"The dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow." ~ Robert Goddard

Spokane is a friendly city in Eastern Washington with a small-town feel. Lucky me ~ I grew up there! Excellent schools, beautiful city parks, great (affordable) golf courses and dozens of nearby lakes for summer fun are just some of its bonuses.

Doug and I currently live in the Seattle area, but we plan to move back to Spokane in the future.

Fond memories of growing up inspired lots of the artwork in this collection. I've divided it into seven groups and in some cases, sub-categories.

Each group highlights several paintings which periodically revolve ~ as this page's featured work changes with the seasons:

SEVEN COLLECTIONS

• Downtown ~ Landmarks like the Davenport Hotel and the Looff Carousel.
• County Parks ~ Four seasons of Manito (the pond, Duncan Gardens and the administration building), Cannon Hill pond, Mount Spokane's Vista House and more.
• Browne's Addition ~ Views of the Amasa Campbell House inside and out and other remarkable residences in this historic neighborhood.
• South Hill ~ Wonderful collection of schools, churches, residences and more.
• North Side ~ Gonzaga University settings and pretty homes in the neighborhood.
• Spokane Valley ~ Friendly family homes in the suburbs.
• Northern Washington & Idaho ~ Vacation homes, inns and scenes at surrounding lakes.

NEW Artwork, Collection Pdfs & "The BIG List"

• NEW Artwork ~ Round red NEW! buttons highlight the newest pieces completed in 2011-2012.
• Stories and Photos ~ Beneath the groups, you'll find a story, photo, title, location and date completed. To see a larger version, click on the artwork.
• Complete Collection Pdfs ~ Pdfs at the end of each grouping showing images of ALL the paintings. (You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to read pdfs ~ free from Adobe.com.)
• "The BIG List" ~ At the foot of this page you can link to an alphabetical list of titles and descriptions of ALL artwork by collection. Red bold type links you to current pieces featured throughout the site.

Enjoy ~ and click on Ordering for details on purchasing. (Now accepting Visa, MasterCard and American Express.)

To learn more about beautiful Spokane, Washington, its highlights and history, visit the web site: TourTheInlandNW.com/EasternWACities/Spokane.html.

Enjoy your visit, and click on Ordering for information on purchasing!

 

 

DOWNTOWN SPOKANE

"Dallying at The Davenport" (PAINTED OCTOBER 2008 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)

Set during the late 1940s, this is a portrait of the Louis B. Davenport’s legendary hotel in the heart of downtown Spokane. To the right is the Pennington Hotel and at the forefront, Davenport’s luxurious restaurant.

Designed by famed architect, Kirtland K. Cutter, the hotel opened in 1914 to become the shining jewel on Spokane’s skyline for decades. With Davenport’s death in 1951, the hotel gradually declined, closing in 1985.

After years of neglect and possible demolition, Walt and Karen Worthy purchased the hotel in 2000. After countless hours of renovation, restoration and careful attention to detail, they reopened the grand “lady” in 2002, giving Spokane and all of its visitors back this truly remarkable treasure. (Photo courtesy of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture.)

For more information about this remarkable landmark building in downtown Spokane, visit them on the web at TheDavenportHotel.com.

"Sunday Brunch at the Spokane Club" (PAINTED SEPTEMBER 2004 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)

The Spokane Club is a jewel in Kirtland Cutter’s architectural crown. Facing north and perched on the cliff overlooking Spokane Falls, Cutter designed this handsome building in 1909 in the Georgian style, using red brick with terra cotta embellishments.

Although the entrance has a Baroque feel with its ornate facade and columns, a large medallion of a Native American warrior reminds members and guests that they are “out West.” The Spokane Club has an elegant interior, featuring a classic formal dining room, ballroom, luxurious street-front bar and newly remodeled rooms above ~ making the club a wonderful destination for its guests.

The newer addition of its sports facility is a magnet for members who want to stay “in shape” or gear up for Spokane’s winter ski season.

For more information, visit SpokaneAthleticClub.org.

