Vibrant and masterful American Impressionist painting, depicting a mother and daughter smelling a freshly picked flower, by well-listed contemporary artist, W. S."Steve" Seltzer.

This painting was done with oils on masonite and is mounted in it's original gold leaf, contemporary frame. This painting is contemporary and dates to the 1980s - 1990s. The painting is signed by the artist on the front, lower left, "W. S. SELTZER". In addition there is a paper label from the Artist's Union Gallery on the back, which gives the title of the painting, the artist's name, the size (wrong size given), and medium.

This painting measures 8.5" x 11" and the frame measures 18" x 20.5".

As the title suggests, this painting depicts a mother and daughter stopping to smell one of the many flowers they have picked from a sunlit field. the scene is probably in California, or possibly Montana. This painting features some of the best brushwork and atmosphere seen in American contemporary impressionist painting. The brush strokes are fine and delicate, and the colors are in the French impressionist light palette. The mother and her child are dressed in clothes reminiscent of the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. W. S. Seltzer's paintings are often of historical Western subjects, most notably the Plains Indians of the United States, but while living in California he painted impressionist scenes and these works are rare and highly thought of.

W. S. Seltzer is a well-known American artist and is listed in many art references including: Davenports, AskArt.com, and ArtNet.com.

Here is a biography from the artist's website:

Growing up in Great Falls, Montana, Steve was surrounded by the art of his grandfather, prominent Western Artist Olaf C. Seltzer. As a child, he was drawing and painting watercolors and then tried his first oil painting as a teenager. After studying architecture, Steve pursued his art endeavors full time with a move to California and a studio in Hermosa Beach. It was in this environment that he developed an appreciation for the play of light and color on the ocean and figures in the surf as potential for new subject matter.
Subject matter includes landscapes, still life, and figurative studies as well as historical Western scenes which all showcase his unique talent for depicting atmosphere and reflected light.
Steve's love of the Montana landscape and a growing family brought him back to Great Falls where he and his wife Carol raised a son and a daughter who are often models in his figurative paintings. Annual trips back to California continue to provide new inspiration for his California scenes. Many years of work and study have shaped his style into one more concerned with personal interpretation than illustration. To suggest, rather than describe, is at the core of his approach, allowing the viewer to participate in the "Illusion of Reality." He doesn't hesitate to bend the rules, manipulate value, color, and shapes if the results more effectively convey this illusion. "This is the most exciting way to paint and it produces the most rewarding solutions."
Steve has been the recipient of numerous awards including "Best of Show" at the annual Northwest Rendezvous show, and the "Artist's Choice" award at the C.M. Russell Auction. He is one of only two artists to have been selected to participate in all 34 C. M. Russell Auctions. His work is represented in galleries and collections throughout the United States and Canada.
After nearly 40 years and a few thousand paintings, he still regards each new piece as an adventure and invites you to join him in his artistic journey.

In addition, his works are held in museum collections, important private collections of American art, and sold for good prices at major auctions and galleries.

Both the painting and the frame are in excellent condition and ready to display. This painting is the best example of Seltzer's impressionism that I have seen and is of museum quality.