired artist, who likely painted these in the mid 1880's. It is doubtful that they have ever been cleaned. There is a smell of smoke. One has a 1" puncture of the board (in the tree at right), the pressure having come from the reverse side; the piece remains attached. Frames...

Oil on canvas painting executed in an impressionist style showing small rowboats on a lake in a park, 8" by 10" and 14" by 16" as framed, signed at lower right by listed artist LOUISE RICHARDSON DODD. The artist is listed in the Davenport art dictionary but I have found no other information on her. I would lean towards her being an east coast artist. This is a lovely scene, perhaps of a lake one would find in a large park. The painting probably dates to the mid 20th century, perhaps around 1...

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...

This is a **PAIR** of unframed paintings in acrylic on Masonite (one appears to be on a thin, gauzy type of canvas laid on masonite), one 18" by 24", one 24" by 12" by noted Northern California artist TED CHRISTENSEN (1911-1998). Neither is signed on the front but they are typical of the subject matter and technique of the artist. Both are inscribed on the back; one says "#89-1 TED CHRISTENSEN/ACRYLIC - 12" x 24"; the other says "9002 -GOLDEN GATE/TED CHRISTENSEN/ACRYLIC 18" by 24". The ve...

An oil on canvasboard painting of the California desert, painted in unusually pastel-y color palette, signed at lower left by artist Alzira Maria. The piece, 22" by 28" (28" by 34" framed) features an almost Cubist handling in the distant mountains, reminding of artists such as Andrew Dasburg. The painting is clean and wall-ready. Frame is attractive distressed wood style, and liner and gold fillet are in good condition.

Oil on panel, 9 1/4" by 12 1/2" (14 1/4" by 17 1/4" as framed), signed at lower left in red "Karla Mirabal", and inscribed on label on reverse, "Judge M. R. Mirabal Homestead in New Mexico" "Artist Karla King--So Calif and New Mexico--Artists of West--WHAA". This is probably of historical interest, depicting as it does an early home. The work is very impasto and impressionistic. The painting is a bit soiled but could be placed on the wall as is. Note the two young girls on the porch.

Painting on canvasboard, I believe in tempera or similar, (not oil), 16" by 20" (21" by 25" framed), titled on reverse "SWAYBACK", and signed at lower right "CHARLES TRUMBO HENRY" and dated there 1948. The artist was a student of Thomas Hart Benton, Boardman Robinson, and George Grosz. Little known today, he was an active exhibitor and major museums include his work in their collections. Henry was born in Niagara Falls, New York, and his remains are at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angele...

Vintage oil of white, yellow and pink roses on a table top, circa Victorian late 19th century to the early years of the new century, apparently unsigned, in pleasing old wood and gilt frame, the entire work as framed measuring 11" by 13 1/4". The canvas is laid against the backing but is not glued down to it so there is some rippling. Other than a few minor surface abrasions the overall impression is quite beautiful. A fine acquisition for the still life collector or shabby chic decorator.

Oil on canvas impressionist still life of flowers, 24" by 30" (30" by 36" in the vintage, period frame), signed at lower right by listed California artist Edwin L. Forker (1876-1958). Born in Pennsylvania, Forker was in California by 1918. He is known today for the body of decorative paintings he left for posterity. This work is in excellent condition, having come directly from a West Los Angeles house where it was displayed for many years.

Oil on canvas California coastal landscape, in extremely poor condition, in need of someone to love it and preserve it. The work measures 19" by 22" (23" by 26" framed), and is signed at lower right J... WITT. From comparison to a fully signed painting, I can say that this is a work of listed California artist JESSIE R. DeWITT. DeWitt was active in the Laguna Beach area in the 1940's, and has some ties to Arkansas, but generally there is little biographical information available on this talen...

A vintage still life oil painting, unframed, 30" by 24", signed twice at lower right (one, very faint) by listed Southern California artist BERTHA TOWNSEND COLER (1865-1948). Coler was born in Ohio and studied with Robert Henri and William Merritt Chase in New York City. By 1928 she had moved to Santa Monica, California and for the next two decades was a prolific painter in watercolor and oil, concentrating on portraits and still life, with some landscapes in the mix. Coler was a member of W...

A still life on board, of fruit on a green table cloth with white pitcher, unframed, 12" by 16", signed in the wet paint by listed Connecticut woman artist SUSAN GRISELL (1946-). The work is in excellent condition, and needs just a (standard size, easy to find) frame. Grisell is a New Milford, Connecticut native and has lived her life mostly in Litchfield County in the scenic northwestern part of the state. The area has a rich artistic history, having attracted painters since the 19th century...

Oil on canvas landscape with a home and small out building, possibly but not at all necessarily a California scene, measuring 10" by 14" (12 1/4" by 16 1/4" as framed), signed at lower right (I think in ink) "....... E. Miller" and dated there '32. The actual first part of the signature is difficult to read, but on the stretcher in pencil is written "E. E. Miller". I do not see any listing for this artist, but, as is often the case, the lack of a listing does not mean the artist wasn't talente...

This is an oil on board painting of a small house in a forest landscape, apparently unsigned, in the general tradition of the Hudson River School, 13 1/2" by 21 1/2" plus gold framing about 1 1/2" on a side. The work could date from about 1900 to maybe the mid 1920's, I would think. It is a decorative work that gives the feeling of a more expensive painting, when viewed from a distance. There is soiling, some light abrasions, and a pressure crack in the board at extreme upper right----but no...