"The Crescent at Christmastime" (PAINTED JULY 2009 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)

The Crescent Department Store was THE place to shop growing up in Spokane. It opened in 1889, the year of the big Spokane fire that virtually destroyed the downtown area. The store served faithfully until 1988 when it was sold to the F&N Acquisition Corporation.

Christmas was everything to our family, and each year we went to the Crescent for pictures with Santa. Their photos were the biggest and best and I still have all of them. I was six when this was taken and we were dressed in our red plaid taffetas sewn by my mother, Sally. Age 13 was the cut-off for mandatory family Santa pics.

After photos, we always stopped by the signature animated store window. This was full of lights, baubles and figures (mostly elves) that moved in time to holiday music.

In this photo, here I am (yes, I'm the "ham") with my sisters, Marilee and Peggy ~ and of course, St. Nick!

"Flying South Over Spokane Falls" (PAINTED SEPTEMBER 2004 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)

Not only did famed architect, Kirtland K. Cutter, create dozens of beautiful homes and handsome landmark buildings in Spokane, he also leant his design flair to other projects.

This is a portrait of the majestic Monroe Street Bridge, which spans the river at the west end of downtown Spokane. In 1910, John Ralston, Spokane’s city engineer and designer of the grand span, invited Cutter to design its decorative handrails and lookout stations, which ultimately featured lifesize reliefs of bison skulls.

In the background is pictured another famous landmark, the Washington Water Power Post Street Substation. Cutter designed the massive brick and basaltic rock industrial building in 1909. An interesting note ~ Washington Water Power’s first president, F. Rockwood Moore, gave Cutter his first commission for a mansion.

Entire Downtown Collection pdf ~ Click here to see the pdf with all 4 paintings.

SPOKANE COUNTY PARKS

"Vista House View (Mount Spokane State Park)" (MOUNT SPOKANE PARK • PAINTED FEBRUARY 2010 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)

This is a portrait of the historic Vista House on a gorgeous sunny day ~ picturing friends, family and a group of eager, young S.S.R.A. racers (Spokane Ski Racing Association).

Located at the summit of Mount Spokane near the top of the #1 chairlift, this unique granite stone cottage was the design of Spokane architect, Henry C. Bertelsen.

It was built during the Great Depression in 1933 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), who were headquartered at Riverside State Park. The Vista House was constructed to blend seamlessly with its stunning natural setting. Renovated in 2002 by Mount Spokane State Park, it is open to the public on Sundays and holidays, offering light fare and a huge, friendly fireplace.

For information about this unique historic setting, visit MountSpokane.com.

"Fun & Frolic at the Manito Fireplace" (MANITO PARK, THE SOUTH HILL • PAINTED NOVEMBER 2006 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)

In 1955, at the west end of the Manito Park Duck Pond, a huge basaltic rock fireplace was built as a memorial to Lt. Lawrence Rist, an officer in the Air Force who was killed in action in the Korean War.

For years growing up in Spokane, my parents took our family ice skating in the winter on Manito Pond. The city, at that time, took pains to keep the surface smooth and groomed for skaters. There was nearly always a fire blazing for those of us who were chilled and needed some toasting up and a quick warm beverage. Friends and family are pictured in this carefree winter scene.

For more information about this beautiful South Hill Park, visit TheFriendsOfManito.org.

"The Golden Carousel (Riverfront Park)" (DOWNTOWN • PAINTED MARCH 1997 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)

The carousel at Riverfront Park carries hundreds of riders in merry circles during Spokane’s warm-weather season.

I.D. Looff finished the carousel in 1909. It was elaborate in every detail with dozens of multi-sized mirror panels and 180 glittering lights. Too expensive for Natatorium Park at a price of $20,000, Looff struck a special deal. If the park would allow his son, Louis Vogel to run the carousel and other concessions on a percentage basis, Looff would ship the carousel to the park as a wedding gift for his daughter Emma.

When the park closed in 1968, its property developed into residential housing, the carousel was dismantled and stored. With the opening of Spokane’s World Fair, Expo 74 at 100-acre Riverfront Park, one of the most anticipated events was the re-opening of the carousel ~ not just for viewing, but for riding! Housed in a protective building, this merry-go-round is available to children of all ages.

