Here is a prize for the collector of Californiana----an idealized view of a mission in the golden days of yore, painted around 1935 I would guess. There is a signature at lower right that appears as Y. Arnold or similar. The painting is on a coarse weave canvas, almost like burlap or jute, laid down on an old board, on the back of which is a color print of a landscape. Size is 30" by 24" including the simple narrow wood strip frame...

**PAIR** of oil on board paintings (each 14" by 11", plus framing 1 1/4" wide), of nymphs clad only in diaphanous veils, dancing in classical poses in forested landscapes, rays of light selectively illuminating the scenes. The works are by New England artist ROBERT C. WOODBERRY (1874-). Woodberry was born in Massachusetts and appears to have spent most of his life in New England, painting mostly landscapes. He was a student of W. D...

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...

Purchased some years ago in Florida, this is an unusual work, possibly some kind of enamel work (I am guessing----shiny hard surface with relief, mimicking enamel surfaces I have seen), 5" by 13", 21" by 25" in gold frame with wide maroon velvet matting, signed with conjoined small "HR" at top right, and signed again on reverse "Hugo Robus 1954"...

Painting of various complete southwestern pottery vessels, and a broken shard of one, all seemingly floating weightless in an intentionally poorly defined space, all painted in a hyperrealist style, signed at lower right "Doyle" and dated 2005 with copyright symbol. A label on the reverse gives the artist's full name, Ed Doyle, the title, "The First Shard", and the original price, $1000. The oil on canvas on board measures 23 5/8" by 23 5/8" and 30" by 30" as framed...

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...

Oil on board painting of a peaceful lake surrounded by forest and peaks in the distance, 11" by 18" (16 1/4" by 23 1/2" in wood frame), unsigned, circa late 1940's to 1950 or so, but executed in an earlier style that goes back to the early years of the century. These freely executed impressionistic works met the demand for affordable original art in the first half of the 20th century, and many are still around, though they have suffered the ravages of time...

Very large (36" by 23 1/2", 45" by 33" framed), decorative, attention-getting squarely Mid Century oil on canvas of two "Big Eye" children, painted in his usual whimsical fashion, by the French mid century impressionist artist ROGER ETIENNE (1922-2011). The painting is signed at lower left by the artist and dated there 1973...

A classic work of 19th century American art: oil on artist's board painting of an elderly lady, apparently lost in thought, as she contemplates a bill and a paltry few coins in her palm, the proceeds from her sales of apples at two cents apiece (they seen in the right background). The 11 1/2" by 9 1/2" oval shaped painting (14" by 11 3/4" in the frame) is signed at right center "C. C. Markham" (CHARLES COLE MARKHAM, 1837-1907)...

Oil on masonite highly detailed still life painting of a cut melon, apples of various colors surrounding it on a table, a spilled salt shaker and knife completing the arrangement. The work, 16" by 20" (24" by 28" framed), likely dates to the 1970's and as such would be one of the earlier works by this artist. Katon was born in Michigan and received a B.A. from Ursuline College in Ohio. For many years he has been a resident of Southern California, where he is a familiar figure in the arts comm...

American (likely California) oil on canvas painting, 5" by 4" (8 3/4" by 7 5/8" in stained oak period frame), signed at upper right corner with initials "M.W." and dated there '87 (or, possibly, '97). Stamped on the stretcher is "Fred Rhoda/Fruitvale, Cal", and written in pencil in an old hand is " Whitney"; we can probably assume therefore that the artist is one M. Whitney. A googling of the stamped name shows Fred Rhoda (1810-1886) was a Civil War veteran who owned some 400 acres in the Oakl...

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...

A wonderful oil painting on canvasboard in naive/primitive style, 12" by 16" and featuring happy children sledding down a hill in Central Park in New York City one cold winter afternoon near dusk. The work is titled at lower right "Central Park" and is signed at lower left by artist MARY RUBY ORKIN (1894-1987). On the reverse is written "Copyrighted 1958 by Mark Orkin/Central Park West NYC 10023/#7 Sledding Hill at Sunset behind the Met". Note details like the piston airplane in the sky at le...

