I don't know, Fly, but I love it!! What size is it? Is it signed?

Isn't it beautiful? It's so subtle and yet so simple. From a midcentury kids book...but which one?!! I seem to remember it was about a family farming--it's all so vague.

It was framed a while ago (I'm thinking maybe 50s-60s?) and whoever did it *glued* the edges to the darn mat! I can't find a signature, but that's not surprising on an illustration. No info on the back--profesionally framed in a very simple thin wood flat frame (think midcentury) outside a fairly wide matting with paper glued on the backside of the frame, and I've just decided to ahead and lift it--only to find a very generous number of framers diamond things (what's the word?) holding cardboard in behind the image. It's going to be a pain to disassemble.

I could imagine the artist giving it to someone and that person thinking "I know who it's from" never thinking it would go any further than her/his home, and not bothering to ID it for anyone else. Size of the image inside the matting is about 12x14 (a little less on both dimensions).

O.K., I took it out of the backing, and it's watercolor paper that was cut around the image and was glued to a brown backing paper, then framing-taped onto the matting. All very professionally done. Although when did people learn to use acid-free paper, much less acid-free adhesive? I'm concerned about the integrity of the image, although it's not fared the worse for wear so far, even without any glass. Still very vibrant.

The only writing, very vague 369 something--was in pencil on the back of the brown paper, and could refer to anything, pretty much. No artist ID at all.

Which leaves me with my recent odd pondering of this *very* image when I came across it earlier. WHY did I focus on it at that point? Why can't I remember who the heck did it?

This is such a strange thing. One thing I like about thrift-shop collecting is that it's kind of like my sudoku/concentration game -- half the fun is remembering where I'd seen that artist's signature before, or s.l.t. This piece is a challenge I just can't meet yet, though.

It was meant to be yours, Fly!

Is there a good auction house or art museum in the Portland area? Or a place that deals with vintage books for children? Or perhaps not children? Sometimes they have free days for bringing in items for identification and appraisal.

There is something edgy about the painting that is faintly disturbing, although it doesn't take much to "disturb" me, lol. Something Edward Hopper-ish. The fence in the foreground not only defines the perspective, it also separates the viewer from the scene, as though you are not allowed in. So the farmer is more isolated.

Very, very nice use of color and shape.

You might try taking it to the childrenÂs section of the local library. A librarian might recognize the illustration.

For some reason, it feels more 1930Âs to me than mid-century, or at least what I think of as mid-century.

I could see that, Les. The frame is a bit later, though. I was thinking of taking it to the library, actually, and then I forgot! Thanks for reminding me.

Interesting comments, sable. The thing that always strikes me are the two trees on the upper left, and their shadows. And the two horses and the way their legs and tails and heads are completely in line.

It looks familiar to me, but I can't place it either. I hope that you find out what book it's from (if any) and let us know!

Fly, I can identify with your expereince, but with me it's people. I'll mention a person, or maybe have a quick mental image, and usually within a week the person will 'appear'. The first 'incideant' was a girl I had worked with 10 years earlier. I was working in a small gallery, and wandered over to a department store on my lunch hour, and saw her standing behind the cosmetics counter. She told me she had only started the previous week, but when I went back two days later, I was told she wasn't working there any longer. I always wondered why our paths crossed again. My experiences were always with people I had worked with or were customers. It could have been just 'being in the right place at the right time', but why the premonition first? It seems if I dwell on something long enough, it seems to come to fruition~~I did read The Secret many years ago, and do have faith in wishing for what you want, with a good possibility of getting it. BELIEVE. ;o)

This may be totally off base, but my first thought when I saw it was the African Folk art paintings that were posted months ago by newdawn1895.

I think it was just the colors and the way the brush strokes are done.

Just came back -- it's been quite a week...terri, I'm glad you kind of recognize it too. I will try to get to the library tomorrow, if I can...just no time this week.

Patti, how odd! Yes, I definitely have that happen. Sometimes with pottery by a particular maker, e.g. I'll say "it sure would be nice to find a ...." and within a week or two, I find it. But with this, I had just been looking at the illustration and was caught by it, not like I wanted to find an original of a book illustration or anything.

caroleoh, I think maybe what you're responding to is the skillful use of children's book colors...it's a deceptively simple piece, but I can tell you that there are so many shades worked into every single inch; it's simple but incredibly sophisticated.

I won't stop until I figure this out.

fly, you always come up with a mystery, don't you?! ;D

Just some things that strike me as odd, which makes me think folk art. The shading is off. In fact it's all over the place. Let's pretend the barn is positioned to the south, the evergreens on the left are to the east. So if the sun were rising in the east, shadows on the evergreens would be cast to the right as depicted. But look at the shading on the hay pile/wheat stack. Almost directly aligned in front of it, like a noon day shadow. Look at the 'pickets' along the drive to the barn, far lower left. Shading is on the left of the pickets, indicating a later day sun in the western sky. Same with the base of the silo.

