Oil on Masonite painting of a high desert of the Southwest, 8" by 9 3/4", unframed, signed in red with initials at lower left. Probably dates to the 1960's or 1970's. Put an eight by ten inch frame on it and you will have a very nice little landscape for your wall.

Acrylic on canvas contemporary painting of palms, depicted in yellow, pinkish-red and greenish-blue against an electric blue background, 18" by 24", unframed, signed at lower right by the artist, Shannon Casey. This is a nicely decorative, breezy work that will surely add a touch of the tropics to your interior. There are a very few minor spots of soiling or abrasion that hardly detract from the overall effect.

Oil on masonite painting of grapes, apples and pitcher/plate on a table top, 16" by 20" (20" by 24" in oak frame), signed at lower right and again on reverse in pencil by California artist Marion Ellison (1898-1997). Ellison was a Midwesterner who moved to Southern California, becoming involved there in the art scene...

In the tradition of Victorian rose paintings of the late 19th and early 20th century, here is an unframed work, canvas laid on board, 11 1/2" by 21 1/2", signed at lower right "IDMAY". The painting likely dates to the early years of the 20th century, a time when young girls were encouraged to take up the "ladylike" skill of flower painting. "IDMAY" might have been Ida Mae----one of these young ladies. Our artist was of average skill, but her handiwork has outlived her...

Oil on canvasboard painting of a young girl, in the style of Margaret Keane and the "Big Eyed School" of the period, 24" by 18", unframed. The work is signed, charmingly, at lower right "Grandpa Friedman" and is dated there "64". The board is curved---a bit concave, or convex, as you might put it---but otherwise the painting is in good condition. A nice addition to your mid century Retro collection.

Large impressionist painting of violet mountains, pond and green meadow with white fence, 24" by 30" (31" by 37" framed), signed at lower left by artist HENRIETTA S. RUDDER, further titled "Mountains" on reverse where there is a label of the 1989 Artists Guild of the Norton Gallery Fifth Annual Exhibition (probably West Palm Beach, Florida), providing the artist's name, and the original price of $500. The painting is created primarily with palette knife, the paint richly and generously applied...

Impressionist small contemporary painting of a knoll in sunlight and shadow, 8" by 10", unframed, unsigned. This is a quickly executed work, almost a sketch in oil, by an anonymous but skilled artist. It is in excellent condition. The regular size would facilitate buying a suitable frame at a modest price.

Old horizontal format landscape, oil on board, featuring trees, a creek or lake, the only sign of man a picket fence near the group of trees at center, signed at lower left "Ferguson". The painting likely dates to about 1925 or 1930. Measurements are 14 1/2" by 25" (19" by 32 1/2" in frame that dates to about 1965). There is stable authentically old "alligatoring" of the paint (a crackling pattern related to how quickly the paint dried)...

An oil on canvas painting of white flowers in a glass vase on a table top, two small porcelain vessels nearby, the work signed at lower right by artist Minerva Smithers. On the stretcher in pencil is written "Matilija Poppy" and then the artist again wrote her name in longhand. A google search shows a Minerva Smithers born in 1877 in Wisconsin, the woman's residence given in the 1940 census as Hawthorne, in Southern California (very near where this was found)...

A contemporary, unsigned oil on canvasboard work, 9" by 12" (12 1/2" by 15 1/2" in simple black frame), the subject small boats at a dock, one likely a fishing boat. The work was likely painted rather rapidly by an artist of talent. It is clean and ready for the wall.

Oil on canvas painting of a tabby cat, 7" by 5" (12" by 10" framed), circa 1970 to 1980 judging from the framing, signed lower right "Jody". The artist was certainly talented; the likeness of the cat to reality is well above average. Condition is excellent. Needs to be nailed more tightly into frame.

Vintage oil on panel painting of the coastline at Santa Monica in Southern California, 7" by 9" framed, signed at lower right "K. Latour". Written on an old label on the reverse is "Scene looking right from Palisades at Santa Monica Calif./remember?". The painting likely dates to about the 1940's or early 1950's. Ready to hang on your small empty wall. The vintage frame has slight corner separation and wear at upper left.

A contemporary oil on canvasboard painting, 16" by 20", 19 1/2" by 23 1/2" as framed, the subject an intimate little harbor no doubt in coastal Maine, with a lobsterman's shack and traps stacked on the deck, and his trap-identifying floats hanging on the side of the structure. The talented amateur artist "Paula" signed at lower right and dated the work '98. The work has accumulated a little light soiling and two small abraded areas, as shown.

Oil on canvasboard painting of a woman with basket on head in tropical town street, 12" by 16", 17" by 21" framed, signed at lower right Paul Katzman. The FRAME is most interesting, with a geometric cross-hatching pattern that would complement a Southwest themed painting.

An interesting, folky, oil on canvas painting of a house with stone chimney set in a lush open valley, apparently set in Salinas Valley in California, signed by artist Sharon Moree Giambrocco Ebina, who wrote a long story on the back of the canvas. In that story she explains how the painting is inspired by the movie made from the John Steinbeck book "East of Eden". She also touches on the Japanese inspiration she feels, her signature incorporating the Japanese character for "valley"...

A circa late 1800's or circa 1900 antique painting on gray art board of a lake at sunset, a steep outcropping with ruins at left and a small boat completing the composition, unsigned, by an amateur hand, 13 1/2" by 8 3/4" as framed. The work is in an ornate turn of the century frame with a few missing chips that could be easily painted over in gold. What more is there to say---it is a classic little painting of its era, perfect for a small or narrow wall.

A contemporary painting of the famous Lone Cypress clinging to the rocks along the Seventeen Mile Drive on the Monterey Peninsula, near Carmel on California's central coast. The oil on canvas, 12" by 16" (14" by 18 1/2" framed) is signed at lower left by artist Florence Antree. The work is clean. I note a small hairline abrasion/puncture in the branches at upper left, largely hidden by the composition. A little appropriately matched watercolor around it would hide the issue completely...

Oil on canvasboard painting of a home and greenery with a high mountain backdrop, signed at lower left faintly "J. F. Gasser" and inscribed on reverse "Original/by Rev. J. F. Gasser/April 1937/La Crescenta Calif". The work measures 12" by 16" (16" by 19 1/2" framed). The artist does not appear to be listed or known but was talented. An early scene in what is today a highly desirable upscale Los Angeles suburb backing up to the scenic Angeles National Forest.