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)...

**FIFTEEN** original gouache drawings on commercial art board, varying sizes, the largest 15" by 20", the smallest 10" by 13 3/4", mostly unsigned but several stamped on reverse with name and address in Van Nuys, California of noted Disney studios illustrator in the 1950's and 1960's, FRANS VAN LAMSWEERDE (1924-1969). These works all feature Holy Land subject matter; acquired at the same time, they evidently were together for many years since the artist's death at a young age...

Brooks Pettus (1918-2003) was a noted western American artist who passed away in Kennewick, Washington, leaving behind a large body of work in watercolor and oil that only recently appeared on the market. Pettus earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of New Mexico, and spent time in Albuquerque and Taos in the early 1940's. New Mexico's artistically inspiring landscape stimulated Pettus' aesthetic sense as it has for countless others...

An oil on panel painting of a red covered bridge in a mountain landscape, a village at left center, 13" by 19 1/2" (16" by 22" framed), signed at lower right by artist Ed Mifflin. I do not see a listing for this name. The scene likely shows Vermont or Maine; possibly there are covered bridges in hilly southern Ohio that might fit. In any event the circa 1960 work is very poetic...

Oil on canvas painting of pinkish flowers in a clay pot against a blue drape, unsigned, circa 1950's/early 1960's, 20" by 16" (22" by 18" in simple wood frame). The work was found in Virginia. Obviously by a trained artist. Note the shadows cast at left---well handled. Condition is excellent. There is a very small disturbed area on frame at top.

Oil on masonite panel painting of a Texas landscape with oaks and bluebonnet in the spring, 16" by 20", unframed, signed at lower left by artist Nancy McDonald. According to the daughter of the artist, Nancy's paintings were sold in the San Antonio area. She belonged to the River Art Group for many years. McDonald passed away in 2011. The painting is attractive and squarely within the "Bluebonnet School" tradition of Texas art...

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.

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...

Impressionist seascape oil painting on canvasboard, 12" by 16" (16 1/2" by 20 1/2" framed) signed at lower right by Colorado artist ALFRED JAMES WANDS (1904-1998). On the reverse in pencil is written "Artist---Alfred Wands/2065 Ivanhoe St./Denver 7 Colo./Breaking Sea/$50.00". The work likely dates to the 1950's. Wands was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended the Cleveland Art Institute, then went to Europe for studies in Brussels and Munich...

An American circa late 1960's to about 1970 still life painting in oil on rough side of the Masonite, 18" by 14" (24" by 19 1/2" framed), signed at lower left possibly "Pardoe". The red poppies are beautifully rendered and the richness of the red contrasts with the deep blue of the vase. Condition is excellent. A very decorative painting, in a frame of the period.

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...

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"...

An interesting Mid-Century abstract on paper, 12" by 16" inside the mat, 18 3/4" by 23" framed, unsigned. The work could well date to the 1960's, the paper thin and slightly browned. I am not clear on the type of paint used; it is not simple watercolor. Could be a mix of some sort; the gold is metallic and the darkest portions have a gloss when viewed at an angle. Final photo is from the reverse side through the paper seepage...

Found in far northern Vermont in the course of an art buying trip some years ago, is this unframed 20" by 16" oil on canvas portrait of a man, apparently signed "Shoelman" at lower right and signed again and dated on the reverse (possibly, 1806, though, more likely, 1846, considering the style---the digit likely a "4"). I acquired the painting near Cambridge/Jeffersonville not far from the Canadian border. At the time the seller said there had been speculation by a previous owner that this wa...

Oil on canvas painting of pink roses in a vase, circa 1890's, signed at lower left in red by listed American artist OSCAR MILLER (1867-1921). The 17" by 14" (27" by 24" framed) painting is beautifully executed by a talented hand. Oscar Miller was born in Manhattan and died in Providence, Rhode Island in 1921. He is known for a variety of subject matter including portraits, marine scenes, genre and still life. This painting has an 8" horizontal tear in the upper portion. It will need to be c...

For your Mid Century interior, a really well-crafted oil on canvas painting, 22" by 28" (30" by 36" in wood frame, possibly the original), signed at lower center "Robert Anderson" and dated nearby "52". On the reverse the artist wrote "Robert P. Anderson/158 Old Road/Sewaren, N.J.". Sewaren is an unincorporated area in Middlesex County, just off the New Jersey turnpike in an industrial area between New Brunswick and Elizabeth, and just west of Staten Island. A search for information on the ar...

Oil on canvas painting of a mill adjacent to a pond, 28" by 22", (33 1/2" by 27 1/4" framed) possibly signed at lower right, but affixed on reverse is an old handwritten slip of paper, with name of artist, subject identification ("Red House, Milltown"), her addresses, and 1924 Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts 119th annual exhibition info, apparently item #95 in that exhibition. The artist is identified thereon as IRENA FRANKEBERGER. Surprisingly, given her talent with impressionist technique, ...

In the style of popular Thomas Kinkade or Marty Bell, this is an original oil on canvas, 11" by 14" (17" by 20" framed), the subject a cozy cottage-like house set in a flowering garden, the welcoming lights all on. The painting is signed at lower left "N LaFond". If you enjoy the Kinkade style but would like an original work instead of a print, you may well like this piece. Condition is excellent, frame has a little wear.