An oil on canvas painting of white flowers in a glass vase on a table top, two small porcelain vessels nearby, the work signed at lower right by artist Minerva Smithers. On the stretcher in pencil is written "Matilija Poppy" and then the artist again wrote her name in longhand. A google search shows a Minerva Smithers born in 1877 in Wisconsin, the woman's residence given in the 1940 census as Hawthorne, in Southern California (very near where this was found)...

Acrylic on canvas contemporary painting of palms, depicted in yellow, pinkish-red and greenish-blue against an electric blue background, 18" by 24", unframed, signed at lower right by the artist, Shannon Casey. This is a nicely decorative, breezy work that will surely add a touch of the tropics to your interior. There are a very few minor spots of soiling or abrasion that hardly detract from the overall effect.

Oil on canvas painting of a tabby cat, 7" by 5" (12" by 10" framed), circa 1970 to 1980 judging from the framing, signed lower right "Jody". The artist was certainly talented; the likeness of the cat to reality is well above average. Condition is excellent. Needs to be nailed more tightly into frame.

Likely painted for the southern tourist trade between about 1920 and 1950 or so, is this oil on a slice of palmetto wood, roughly oval shape, approximate dimensions 10" by 13", the slab 1" thick, signed at bottom left in the image "A. Donhauser". This locale could be anywhere from Texas through Georgia, given the Spanish Moss on the tree. The palmetto slab is unusual and adds interest. An unusual item. There is a small loss on the tree trunk.

Large impressionist painting of violet mountains, pond and green meadow with white fence, 24" by 30" (31" by 37" framed), signed at lower left by artist HENRIETTA S. RUDDER, further titled "Mountains" on reverse where there is a label of the 1989 Artists Guild of the Norton Gallery Fifth Annual Exhibition (probably West Palm Beach, Florida), providing the artist's name, and the original price of $500. The painting is created primarily with palette knife, the paint richly and generously applied...

For the collector of botanical drawings and art, a nice unframed 11 7/8" by 9 3/8" floral watercolor drawing highlighted with a little gum arabic in the nineteenth century tradition. It is not signed, but I think at lower left in old faint pencil it says "yellow aralia", and at bottom, very faint and barely visible, there is a lot of illegible pencil writing. This likely dates to the 1860's to 1880's period...

A primitive, circa 1880's oil on gray board landscape painting in the Hudson River style, with trees, water, and tiny figures completing the view. Measurements are 18 3/4" by 24 1/2", unframed. There is no signature. The board is slightly warped from old moisture exposure, which caused paint instability/flaking/losses at top couple of inches, as shown, and cracking at lower right. There are also a few light abrasions as shown.

A watercolor painting of a small motor boat and the surrounding dock area complete with lobster traps, signed at lower right by artist WILLIAM J. GILLETT, where it is also dated 1950. The work on heavy watercolor paper measures 12 1/2" by 17 1/4" and is currently housed in an old frame and mat that should all be discarded (that measuring 21" by 25")...

A colorful Haitian painting on canvas, 17 1/4" by 25 1/4" as framed, signed lower left by artist "Teddy C." or "J. Eddy.C.", the scene a typical coastal village of small colorful dwellings, with small boats offshore and three total figures, one on horseback. There is a small hole about 1/2" square at lower right as shown. It can no doubt be minimized with some tape applied to the reverse side. See other Haitian paintings in my shop.

An interesting, folky, oil on canvas painting of a house with stone chimney set in a lush open valley, apparently set in Salinas Valley in California, signed by artist Sharon Moree Giambrocco Ebina, who wrote a long story on the back of the canvas. In that story she explains how the painting is inspired by the movie made from the John Steinbeck book "East of Eden". She also touches on the Japanese inspiration she feels, her signature incorporating the Japanese character for "valley"...

Old horizontal format landscape, oil on board, featuring trees, a creek or lake, the only sign of man a picket fence near the group of trees at center, signed at lower left "Ferguson". The painting likely dates to about 1925 or 1930. Measurements are 14 1/2" by 25" (19" by 32 1/2" in frame that dates to about 1965). There is stable authentically old "alligatoring" of the paint (a crackling pattern related to how quickly the paint dried)...

A typically colorful painting from Haiti, featuring female figures carrying loads of fruit on baskets balanced on their heads, against a mysterious deep green background landscape. The painting is signed at lower right "Xavier B./Haiti/2000". Measurements are 25" by 21" as framed in white wood. Canvas is slightly rippled, there are a few hairline crack marks in the legs of several figures, but nothing that is bothersome at normal viewing distance...

Small oil on canvas laid on board painting of a man in traditional outfit with distinctive hat. The mid 20th century work is signed illegibly at lower left corner. This would appear to be from Ecuador, or if not there, another Andean nation such as Peru or Bolivia. Measurements are 4" by 3 1/2" (7 1/2" by 7 1/4" as framed, with blue velvet liner). An interesting addition to a small wall or nook.

In the tradition of Victorian rose paintings of the late 19th and early 20th century, here is an unframed work, canvas laid on board, 11 1/2" by 21 1/2", signed at lower right "IDMAY". The painting likely dates to the early years of the 20th century, a time when young girls were encouraged to take up the "ladylike" skill of flower painting. "IDMAY" might have been Ida Mae----one of these young ladies. Our artist was of average skill, but her handiwork has outlived her...

Four left. Using a limited palette of 3 plus white, all 6 gems - lively small studies were painted by self learned painter Mimi Dee, depicting regional big skies, river, marsh, crossings, birches, lavender hued hills, rocks, expressive twisted trees, etc. Five have the word: Path in the title:

(A) River... ID 0405171106...

A watercolor painting of tropical hibiscus, signed at lower left by listed California artist MARCIA A. PATRICK (1875-1964). The work measures 16 1/2" by 11 1/2" inside the mat and 22 1/2" by 17 3/4" framed. Patrick was in Los Angeles by 1910. A physician, she is known to have painted florals and landscapes. In 1937 the prestigious Stendahl Gallery held an exhibition of her work. Patrick was active in local art clubs, including Painters and Sculptors of Los Angeles, in 1936-37...

This is a nicely executed watercolor featuring a red barn and small house apparently in autumn, signed at lower right and dated there 1973 by contemporary artist JOHN S. McFEDRIES. I do not see a listing for the artist but some other works by him can be viewed on the net (and I have a New Mexico watercolor by him in my shop). The painting measures 16" by 22 1/2" inside the mat and (25" by 31 1/2" framed). The painting is in excellent, fresh condition but there is no glass. The mat is tired and ...

A detailed gouache painting of two female and one male figure in a green landscape with trees and flowers, 9 1/2" by 7 1/2" (13 1/2" by 11 1/2" in gold framing), painted in the centuries-old traditional style of the Indo-Persian School, but contemporary. The condition is excellent and this is a very decorative piece. The amount of work involved to create such a detailed image is stupendous---though the market undervalues the handiwork.