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. The painting measures 11" by 15" and the narrow silver frame is...

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.

An ORIGINAL PAINTING on canvas, 20" by 38" (30" by 48" framed), the subject a panoramic view of a quaint coastal cliffside village complete with tidy white church and homes. Signed at lower right by noted native-California artist NICKY BOEHME, the work is not titled, but the scene depicted is the much-loved small town about 150 miles north of San Francisco, Mendocino, in the county by the same name (which is north of Sonoma County). Mendocino is renowned for its poetic peaceful setting, clean ...

Oil on canvas painting of a vase on a window sill, 20 3/4" by 16" (25 1/2" by 20 1/2" in gold frame), signed at lower right "Guy Wiggins". Faintly visible on the reverse is painted "Guy Wiggins/Window View/ New York City". There is a history to the painting. I acquired it in 1990 in central California, and had it repaired in San Francisco. In approximately 1991 in order to authenticate the work as being by the noted American artist Guy Carleton Wiggins (1883-1962), I contacted Guy Arthur Wi...

A decorative oil on canvas painting of a winter forest and pond scene, executed in predominantly blues, browns and white, the generous and liberal amount of paint quite vigorously and impressionistically moved around by the artist, JULIAN RHINEHARDT (1915-), who signed at lower right. The 24" by 20" work (34 1/2" by 30 1/2"as framed) is in excellent condition. Painting probably dates to the 1970's or early 1980's. Rhinehardt's biographical information seems to be elusive. Some retail art gal...

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...

Oil on 8" by 10" canvasboard painting of an autumnal landscape, a fertile apple tree at left ready to yield its riches, golden leaves at right partially obscuring a distant arid mountainside, (12 1/2" by 14 1/2" in deep light oak framing), signed at lower right "MIRIAM K. PARKER" and dated there 1966. My first impression was that this might be a New Mexican scene, and research of the artist name suggests that this hunch might be right. Google shows a Miriam K. Parker 1914-1977 as an Albuquerqu...

Oil on canvas painting of vegetation and a structure in center, subdued elegant grays predominating, in a surprisingly modern style for the year in which it was painted, 1924. The artist signed at lower right, near the date, "Sanita" or a close variant. The area around the signature being very dry and "blanched", I moistened the area in order to make it easier to photograph the signature and date. Very surprisingly I have been unable to attach the work to a listed artist. The work, 30" by 23...

A very beautiful, elegant landscape painting of a somber, late autumn day in the Northeast, probably Connecticut, 14" by 26" (19 1/2" by 31 1/2" framed), signed at lower left by the quite well regarded American artist WILLIAM MERRITT POST (1856-1935). The scene is of a small brook running in a boggy meadow area, scattered trees either bare of their leaves or about to lose them in the growing autumn chill. Colors used are somber and respectful of the season portrayed. Post was strongly influen...

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. Her family has put a lot of effort into a family history, which is viewable online, and that unusually detailed history is the source of the following information: Marion was bo...

*One of two works by the artist in my shop**, this is an oil on board painting of what appears to be a wooden fence in a tawny landscape. The painting measures 11 1/2" by 14 1/2" and 15" by 18 1/2" in early gold framing. The work is signed at lower left. This artist, HALDANE DOUGLAS (1893-1980), was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was in Southern California by the early 1920's. According to the listing in Hughes' dictionary, Douglas wintered in Southern California and wintered in the Monte...

Oil on canvas painting of an attractive brown-eyed brunette with floppy sun hat protecting her on a summer day, unframed, measuring 24" by 24". There is no signature but the artist was talented. The work is in very good condition, with just a bit of dark foreign matter at left edge as shown, likely removable. The painting would lend a contemporary, lively feel to home, beach house, or dorm room.

A pair of late 18th or early 19th century portraits, one showing a well dressed gentleman seated at a secretary bookcase, the other of his wife, seated and holding a flower. Painted in oils on canvas, the detailing, especially in the man, is stunning. He is wearing a blue coat, an elaborately ruffled shirt, and a silk waistcoat. The edging and every button on the jacket and waistcoat are beautifully rendered in multiple colors. The books in the case also have a great amount of attention to their...