For more information on this remarkable merry-go-round, visit SpokaneCarousel.org.

"Riding the 'Jack Rabbit' at Nat (Natatorium Park)" (THE NORTH SIDE • PAINTED JUNE 2009 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)

This ride was part of the old Natatorium Park along with the Looff Carousel above. Most folks would say that it was the most thrilling ride at the park ~ aptly named the “Jack Rabbit.”

Each trip around the dizzying tracks lasted about a minute and a half, with speeds and dips that were guaranteed to leave you breathless ~ and “lunch-less,” if you had eaten too many hot dogs and cotton candy.

It broke the heart of every Spokane kid when the park closed in 1968, but Nat had lost money for years with so many other things going on in the city.

To add insult to injury, when the park closed, the grand roller coaster was dismantled and burned to the ground on-site.

"Cavorting at Cannon Hill Pond" (THE SOUTH HILL • PAINTED JULY 2009 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)

Cannon Hill Park is just down the hill from St. Augustine’s Church and what is still the parish grade school, now known as Cataldo Catholic School.

When I was a student there in the early 1960s, there weren’t enough playgrounds to accommodate all the kids, so in the winter months, the 6th, 7th and 8th graders were allowed to go ice skating on the pond at lunchtime ~ quite a privilege at the time. The boys played hockey and the girls learned how to twirl and skate backwards (we all had aspirations to join the “Ice Capades”).

This painting is filled with Simpsons, neighbors and friends ~ including the Roberts, McCarthy and Shelledy kids. The Shelledys lived in the brick two-story shown overlooking the pond.

"Pavilion at Coeur d'Alene Park (Detail)" (BROWNE'S ADDITION • PAINTED APRIL 1997 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)

The gazebo at Coeur d’Alene Park is located in the center of Spokane’s very first park.

The property was donated in 1891 by J.J. Browne (for whom the neighborhood was named) and A.M. Cannon (for whom the park pictured above on the South Hill was named).

Using ideas shared with the City Beautification Committee prepared by the world-famous landscape architects, the Olmsted Brothers of Brookline, Massachusetts, the committee worked to make the park lovely and inviting for the neighborhood’s residents.

Trees, shrubbery, small pools, flowering plants and lawn were installed, as well as a decorative, wood pavilion for band concerts. This onion-domed gazebo still stands in the center of the Coeur d'Alene Park today.

Entire Spokane Parks Collection pdf ~ Click here to see a three-page pdf with all 9 paintings.

BROWNE'S ADDITION ~ AMASA CAMPBELL HOUSE

NEW! "Touring the Campbell House" PAINTED JANUARY 2011 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8x10-INCH)

This is a recent revision of the first painting I finished for the Campbell House Collection 1994. As I needed to add some details to the piece, I updated the look as well.

This artwork depicts my family and friends on a tour of the famous, beautifully restored home that is part of the MAC (Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture). The tour is one of the best ~ filled with stories and anecdotes about the Campbell family, the architect (Kirtland K. Cutter) and the history of how the house was transformed from the city's museum to the elegantly renovated mansion that folks enjoy today.

NEW! "Rose Reception Room" (PAINTED AUGUST 2011 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)

Inside the entrance of the Campbell House to the right is the rose, white and gilt Louis XVI French Rococo reception room. Gold leaf embellishes the woodwork, mantle and wall panels. A delicate porcelain portrait of the Madonna and Child sits on the mantle ~ popular in Victorian home decor.

Social calls were a very important part of upper class life in the late 1800s, and this ornate room is where Grace Campbell received her guests. According to custom, visits were brief (about 15 minutes) with the women leaving their calling cards as a reminder they were there before moving on to the next household. .

This mansion and many others in this picturesque neighborhood are listed on Spokane's historical register. For more information, please contact the MAC Museum (Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture) in Browne's Addition at 509.456.3931 or log on to NorthwestMuseum.org.

