Oil on linen laid on board, 16 1/4" by 23 1/4", the simple modern frame about 1 1/4" wide, signed at lower right by listed California woman artist M.E. HODGDON, not dated but likely before 1920. The painting recently came out of Maine, where it had possibly resided for decades, perhaps brought east by an early day traveler wanting a souvenir. The artist, MARY E. HODGDON, is said by Hughes in his dictionary of California artists to have been a resident of Los Angeles between 1912 and 1922...

Oil on canvas painting, 20" by 24", unframed, the subject the historic old Presidential Palace in Haiti's capital city, Port-au-Prince, signed at lower right "Ysmay". The naive work shows the palace as it looked before the tragic earthquake of January 2010, in which over 200,000 people in the country lost their lives, the infrastructure suffering enormous damage. The palace was wrecked and to my knowledge has not been repaired...

Oil on canvas, 27" by 39" (32 1/2" by 44 1/2" as framed), the scene a deep blue lake with small boats and a dock, puffy clouds filling the sky on a peaceful summer day. It is an expansive scene, large enough to invite the viewer to feel he is a part of it. I suppose the work is Swedish or Danish. The artist chose to sign with just the conjoined initials "HM" at lower left, where it is also dated 1948...

Oil on canvasboard painting of flowering yucca ("Spanish Bayonet") in a landscape, signed at lower right by Barbara White, a talented artist from Silver City, New Mexico, who was elected first president of the organization in 1968. There does not seem to be much other information readily available on the net, but one reference does indicate that she is deceased. The painting measures 9" by 12" and 15" by 18" framed. The artist wrote her name, address and the title "N...

Vintage oil of white, yellow and pink roses on a table top, circa Victorian late 19th century to the early years of the new century, apparently unsigned, in pleasing old wood and gilt frame, the entire work as framed measuring 11" by 13 1/4". The canvas is laid against the backing but is not glued down to it so there is some rippling. Other than a few minor surface abrasions the overall impression is quite beautiful. A fine acquisition for the still life collector or shabby chic decorator.

An early oil on canvas painting, 10 1/4" by 8 1/2", unframed, unsigned, featuring a nocturne moonlight view of Mission Delores in San Francisco. At the time the landmark was a popular subject for artists. Manuel Valencia was apparently fond of painting it as it appears in a number of his works...

Fine old marine art drawing, in compromised condition, as found in Rhode Island, unframed, 13" by 19 1/2", signed at lower left corner "F R Smith". This is almost certainly by late 19th century American artist F. ROLLIN SMITH, who painted watercolors and oils of marine scenes. Little seems to be known of the artist but works do appear at auction. This drawing is a survivor, found in a portfolio of drawings in Providence, Rhode Island...

Gouache on paper, 18 3/4" by 14 3/4" (28" by 24" framed), signed at lower right and dated 1945 by the listed Illinois-born artist ERWIN WILLIAM HOBBY (1892-1977). This is a classic landscape of high mountains in the American west---possibly Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho or Montana, or the Pacific Northwest. The peak has a volcanic look to it so I might lean towards Oregon or Washington or Northern California even. The artist was born in Joliet, Illinois, and died there...

Painting on canvasboard, I believe in tempera or similar, (not oil), 16" by 20" (21" by 25" framed), titled on reverse "SWAYBACK", and signed at lower right "CHARLES TRUMBO HENRY" and dated there 1948. The artist was a student of Thomas Hart Benton, Boardman Robinson, and George Grosz. Little known today, he was an active exhibitor and major museums include his work in their collections...

Watercolor on paper, 5 1/8" by 6 1/4" (13 1/2" by 14 7/8" framed), unsigned, but with a charming old dedication on the reverse side in sepia ink, "Mount Hood/From Vancouver/Eternal Snow/For Mother". This would refer to Vancouver, Washington, across the Columbia River from the mountain. Still adhering to the reverse is printed tape from an old business going by the name Arthur Wayman, of Salem, New York. And this was found in interior Maine...

Oil on board landscape, unsigned, the subject a panorama of red rock cliffs and distant butte, likely in Arizona, or possibly Utah, the scene framed by tree at right. The work has some age, a guess would place this circa 1955 to about 1965. Certainly it is good enough to have been painted by a listed artist. The condition is acceptably good...

Watercolor on paper, 10 1/4" by 14" inside the present mat, and 3 1/2" of frame and mat, signed at lower right "G. MORELL" (or, MORELLY or MORELLI), showing a Southwest Hopi style native American pot against a striped background. This is an original watercolor, and NOT A PRINT! I do not see a listing for this obviously talented artist, but this is a very decorative work that will grace any home or office seeking a Southwest theme. Condition is excellent with fresh colors and no damage.

A good-sized watercolor (30 1/2" by 22 1/2", and 37 1/2" by 29 1/2" in present framing without glass), the subject New Mexico adobes in a late autumn landscape, the trees in flaming yellows, backed by surrounding mountains. In the foreground is a small body of water providing a deep blue color to set off the yellow. The work is signed at lower left "J. Van Sant". I have been unable to locate a known artist by this name. He or she used heavy, quality watercolor paper when this was created, ci...

Oil on wood panel landscape in the Netherlands, 13" by 10" (22" by 19" in old, likely original frame), signed at lower left corner by the listed American artist and illustrator EDWIN H. KIEFER (1860-1931). This antique painting features a classic windmill, and a woman classically dressed, carrying a basket, in the left foreground. The late 19th century work is very dirty; a cleaning would work wonders. There is a long vertical crack in the panel at upper left as shown. Kiefer was born in Por...

An unsigned watercolor painting of three fish very artistically arranged in a triangular pattern on a simple slab, the background neutral and undefined, measurements 15 3/4" by 12 1/2" (17 1/2" by 14 1/2" framed in wood with an intentional blanched distressed finish). The work could conceivably date to the 1940's or 1950's and the quality of the imagery certainly suggests the hand of a trained or listed artist. The older paper is laid down on a modern day white board. Condition is excellent.

**ONE OF TWO WORKS BY THIS ARTIST IN MY SHOP** This is a mixed media work on paper, (watercolor and gouache) 8 1/2" by 12", 16" by 19 1/2" as framed, signed at lower right in pencil by the artist "J Cl Imbert". The landscape scene includes a few trees and a small river rendered in subdued colors. Thee primary medium is watercolor but there are tiny spots of gouache, and possibly charcoal in the tree branches, and scratching technique. No foxing or damage.

Pastel or oil pastel on velvet landscape of the Philippines, the sun setting dramatically over a distant peak, a traditional thatched house at right, signed at lower left "Igning Sarmiento Manila 68". There is a known Sarmiento artist in the Philippines but I am not sure that this is by that artist. The size is 17 1/2" by 24" on the stretchers and 20" by 26" framed. The handling of the color in the sky as the sun disappears and night comes on is exquisite. Condition is excellent, no damage n...

A watercolor painting in shades of brown, the subject a pensive Native American male in traditional Plains garb, holding a stick with feathers, the work signed at lower right with initials "JM" for James Michaels of Palm Harbor, Florida. The unframed piece, photographed inside the protective shrink wrap in which it was purchased, measures 12" by 8 1/2" and there is a 3" wide mat. The style and subject matter reminds of noted early 20th century artist Edgar Paxson.