Watercolor painting of a young ballerina-like ice skater on a frozen pond, 9" by 12 1/2" (17 1/4" by 20 1/4" framed), signed in red at lower left by gallery artist Craig Smith. There seems to be little internet information on the artist, though another work in my shop by him, an oil, comes with a business card showing that he exhibited at a Carmel, California gallery in the mid 1980's. The present work seems to pre-date that by a number of years----perhaps circa 1950's or 1960's...

A PAIR of highly realistic, detailed watercolor paintings one of pears, one of peaches, the peaches 10" by 14", (18" by 21" as framed), the pears 9 1/2" by 15 1/2", (16 3/4" by 22 1/4" framed), both in blond wood frames, behind Plexiglas, both signed in gold paint by Los Angeles area contemporary artist GRACE SWANSON. An online biography reveals that the artist displayed talent while still a youngster; she went on to degrees in art from Loyola Marymount College in Los Angeles...

Watercolor on paper painting of a lovely young woman in turn of the century Italy, likely Venice, 13" by 10 1/4" inside the mat, 21" by 17 1/2" in pleasing coppery gold frame, signed at lower right by artist D. G. ANGIOLINI. The artist is obviously highly skilled. Paintings by this D. G. Angiolini generally feature genre scenes of Venice, or views of Venice...

Watercolor painting of flowers in a vase on a tabletop, 16" by 18 1/2" (20" by 22" framed), signed at lower left corner by noted artist GUY DE BOUTHILLIER. The artist, born in France in 1893 to a French political minister, is said to have studied with Monet, Picasso, and John Singer Sargent (see printed label on reverse, with short biography, from the old Beverly Hills-based Martin Lowitz Gallery)...

Circa 1960's watercolor painting of a snowy street in New England, a white church at left and bare elm trees framing the scene at right, signed at lower right corner by artist William Carpenter. I do not see a listing that would seem to fit but the artist obviously was talented in the watercolor medium. Condition is very clean. All images were taken through detail-dulling non-glare glass of the period. Measurements 10 1/4" by 11 1/2" (16" by 17" framed).

Circa 1900 watercolor of the heart of Venice, Italy, including the familiar sights of canal and gondola, St. Mark's Basilica church and the famous clock tower on the Piazza San Marco, signed at lower left "E.K. Coomber". This work measures 12" by 6 1/4" inside the mat and 18 1/2" by 12" framed. The artist though apparently unknown was talented and a master of the watercolor medium. The artwork is clean, although the photos suggest otherwise; there is foxing and soil on the inside of the glass...

Watercolor painting of docked small boats and their rigging, 13" by 9 1/2", 20 1/2" by 17 3/4" framed (no glass), signed at lower left by the artist, A. Romanet (ANDRE ROMANET, 20th century French). The talented watercolorist seems to have worked in the south of France on the Riviera before the war, there being watercolors of Saint-Tropez and Saint-Raphael. Colors are bright and condition is very good overall; I note a tiny puncture in sky at upper left, but it is tiny...

Large, impressive watercolor painting of mountain laurel shrub and its delicate blossoms (the state flower of Connecticut, growing naturally in the wild, especially at higher elevations, and blooming in the month of May), 19" by 28 1/2" (27 1/2" by 35 1/2" framed), signed at lower right and dated there 1890, by the well listed Massachusetts artist RICHARD ANDREW (1869-1956). Andrew was born in Belfast, (Northern) Ireland and died in Gloucester, Massachusetts...

Contemporary watercolor painting of a sun-filled, arid landscape with eucalyptus, spiky yucca-like plants, and a lizard (Australian goanna?) in the foreground, the painting signed at lower right "Meg Hocking". The piece is likely from Australia, as the goanna and eucalyptus would suggest. An internet search does not turn up an artist by this name but obviously she knew watercolor painting. The work, unframed (is matted, though) measures 13 3/4" by 9 7/8" inside the mat...

Old (pre 1920, possibly as early as late 19th century) watercolor of coastal rocks, 10" by 14", the frame in which found measuring 18 1/2" by 22", signed at lower right "T. G. Stowers". The work, found in New England, was mounted on an old board years ago. As it was loose in the frame, I have removed it for photography, and will ship it between boards. The old frame has some losses and is available at no extra cost. Research to date has not led to a listed artist name that would correspond...

Three small watercolor paintings of classic scenes of Japan, two signed by artist "Kyo" or similar, each measuring 6 1/4" by 2 7/8"...

A watercolor with white gouache of a barn and another structure on an overcast, gray, snowy day, an old buckboard wagon at right center, the work signed below the mat GENE R DREW. I do not see a listing for the artist, who likely painted this around the year 1970 judging from the framing and non-glare type glass (which will be discarded before shipping). The piece, on Crescent art board, measures 18 3/4" by 25" inside the mat, and 25" by 31" in worn dark oak framing. The scene is poetic and p...

Watercolor on heavy, pebbled paper, 8 7/8" by 6 1/2" (13 1/4" by 11" in simple framing), signed at lower right and dated there 1830 by the listed French artist JOSEPH FRICERO (1807-1870). The subject is a young, bearded man who appears almost as a religious figure. The drawing is heavily foxed in the field, adding to its antiquity. Some words are written in French on the reverse but the only one I can decipher is "bois" (wood). For a long time I had thought this possibly an Old Master drawin...

PAIR of watercolor paintings of young women, one walking on a path, appearing very young, sweet and naive, a pitcher in hand (possibly a milk maid), the other a more sophisticated lady in a sun bonnet and elegant dress, watering can in hand, attending to her potted geraniums. Although the works themselves are of the same size, and frames are identical in style, the frames differ slightly in size. The lady in bonnet measures 12" by 7 3/4" (19 1/2" by 15 1/2" framed), the other, 12 1/4" by 7 3/4...

Brooks Pettus (1918-2003) was a noted western American artist who passed away in Kennewick, Washington, leaving behind a large body of work in watercolor and oil that only recently appeared on the market. Pettus earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of New Mexico, and spent time in Albuquerque and Taos in the early 1940's. New Mexico's artistically inspiring landscape stimulated Pettus' aesthetic sense as it has for countless others. Even though he became a professional engineer, mo...

An American contemporary theorem still life painting in the traditional 19th century familiar style, signed by artist Esther M. Attridge and dated on reverse framing paper 1973. The work measures 10 1/2" by 13 1/2" and about 12 1/2" by 15 1/2" in the gold framing. Some contemporary artists have made names for themselves by copying the old American folk art theorem style. Similar works by one latter-day artist named David Ellinger are highly sought after and are auctioned. A pleasing work fo...

A beautiful, accomplished watercolor landscape painting of a gully with running water, 10 1/2" by 14 1/2" (19" by 22 1/2" in early 20th century gold frame), signed at lower left by the noted California art pioneer WILLIAM LEES JUDSON (1842-1928). The work is in unusually fresh condition, the colors true and not faded. I note a small, obviously very old water drop at extreme upper right, where the tree line meets the right edge. Viewing out of the frame revealed no further information such as ...

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...