NOTE: A few copies of my NEW 2011 Historic Campbell House Calendar are available at the MAC Gift Shop. It features a dozen images of the mansion (7NEW), inside and out (with more artwork "in-the-works"). Visit the Calendar page for a preview.

OTHER BROWNE'S ADDITION RESIDENCES

"Pretty Poplar House" PAINTED DECEMBER 1996 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)

This modest, Foursquare-style apartment house near Coeur d’Alene Park in Browne’s Addition was my parents’ first home when they began their married life in Spokane in 1947.

My dad launched his law career as a young attorney teaching classes at Gonzaga Law School before he started his practice in downtown Spokane at the Paulsen Building. My mother became a homemaker ~ and yes, that’s me as an infant in her arms.

This painting was finished as a special Christmas gift for my parents in 1996.

"Darling Dutch Colonial" PAINTED MAY 2003 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)

At Christmastime in 2002, my mother Sally, husband Doug, and I made a “field trip” through Browne’s Addition with the mission of shooting photos of the many imposing mansions so prevalent in that part of Spokane.

However, my mother pointed out this pretty little gem nestled among its more ostentatious counterparts ~ and so this “Darling Dutch Colonial” painting came to be.

Celebrating May Day, this piece pictures my mother and me, arms filled with potted posies, paying a friendly visit to the residents.

"Autumn Afternoon at Patsy Clark's" PAINTED MARCH 1997 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)

The Patrick Clark Home, across from the Coeur d’Alene Park on 2nd and Hemlock, was designed by Kirtland K. Cutter. This flamboyant design was gleaned from the palaces of Islamic Spain. Constructed of beige brick with a red tile roof, it stands out in a neighborhood of English Tudors and Queen Anne homes.

Born in Ireland of poor parents, 20-year old Patrick Clark arrived in the United States in 1870 and went into mining. He worked in several states before joining a Spokane syndicate partnered with Finch, Campbell, Wakefield and Corbin. He moved his family into the mansion in 1897.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the residence became the popular restaurant, “Patsy Clark’s.” It is currently owned by a group of attorneys who have done a beautiful job restoring it.

"Winter at the Wakefield House" (PAINTED MAY 1997 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)

The Wakefield House, which was once the family home of lawyer and capitalist, W. J.C. Wakefield, is a beautiful mansion in the Mission-Revival style.

Designed and constructed around the early 1900s by the famed architect, Kirtland K. Cutter, this home was built on the lot next to the Amasa and Grace Campbell house.

Located in Browne’s Addition, it is one of many handsome structures erected by Cutter at that time for the new wealthy businessmen in Spokane, Washington who wished to proclaim their financial success in the form of spectacular family residences.

Entire Browne's Addition Collection pdf ~ Click here to see a five-page pdf with all 22 paintings (12 of the Campbell House and 10 of other Browne's Addition Settings).

THE SOUTH HILL

"Whispering Pines Inn" (PAINTED MAY 2007 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)

Located just off Bernard Street near the west entrance to Manito Park, this pretty French-styled home has always sparkled like a jewel on its block. Several of Spokane’s famous prolific Ponderosa pines stands in the back yard (there are thousands of these majestic trees scattered throughout the city’s neighborhoods).

I painted the shingled, two-story home as a cozy B & B, giving it a fictional name, “Whispering Pines Inn.” This is actually a single-family dwelling.

We’re all here to welcome our guests ~ kittiewinks, Andy, Sophie and me on the front lawn with my husband, Doug, waving in the doorway.

"Evening at Saint John the Evangelist" (PAINTED OCTOBER 2007 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8x10-INCH)

Even if you never leave the freeway on your travels east through Spokane, when you look towards the South Hill neighborhood, the spires of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist are clearly visible against the skyline.

The dream of Right Reverend Edward Makin Cross (Third Bishop of Spokane), the project was begun in 1925 by architect and parishioner, Harold C. Whitehouse. This majestic Gothic-style cathedral is French-influenced.