For the fans of the "Big Eye" paintings, here is a pair of mid century retro style works in oil on board, each 23 1/2" by 11 1/4", and each signed at lower right. The signatures are hard to decipher; I'm guessing "Balmiani" or "Dalmiani". If I am reading them at all correctly, I am not able to tie these names to any of the listed, recognized big eye painters. Regardless of authorship, these are sure to please the devoted big eye collector. One of them has some light to moderate surface scuff...

Colorful vintage unframed impressionist painting of the iconic Taos Pueblo in New Mexico, painted in a bright palette, oil on canvas laid on board, 12" by 14", signed at lower right with conjoined initials "MP", a typical signature of California artist MARION RANDALL PARSONS (1878-1953). Parsons was born in San Francisco and lived most of her life in the Bay Area. A bold and independent woman for her time, she befriended Wanda Muir, daughter of famous naturalist John Muir, and through the frie...

Oil on canvas laid on board painting of San Juan Capistrano mission in Orange County, California, 5" by 5", 7" by 12 1/4" in period pie crust frame. Written in pencil in old hand on the tattered framing paper is "San Capistrano Mission". Although unsigned, the handling, subject matter and color palette are unquestionably of the hand of the noted California prolific painter RICHARD DETREVILLE (1864-1929). I have owned and sold other unsigned paintings as being by Detreville, and I will stand by ...

Oil on canvasboard painting titled on backing paper "LAVISH FALL PALETTE/LONGS PEAK", signed at lower right by artist RUTH ERWIN (1904-1994). The work, featuring flaming aspen in the Colorado high country in high autumn, a view to monumental Longs Peak in the distance, measures 10" by 8" (18 1/2" by 16" framed). I've gathered a few nuggets of information on the artist through the net. One person wrote what she found on a label attached to the back of an Erwin painting she owned: "....the "pa...

An oil painting directly on a chunk of sandstone, by the noted western American artist, writer and philosopher A KELLY PRUITT (1924-2009), featuring a young Native American girl astride a horse. The work is inscribed "To a beautiful spirit Kristen/with love A Kelly Pruitt". The irregularly shaped work measures approximately 12" by 12" and weighs a full 4 1/2 pounds. The artist was born in Arkansas and headed west with his family during the Depression, settling in Presidio in isolated far west...

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. This...

Oil on canvasboard painting of an extensive panoramic desert viewed from forested heights, signed at lower right and signed again with title "Over Mahave Desert Sept. 19, 1944" on the reverse. The work, 10 3/4" by 14", is unframed. Lydia Floret is a listed artist. Several pieces have sold at auction---another desert scene, a boy with a toy train, and a landscape of the New Hope Canal (eastern Pennsylvania's Bucks County). An internet search shows a woman of that name, age 30, as a lodger in ...

Mid 20th century painting of a vessel containing a plant with interesting leaves and orange tightly closed flowers, executed in an impressionist style with a modernist feel, on a 16" by 20" canvasboard, unframed, signed in black capital letters at lower left "Chatterton". Neither the signature nor subject matter resemble those of noted artist Clarence Chatterton, who was a student of Edward Hopper. I am offering it simply as an interesting still life painting. Condition: some light abrasions ...

Oil on canvas painting of the arcaded breezeways at the famous Mission San Juan Capistrano in Southern California, 8" by 10", unframed, signed with initials at lower right and possibly again by the artist on the reverse. In addition there is an original old slip of paper giving the artist's biography. Schmidt was born in Gladbeck, Westphalia, Germany after the end of World War I. By age 15 he was already receiving art instruction. Today he is best known for his detailed works of historical b...

Found recently in Maine, this is an antique oil on board painting, 12" by 14 3/4" as framed, unsigned, the subject purple grapes and a ripe peach, the autumnal grape leaf suggesting the season of harvest, all on a marble ledge or table, with a distant view beyond. The gray academy board, style and framing suggest a date of execution of about 1880. The painting is very American in feeling, bordering on folk art as there's a naivete. The frame has wear and an obvious loss at lower left corner. ...

(**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 18" (unframed). The scene, which could be described as a floral fantasy, incorporating at least two human heads floating within the composition, is rather typical of the work of the artist, HERMANN DIETRICH (1916-2003). Dietrich's online profile has only in recent years become more developed. Born in...

Oil on canvas painting, unsigned, contemporary, unframed, 24" by 36", executed in retro 1960's and 1970's colors: olive, powder blue, orange, white. If your interior is modern and skewing towards the "Pan Am" days, then this will surely please. It has a few light scuffs and soiling that might be removable with light soapy water--see photos.

Oil on canvas, 18" by 24" and 1 1/2" wide white and gold painted frame, signed at lower left "EH Deffner '51" and inscribed on reverse "Sweetheart Lake/E.H. Deffner 10-'51/$150.00". This is a beautifully executed work by a talented artist, on whom I have not located a listing. From the subject matter I would suspect this work to be from the Pacific Northwest, like Oregon, Washington, or Northern California. There is a decidedly modernistic handling to the leaves on the tree at right. The ref...