Oil on Masonite painting, 18" by 7 3/4" (24" by 13 3/4" as framed, with liner), the subject two young girls and their classic olla-type water or grain pots. of the Southwest. This is likely a New Mexico or Arizona scene, executed in tan and brown earth tone colors. The painting is signed in black at lower left "Ch...

PAIR of attractive impressionist paintings of a late autumn landscape with flaming trees, and a stream in a birch forest in spring, both oil on canvasboard, each signed lower right by artist M. F. BILAN and dated 1954. The artist does not appear to be listed but was talented. The strong contrast of the seasons portrayed makes the pair very complementary. The name suggests Russian or Jewish heritage. Frames are original and one has some staining at left as shown...

An oil on canvas painting of garden flowers in a glass vase in an interior near a window, not signed on the front but on reverse stretcher is written in pencil "Rena Patterson" and a phone number with Southern California area code. This is a work of contemporary artist RENA PATTERSON, presently of Malibu, CA but previously a resident of many states from coast to coast...

Oil or acrylic on board, large and impressive wall-filling size at 33 1/2" by 45" (41 1/2" by 53" as framed), in a very contemporary style incorporating the complex geometric small squares repeating patterns of artist Robert Natkin, with the addition of various swirls and carefully placed parallel lines. The artist was surely familiar with Natkin's work...

Oil on canvasboard, 22" by 28", signed in white at upper left "A. Strauss" and dated "53". This is a rather interesting modern work that is rather hard to describe; it is, MODERN. The signature has a European look to it. I acquired this in the San Francisco area years ago...

An oil on canvas painting, 18" by 14", unframed, the scene a sunny urban slice of life, a bridge arching over a canal with light standards and buildings and trees as the sunlight sparkles on the water. The place could be Venice, California, or perhaps Newport Beach. The painting is signed in light purple at lower left with conjoined initials "MZ", which bring to mind the noted California artist Milford Zornes (1908-2008)...

This is a late 19th century American painting by an anonymous artist, from the heart of the Victorian age. It measures 16" by 24" on the original stretchers (21 1/4" by 30" including the frame and probably original red velvet liner)...

A portrait of Hollywood actress Natalie Wood (1938-1981), painted by an unknown artist, showing the artist as she would have appeared in the 1970's. The image shows a sultry Wood in her prime, staring at the viewer with her famous brown eyes...

Oil on canvas painting of a stand of trees by a small pond or lake in early autumn, 20" by 24" (25" by 29" as framed), signed at lower left by the listed California artist RICHARD VERNON JOHNSON (1905-2001, death date sometimes given as 2007). Johnson was born in Montana and moved with his family to Long Beach, California by 1920. He studied at Chouinard Art Institute and the University of Montana. Johnson taught at various institutions in Orange County...

Acrylic on canvas painting in black, red and blue on white background, 28" by 39 1/2" as framed, signed in the lower left corner "J. Brooks". I am offering this as a bold, modern decorative painting, and NOT as a genuine work of the important American artist James D. Brooks (1906-1992). Condition is excellent and save for some wear on the cream-colored frame, this is ready for display.

A circa 1920 painting of a waterfall emerging from a steep cliff above a gorge, signed at lower right by artist S. P. Christesen. I do not see a listing for an artist by this name, or Christensen, but clearly he/she was talented. The scene would appear to be western American, though I recently viewed photos of the noted Montmorency Falls in Quebec, Canada, and there is a strong resemblance to this scene...

Oil on canvasboard panel painting, 16" by 20" (21 1/2" by 25 1/2" framed) featuring the iconic towering monoliths of Monument Valley, Arizona, with mounted cowboys and Conestoga wagon adding a human touch to the scene, signed at lower right by Southern California artist Billie van Bogart. The work probably dates to the 1960's or early 1970's at latest. Would add a very decorative touch to your Southwest interior. There are a few internet references to a woman by this name in Orange County (wh...

Large and complex abstract drawing, possibly in oil stick or oil pastel, 27 1/2" by 18 1/2" (37" by 24 1/2" as framed), signed at lower right "Zohar" and dated there "12/89". This is a fairly common Israeli name and there are listed artists by this name but the style and signature do not seem to match up with them, so I am offering this as a great abstract that is sure to please from the decorative standpoint. It will be shipped without glass as the sheet is too large to send without risk of b...

An impressionist still life of vase and flowers on a table top in an interior, 23 1/2" by 17 1/2" (29" by 22 3/4" framed), signed at lower right by artist HAIG ALTOUN and dated there 1940. The work is beautifully executed by a trained hand but strangely I do not see a listing for an artist by this name, which is of Armenian extraction. Condition is excellent.

Oil on masonite painting, (24 1/2" by 31" as framed) of a clipper with bare masts, at anchor near a beach at dawn or sunset, signed at lower right by artist Sean O'Farrell. I do not see any listings for this artist, who obviously had a solid command of painting. The work was likely created circa 1960's. There is a small loss at upper left, otherwise it is in excellent condition. The frame is likely older, dating perhaps to the 1940's or 1950's, and it is itself interesting and of value.

An impressionist oil on canvas painting of an old late 19th century American church in a western city, as snowcapped mountains loom at right, signed at lower right corner "Crossen '75". This might be by a listed artist, Michigan-born Preston McCrossen (1894-1981), who worked in New Mexico. amd California. I have googled brick churches in western cities to try to identify the subject. There is a church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, in Denver, Colorado, that bears a considerable resemblance, but...

Colorful oil on canvas unframed painting (24" by 20") featuring lily pads on a woodland pond, signed at lower right by listed California artist JOHN MARTIN HISS (1891-1972). It likely dates to about the 1950's. Hiss was essentially a talented hobbyist artist; he is best known as a physician and orthopedic surgeon who devised remedial treatments for disorders of the feet. The work is in excellent vintage condition. I note an inconsequential hairline scratch at mid right.

Oil on canvas painting of famous Morro Rock, the 500 foot high landmark and sentinel that for time immemorial has guarded the harbor at Morro Bay on the coast of central California. The work is titled on the stretcher "August Sunset by Marjorie Sharpe". Beautifully painted, the artist has captured the wispy clouds that cling to the top of the rock and the reflections of the fishing boats. Sharpe is listed in the Dictionary of California Artists by Hughes, who mentions that she was active in Sa...