With its exterior constructed of stone from Tacoma, Washington, the interior features sandstone from Idaho (nave) and limestone from Indiana. Work on the building project proceeded through most of the 1900s.

The cathedral prides itself on opening its doors to everyone ~ as its carvings and stain glass windows include symbols of many faiths. It is a “house of prayer for all people.” Visit them at StJohns-Cathedral.org.

"Dawn at the Davenport House" (PAINTED JULY 2003 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)

This handsome Arts & Crafts-style home, designed for Louis Davenport (of the famous Spokane hotel) by Kirtland K. Cutter, featured basaltic rock on its lower walls and half timbers and shingles on its upper ones.

The mansion was large ~ but cozy and English in flavor ~ with jerk in-head hipped gables and an unusual whimsical stone gatehouse and towers guarding its entrance. Built in 1908, the home was filled with luxuries, such as a bathroom for each upstairs bedroom and an indoor swimming pool ~ incredible for its time.

Sadly, this remarkable home was demolished in the mid 1900s to accommodate Spokane’s burgeoning Sacred Heart Hospital complex. Louis Davenport’s young son, Lewis, is pictured in the foreground.

"9th Avenue ~ South Hill Ice Skaters' Ball" (PAINTED NOVEMBER 2004 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8x10-INCH)

Spokane is a winter sports lovers’ playground ~ skiing, sledding and ice skating are at the top of the list. There are several ponds and lakes scattered around Spokane County that freeze over every winter, some with huge stone outdoor fireplaces for hardy outdoor merrymakers ~ thus this Tudor’s “Ice Skater’s Ball” theme featuring my husband and me on the frosty front walkway.

This handsome home is one of four Comstock-Shadle family “sister” (similar to each other) houses on 9th Avenue, constructed in the early 1900s.

Entire South Hill Collection pdf ~ Click here to see an eight-page pdf with all 36 South Hill paintings.

THE NORTH SIDE ~ GONZAGA UNIVERSITY

"Sunday Morning at St. Al's" (PAINTED MAY 1997 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)

This is a portrait of the beautiful Catholic church designed by Herman Preusse, which resides in the center of the Gonzaga University campus.

It is also the parish church for the St. Aloysius neighborhood congregation.

The setting for hundreds of weddings, christenings, funerals and first communions, this church is beloved by both students and Spokanites alike.

I’m pictured with the Joseph Doohan family and Jesuit Priest Father Tony Lehman visiting after Mass.

This painting was completed at Joe’s suggestion, so that a print could be donated to the St. Aloysius parish auction in March of 1997.

"Autumn at the Alumni House (Bing Crosby Home)" (PAINTED AUGUST 2008 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)

This lovely two-story craftsman house was home to Hollywood's most famous crooner, Bing Crosby, during his years of growing up on Spokane's North Side.

Located adjacent to Gonzaga University campus, Crosby was a huge booster of the college during his lifetime and did a lot for the school, including donating the Crosby Library.

Although he never finished college, in later years he was awarded a special honorary degree. His childhood home now serves Gonzaga students and graduates as the alumni center.

"Winter at Bishop White Seminary" (PAINTED MAY 2007 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)

John Huetter started work on this stately mansion in 1889. In the construction business ~ and a fine stone mason and brick layer ~ he was also responsible for Gonzaga University’s DeSmet Hall and the Administration building. The great fire of 1889 provided other opportunities, such as the construction of the original St. Joseph’s Orphanage. Huetter’s family of nine children were active in St. Aloysius parish.

Several Catholic organizations used this house until 1956 when Bishop Bernard J. Topel dedicated it to the memory of Bishop Charles D. White (second bishop of the Spokane Diocese), and commissioned it as a Preparatory Seminary.

This painting was completed to honor its 50th year of preparing men for the priesthood. I’ve pictured my brothers John, Bill and Bob Simpson as altar boys in the foreground of this piece.

"Bozarth Mansion in Bloom" (PAINTED APRIL 2010 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)

In 1911-1913, this mansion was built for J.P. Graves by Kirtland K. Cutter for about $100,000. The famed Olmstead Brothers of Brookline, MA designed the gardens and underground water system. In addition to owning one of Spokane’s trolley lines, he also had the largest herd of jersey cattle on the west coast.

