A most interesting circa 1960's work featuring a group of older, mostly one story buildings in a town, those buildings apparently of stone, judging from the earthy colors. A dark blue sky elegantly sets off the earth tones, making for an interesting play of light and color. Brush strokes are vigorous and sure. The painting is oil on canvasboard, measuring 9" by 13" (12 3/4" by 16 1/2" framed), signed with initials that could be "CB" at lower right...

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...

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...

An impressionistic palette knife painting of dramatic, high, already snow-streaked mountains in peak autumn season, signed in the paint at lower left "W HARISCH". This 14 1/2" by 19 1/2" work (18" by 23" as framed) is by listed Canadian artist WILLIAM HARISCH (1914-1967). Harisch painted in a style that appears clearly European, and indeed works of his native country (one titled "Heidelberg") have come to market...

Watercolor on paper, unframed, unsigned, dated 1924 and titled "Col Spgs", showing old houses against a mountain backdrop. This is a beautifully executed work by an artist that I would imagine is listed, but, he didn't sign his work. The sheet measures 12" by 17 3/4". There is a sketch of a man's profile on the reverse. If you live along I-25, or even if you don't, you will appreciate this fine old drawing from Colorado Springs, where the Broadmoor art colony flourished.

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)...

MISS CHI

Vintage anonymous oil painting on canvas, "MISS CHI - 3-years old Toy Poodle, 1980". 41 x 31.7 x 2 cm (16.14 x 12.48 x 0.78in)...

Watercolor on heavy watercolor paper, 8 1/2" by 11", unframed and with old mat still attached, signed at lower right "B. Singer" and dated there '53. This is a work of noted California painter BURR SINGER (1912-1992). Singer is an important California woman artist, fine oil works bringing to the upper four figures at recent auctions. Born in St...

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"...

Watercolor on paper painting, each 9 1/2" by 7 1/2" (17 1/2" by 14 1/2" in shiny black inexpensive frame), signed in pencil at lower right by the California artist and fashion illustrator ESTHER WYNN, who passed away in 1990 according to recent information acquired from relatives. So far there is no askart listing for this artist but I imagine that will change. She was a talented illustrator, often, of vintage fashion design, and created designs for cards as well...

Circa 1960 oil on canvas painting of the familiar and oft-painted Moulin Rouge night club in the Montmartre section of Paris, 12" by 16" (18" by 22" in the pleasant period frame), signed at lower right by mid century Parisian artist H. PIERREL. I do not see a formal "listing" for the artist, although I have encountered other works by this talented hand. The painting should bring back memories of voyages past, and should please any true Francophile...

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...

A decidedly modern watercolor painting of five liquor bottles, painted in mid century colors, 11" by 15" inside the mat, 23" by 30" in interesting, vintage rubbed reddish gray wood framing, signed at lower right by artist "Linahan". I have been unable to link this to a known artist. The black outlining style of the imagery and, especially the colors chosen by the artist suggest a late 1950's or early 1960's date. Mat could use a refresher, but the art itself and the frame are in excellent co...

Attributed to OLIVE MALSTROM CARL (American 1903 - 1988) A watercolor, double sided each scene is of a red farm house or Barn from different views. On one side the signature was covered over . Classic example of the artist style. Size 15 3/4" by 19 3/4"

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. ...

A watercolor on paper of people conversing and socializing in a square or city street, the sheet 15" by 11", the drawing 12 1/2" by 8 1/2" (22 1/2" by 18" in newish gold framing), the work indecipherably signed in red below the linen mat. The signature looks like "Arnold Balg(xxxxx)" or any number of variations of that, but to date I have been unable to tie this to a listed artist. The work came from the liquidated collection of eastern Pennsylvania theatre owner mogul Merton Shapiro (also of ...

Early California watercolor painting, circa 1920's or 1930's I would guess, possibly earlier, titled at lower left Cathedral Peak/Emerald Bay, signed at lower right "A.L.M.". This is a view of Lake Tahoe and the grand scenery at the south end of that famous mountain lake. The painting measures 11 1/2" by 8 1/2" inside the mat, and 16 1/4" by 14 1/4" as simply framed. The style suggests the artist might have been a student or possibly familiar with the work of influential Northern California w...

If you're looking for an Asian accent piece for your interior, consider this oil on canvasboard, 23 5/8" by 17 5/8" (a little over 31" by 25" as framed), signed at lower right "Bill Parrish" (or Perrish, or Porrish), not dated but likely mid century from late 1940's to early 1960's, the subject a young Chinese woman in traditional colorful costume, with what I believe is an important Chinese character for something important like "life", "luck", etc. at upper right background. I do not see a li...