(ONE OF TWO BY THE SAME ARTIST, THE OTHER WORK SIMILAR----). Oil on board painting of a Native American woman balancing a traditional pot on her head, signed at upper left by artist Lee Willke. The work measures 18" by 14" and 22" by 18" in simple oak frame. The expression on the woman's face is precious; that by itself propels this into the "whimsical" category. The pottery is beautifully observed and note the subtle yet complex background work. To date I have not found information online...

Contemporary unframed American painting (24" by 36"), the subject a middle-aged man, seated, superimposed on a complex patterned background, signed at lower right corner "Tayler". I have been unable to link this to a known artist, but the painting is quite edgy and advanced, and technically skilled, reminding of the work of known artists who paint in what I imagine might be called the "Contemporary Realism" style. I am reminded a bit of David Hockney. The work is mysterious---we do not know who...

Oil on canvasboard painting of a rocky cliff at the coast, 11 1/2" by 14 3/4" as framed, signed at lower right "K.B. GUNDERMAN". The impressionist work likely dates to about 1960. I do not see a listing for an artist by this name (there is a Karen Gunderman who works with ceramic and abstraction but this does not seem to be the same artist). The painting has forty-plus years of yellowed varnish and light soiling but is otherwise in good condition.

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...

Oil on canvas painting of a trellis and a patio, lots of flowers and impressionistically depicted leaves filling the composition, 24" by 36", unframed, signed at lower right "ED CORDEZ". No listed artist by this name comes up in any net searches I've made so I will consider this a fine work by a talented though unlisted artist. It was probably executed within the past twenty years. Condition is excellent. You'll easily find a standard size 24" by 36" frame to complement the work.

**One of two works by the artist in my shop**, this is an oil on board painting of what appear as houses, rendered in rich colors, and in a firmly modernist style. The painting measures 11 1/2" by 14 1/2" and 15" by 18 1/2" in early gold framing. The work is signed at lower left in the paint. On the reverse side is a fragment, in poor condition, of another painting the artist evidently executed. This artist, HALDANE DOUGLAS (1893-1980), was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was in Southe...

A landscape work in impressionist style, featuring a cabin in a forest, signed by listed artist DOROTHY C. NEAL. The piece is signed again on the reverse in pencil and titled there "Cabin in the Aspens/quick sketch/Panguitch Lake, Utah '52". Dorothy Neal was born in St. Paul, Minnesota and was in Chicago by 1920 receiving art instruction at the Art Institute. She worked in commercial art there and later in Los Angeles. After World War II she joined a group instructed by California artist Con...

Oil on canvas winter landscape painting in an impressionist hand, a snow-covered road leading to a cluster of houses in the distance, 16" by 20", unframed, signed at lower right by listed American woman artist CHARLOTTE LIVINGSTON (1898-1991). The painting captures the quiet solitude in early winter after the first snow (a lot of autumn color remaining suggests the winter season is not all that far advanced). Livingston was born in New York and studied at the National Academy and the Art Stude...

Oil on Upson board painting of zinnias in a table top vase, curtains vaguely defining the background, 20" by 16" and 2 1/4" wide old frame, signed at lower right "C. G. Force" (I believe CLARA GUNNISON FORCE 1852-1939). Force was born in Erie, Pennsylvania of Swedish heritage. She studied with Charles Webster Hawthorne, William Merritt Chase and Frank DuMond. Force did paint in Europe, Cape Cod, Provincetown, Woodstock, New York. Earlier works were miniature portraits; she was a member of the ...

Oil on board painting of Crater Lake, Oregon, including Wizard Island at left, 11 1/2" by 13 3/4" as framed, unsigned. Compare the scene to online images of Crater Lake. The work is nicely executed and were it signed we would likely know that it was created by a listed artist. The date I would estimate as circa 1920 to 1940 or so. There is a two inch scratch at right center in the base of the trees. A cleaning and especially some varnish would really improve the appearance and would be well...