It was originally called “Waikiki” in honor of the island Graves visited and because of the 24 streams on the property (“Waikiki” means lots of rushing water.)

In 1963, the mansion was purchased by Gonzaga University, and today it is know as the Bozarth Mansion and Retreat Center.

For more information on this fine Jesuit institution of higher learning, visit them at Gonzaga.Edu.

OTHER NORTH SIDE SETTINGS

"Flowerfield in the Fall (Saint George's School)" (PAINTED JUNE 2008 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)

Located on the banks of the Little Spokane River, Flowerfield was once the 440-acre summer estate of Louis Davenport and his family. Davenport's summer estate was purchased in 1955 and 120 acres of it became Saint George’s School.

This lovely two-story residence is still part of the campus. Davenport was known for hiring outstanding architects and commissioned renowned architects Kirtland K. Cutter and Karl Malmgren to design what was to become the grandest hotel in Spokane’s history. Closed for decades, the Davenport Hotel was restored to its former glory by Walt and Karen Worthy, and re-opened to the public in the early 2000s. (Photo courtesy of John Meyer.)

For more information about Saint George's School, visit them at SGS.org.

"The Old Maxwell-Pettet Place" (PAINTED AUGUST 2008 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)

This wintery North Side scene is a portrait of the old Maxwell-Pettet Place. This residence is reputed to be the oldest home noted on Spokane's public records. The original property was owned by the Pettet family, sold a short time later to the Maxwells who lived there for decades.

Over the years, the original wood structure has been encased and added on to, resulting in this lovely, rambling home in the woods on the cliffs overlooking the Spokane River and the grounds of Fort George Wright.

Entire North Side Collection pdf ~ Click here to see the three-page pdf with all 13 paintings.

"Fine Fall Finish" (Detail of Elliott House) (PAINTED SEPTEMBER 2010 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 11x14-INCH)

This is a detail of a portrait showing a neighborhood with three uniquely different Spokane homes.

I completed this artwork as a surprise gift for Lance Elliott and Chris Garrett to share it with them at the completion of our project.

They were the partner contractors of Elliott Construction who so diligently and beautifully restored our place in the South Hill neighborhood near Manito Park.

This detail focuses on the charming Elliott home, a pretty brick rambler located in heart of the Spokane Valley.

"Fine Fall Finish" (Detail of Garrett House) (PAINTED SEPTEMBER 2010 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 11x14-INCH)

This is another detail lifted from the "neighborhood" portrait picturing our South Hill future residence and our contractors' homes.

This detail focuses on the handsome Garrett home, located in East Spokane Valley not far from Liberty Lake. Lance was originally hired to build the place, but Chris ended up giving him lots of help as her father was a general contractor ~ and she loved the work. Eventually, she became part of the Elliott Construction team.

Please visit my Commission page to see the larger composite painting that features these two homes.

"Springtime Comes to Simpson Street" (Detail) (PAINTED MARCH 2007 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 16X20-INCH)

When Bernard Street on Spokane’s South Hill was widened into an arterial, my parents pack up us kids and headed to the suburbs of the Spokane Valley, due east of the city and at the foot of Tower Mountain.

Our new neighborhood was filled with playmates of all ages ~ I still keep in touch with many of the friends that I made then.

This piece shows my brothers, Bob (with our dogs, Chum and Andy), Bill and John in the foreground. Sisters Marilee and Peggy have just returned from a bike ride. I’m helping my folks, Sally and Joe, prepare dinner “al fresco” on the deck.

"The Barton Snow Fort" (PAINTED DECEMBER 1992-1997) • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)

This painting was an ongoing labor of love for me. My youngest sister, Peggy, married her husband, Jeff Barton, in the early 1970s, and then moved to the San Francisco area, and subsequently Honolulu, Oahu. After years apart, Jeff made the decision to return to Spokane to take over his family’s business. To our family’s delight, Peggy came "home." The couple selected an architect who designed and built a handsome contemporary three-story home with a panoramic view of the Spokane Valley.