Appears to be a wheat field he's working based on color and uniformity of height, and in contrast to greener pasture or hay field to the right. Also makes me think wheat because it appears he's cutting and has already gathered some. In fact there's a lot of activity going on in that field. If he's supposed to be making hay it's a little off, because that's done in stages over days. Cut, lay & dry, gather, store. And each stage is typically done all at once. That's a pretty small parcel he's working, so he'd be increasing his workload by sectioning it off for harvesting hay. Whatever the crop, it's not in the flat Midwest plains because of the background hills. Those hills look kind of dry, barren of timber trees or any lush greenery like in the many parts of the US. Perhaps it's depicting a more western to southwestern area if it's of American origin? Pretty barn, two story gambrel roof, but no hay loft access depicted.

Just my .02 from my eyeballs. ;)

I love it, moon! I had noticed about the hay loft thing, and the different shadows. The trees on the left look almost Tuscan :), like their shadows came with them automatically, sewn onto their trunks like Peter Pan...but the horses have almost no shadows at all--those were the ones that stood out to me the most, although the fenceposts in the foreground are pretty funny when you compare them to the Tuscan Trees. Whoa, I'm getting motion sickness--the sun's here, now it's there...:)

Re the basic landscape: I'm thinking river valley. River valley worked for me because it would be a slightly rolling with hills on either side, like the Willamette River Valley here in OR.

HMMM...was it an Oregon children's book???...a bell going off...or maybe it wasn't, but it was about a family's multigenerational farming life.

And here is something really cool/spooky that Carole mentioned: I will put up soon a pic of an African watercolor village-scape I found that is signed "E. Kapella (Mbale) 4.5.1959" -- so strange that you'd mentioned it, Carole, because they have so much in common! Mbale is in Uganda, I found out.

The two of them look *great* together.

Try going to Abebooks and using the booksleuth section. I have found books before with no idea of the title or author. People on that forum are very knowledgeable about books.

BookSleuth

Here is a link that might be useful: BookSleuth

I sent the pic to my mother in law. She does church classes & used to work with the little kids at school so she may know it. If she replies; I'll post back. The picture is driving me nuts because it's very familiar to me.

Look for art illustration styles from the 40's through 60's.
Illustrators do all kinds of stuff...doesn't mean they live out that life. Could easily be an illustrator living in Nyc.
Maybe a contemporary of Virginia Lee Burton.

Thanks, prairiefox, roselvr, & bumblebeez. I have meant to take a pic of the Mbale watercolor but haven't quite gotten to it yet..same with taking the illustration to the library. I will report back as soon as I do, whether or not anything comes of it. I will research booksleuth more, too--thanks for the link, roselvr!

OH, and I meant to say thanks in advance, roselvr--I'm glad I'm not alone.

Well, I tried. MIL does not recognize it either. :(

Thanks, roselvr. You gave it the good ol' preschool try :)

I have to join the Booksleuth site in order to post, haven't had the occasion to sit down and do it yet...maybe I'll take it to our kids' library right now before I pick up my daughter.

small update: I took it to the kids' section at the library on Wednesday and had a somewhat affirming reaction: the head librarian recognized it immediately as from a 30s-40s book she just couldn't place (they spent a *lot* of time guessing, though...I was ready to say thanks quite earlier but they were determined!), and that it must have been from a pretty successful book because she remembered that it was still in print. The other librarians said they loved it and couldn't believe it had been donated to G'will. They took my name and number and said they'd call if it occurred to them at 2 am or something, and I told them I'd let them know if I was able to find anything out. So I guess it's on to Booksleuth.

I keep checking in here to see if you have discovered what book it came from. I am sure that I've seen it before! Hopefully the librarians will remember it.

fly, one other avenue to explore --
There's a vintage children's books group on Flickr. Maybe someone will recognize the picture there.

I'm intrigued too! What a wonderful illustration.

Here is a link that might be useful: Vintage children's books discussion

Reminds me of Virginia Lee Burton's work too, bumblebeez. Immediately thought of Mike and the Steamshovel when I saw it, one of our favorite children's books.

Yes!! It DOES like like 'Mike and the Steamshove'! I have that book in my library.

Thanks, awm -- I've posted there now. Hope I didn't violate any of their rules.

And gail & golddust, that was one of the names that the children's librarian thought of too! But it's just a bit different. We checked the books. Good call, though--you're not alone :)

I googled Virginia Burton and got to a site that listed a book called Virginia Burton, A Life In Art. The description said that besides being an author she also taught art classes and formed a group that painted rural scences. Perhaps it is in that book. Just google her name and see what it says.

Mboston, it reminded me of Virginia Burton too!

Thanks, mboston -- I looked at that book at googlebooks. Somehow I get the feeling the person who did this is just not quite as precise as Virginia L. Burton was. Not to talk down my own piece...maybe I'm wrong...

I did see something really cool, though, and loved learning about her life with George Demetrios (didn't know that!)

Here is a link that might be useful: This is her son!

Flyleft

Did you ever figure out this mystery? Did I miss the reveal?

Jennifer

Ach, no, jennifer -- we've just been a bit crazy with medical issues and going into this appraisal/refi. The house needs work to shine and I have put everything else on the back burner. I need to sign up for booksleuth next, I think.

Thank you for caring enough to post,though! When I do find out I'll definitely update folks here :)