Their family began growing. First their son Michael arrived, then their daughter, Kelly, then Mark and Brooklynn. When Peggy married Jeff, she brought her frisky black cockapoo, Andy, with her. During moves (see the other Spokane Valley artwork, "Springtime Comes to Simpson Street"), Andy landed with my parents. Later the Peg and Jeff added Rascal, another cockapoo. Years later, after Andy and Rascal returned to their “kennel-in-the-sky,” the Bartons brought two cocker spaniels home ~ Cocoa and Honeybee. Somewhere along the line, a very independent calico cat, Zoe, made the Barton house her home as well.

I did my best to keep up with this constantly changing household, altering the original painting three times (this is the final rendition), and giving my little sister updated prints along the way ~ one of which still hangs in their home during the holidays. For decades, Peg and Jeff hosted a huge feast for their extended family on Christmas Eve ~ inspiration for this warm and friendly holiday artwork.

Entire Spokane Valley Collection pdf ~ Click here to see the two-page pdf of all 8 paintings.

"Cast & Blast" (HAYDEN LAKE, IDAHO • PAINTED JULY 1999 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 11x14-INCH)

In the 1990s, this rustic log store located in the town of Hayden Lake was THE spot for bait, lures, rods, shells ~ and every possible gift item for the outdoor sports enthusiast.

I painted my sisters, Peggy, Marilee and myself in full fly-fishing gear
~ from vests to boots ~ in front of the “Cast & Blast.” We were ready to take on Lake Hayden!

Sadly for all its customers, a short time after I painted this piece, this picturesque shop closed for business. Its owners retired to enjoy all of the fun outdoor sports that their mercantile had supported for years. Rumor has it that they're fly-fishing as we speak at some pristine setting in North Idaho!

"Rich's Lakeside Lodge" (PRIEST LAKE, IDAHO • PAINTED SEPTEMBER 1998 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)

My mother, Sally, lived next door for decades to a friendly teacher named Rich.

Upon retirement from the Spokane school system, he sold his condominium and retired to Priest Lake with his longtime love, Linda.

Together they built a large new log home to replace the small one-room cabin that had served as a summer home on the lake shore. Rich took pictures of the lovely old place before it was torn down ~ inspiration for this painting which he commissioned.

"Chum & Bob on the Century" (HAYDEN LAKE, IDAHO • PAINTED JUNE 1985 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)

This handsome wood boat was my father’s pride and joy for years at our summer cabin on Hayden Lake, Idaho. The property was blessed with a beautiful natural beach that once served as the summer campground for the Coeur d'Alene Indian (seen in the background of this photo).

Built of mahogany with an interior of crimson red, this inboard “Resorter” knew how to move!

Waving from the steering wheel with his golden retriever pal, Chum, is my youngest brother, Bob. Not only did he love driving as much as my dad did, he spent countless hours slalom skiing behind her.

This painting was completed as a college graduation gift for Bob, who has the artwork hanging in this home.

"The Lake" (NEWMAN LAKE • PAINTED APRIL 2007 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)

This tranquil spot is a portrait that I painted for a friend, Jean Burton, depicting her family's cabin on Newman Lake. This pretty lake is located a short drive north of Spokane, Washington in a lovely, woodsy area.

In 1945 Effie and Dick McKay built the original place on the lake.
Later it was remodeled and upgraded by Nancy and Paul Burton.

Much loved by the family, this cabin has been home to three generations of Burtons, providing decades of summer fun. Jean commissioned this original painting as a special surprise gift for her mother.

Entire Northern Washington/Idaho Collection pdf ~ Click here to see the two-page pdf of all 10 paintings featuring lots of lakeside settings.

Click here to access "The BIG List" showing ALL of the artwork titles alphabetically in the Spokane Collection's seven groupings.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO REACH ME ~

iPhone: 206.406.1409

Email: artist@pattisimpsonward.com

On the Web: PattiSimpsonWard.com