SPOKANE AND THE INLAND NW • 26 FALL INTO WINTER WORKS DIVIDED INTO 7 THEM ES • FROM MY 250+ PC. COLLECTION
FUN IN SPOKANE AND THE INLAND NW IN FALL INTO WINTER
DOWNTOWN DISTRICT • A fun thing to do things to do when "the frost is on the pumpkins" and "let it snow" are the mantras, is to gather with folks we love for a meal. All Spokane's neighborhoods have these and I've painted art of many of them.
OLD RAILROAD CAR DINERS • Frank and Jack Knight brothers salvaged three of these around town. I painted two of them. The one here is in Downtown Spokane. See my art of it below, "FRIENDLY FOLKS AT FRANK'S DINER." There's another Frank's plus its couisin Knight's Diner on Spokane's North Side.
You can find any kind of eatery here ~ from elegant fine dining at the Davenport to a South Hill bakery converted from an old green grocer with lockers for hunters' game "SNOWMEN ON THE SOUTH HILL (ROCKWOOD BAKERY)." The Inland NW knows how to spoil all who live here ~ plus those who visit. Here's some history:
KEY PLAYERS • K.K. Cutter, Amasa Campbell, Patsy Clark, Daniel C. Corbin, F. Rockwood Moore, James N. Glover, Louis B. Davenport, Francis Cook, Aubrey White, J.J. Browne, A.M. Cannon, J.P. Graves, William Cowles, and others gave the Inland NW its complexion. Successful men built mansions for their families and imposing Downtown structures proclaiming their wealth ~ many still in immaculate shape today.
PRESERVATION & THE TOP 10 • After World War II, when other cities were tearing things downs, an economic slump had Spokanites restoring properties. The South Hill in particular is filled with homes built in the 1929s-1940s, many as handsome as when originally built. Add to that, the school system, golf courses, bike trails, parks and gardens. Manito Park's Mirror Lake was one of Doug and my favorite places, beautiful, especially in Spring.
Spokane Preservation Advocates (SpokanePreservation.org) respects what a jewel Spokane is, and works hard to keep it that way. See their recent newlsetter on my WELCOME and BIOGRAPHY pages. Also, from 1959 to the 1990s, lake property was still affordable, so families bought vacation lots.
Highlight ~ NBC'S TODAY SHOW • November 2023, a travel segment aired on The Today Show highlighting destinations around the U.S. The initial one featured our Inland NW! Highlighted were Riverfront Park, The Davenport Hotel, and the Coeur d'Alene Resort. CONGRATS TO US!
APPRECIATE SEEING SO MANY OF YOU AT 2024'S THREE FESTIVE HOLIDAY MARKETPLACES! • Thank you to everyone who braved the Winter elements and came to do their Holiday shopping at these three Christmas marketplaces. I'm gratefull to my friends, family and patrons for making 2024 one of my most successful Holiday Seasons ever ~ such a gift with my sweetheart Doug no longer beside me at these events. Even though there were a few bumps in my road, all in all, it was a beautiful Season. I appreciate you all stopping by to shop and say hi! HAPPY NEW YEAR IN 2025!!
As we move into this 2025, see my ART VENUES page for details on possible future events. Hope to see you again soon!
7 THEMED GROUPS • AND MORE
As noted above, I've divided this FALL INTO WINTER collection into seven groups, some with sub-catgories. Often, the first image is FALL-themed and the second, WINTER (+HOLS) The artwork shares familiar regions, communities, neighborhoods, folks who love them, and more. I've created 250+ INLAND NW (SPOKANE) paintings in my 450+ collection, enough to rotate my art through all four seasons on this website. There is also a handful of the many sketches I've completed on my COMMISSION page.
NEW FINE ART, MY CREATIVE PROCESS, PHOTOS / STORIES, ORDERING AND ENTIRE COLLECTION PDFS
NOTE: Find ENTIRE COLLECTION pdfs after each of the 7 GROUPS below on this page.
LANDMARKS • THE LEGENDARY ONES
"MERRY MEETING AT THE FLOUR MILL" (THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT, SPOKANE, WA • PAINTED JULY 2018 ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 8X10-INCH)
This piece celebrates songwriter Mel Torme's "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" at Spokane's Flour Mill, a unique refurbished retail destination since 1974 and Spokane’s Expo 74 Environment World’s Fair. The setting was built out that year to accommodate boutique-style shops, Clinkerdagger’s Restaurant, event center spaces on its grounds and interior. Recently, the Flour Mill opened an enclosed rooftop space, offering a nice room for intimate gatherings and the breathtaking view of Spokane’s Riverfront Park and the Downtown District. Built in 1895, this was one a of several mills on the Spokane River that took advantage of the power produced in the late 1800s before F. Rockwood Moore developed Washington Water Power (later Avista). It was initially involved in one of the most difficult, hard fought lawsuits in Spokane’s history that delayed its operation for five years. Highlight ~ I pictured Doug and me with friends Tom and Kathie Kellogg by their cozy trailer in front of the Floor Mill, offering their roasted chestnuts on a crisp Winter afternoon.
"FLYING SOUTH OVER SPOKANE FALLS" (THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT, SPOKANE, WA • PAINTED SEPTEMBER 2004 ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 8X10-INCH)
Not only did Kirkland Kelsey Cutter create dozens of homes and landmarks in Spokane, he also lent his design flair to other projects. This artwork portrayed the Monroe Street Bridge, spanning the Spokane river at the west end of Spokane’s Downtown District. In 1910, City Engineer John Ralston invited Cutter to design his bridge’s handrails and lookout stations, which featured life-size reliefs of bison skulls. I placed another Cutter landmark in the background of this work, the 1909 red brick and basaltic rock Washington Water Power Post Street Substation. Recently, Huntington Park on the south side of the falls was renovated. Lawn, a picnic area and rock gardens filled with decorative plantings were installed, creating an inviting space for folks to not only view the falls, but stay and picnic. Highlight ~ Washington Water Power’s first CEO, F. Rockwood Moore, gave Cutter one of his earliest residential commissions ~ a stunning Tudor-Revival positioned between the D.C. Corbin House and the F. Lewis Clark Mansion on Seventh Avenue. Demolished during the Great Depression, this property ultimately served as the parking lot for the restored Moore-Turner Heritage Gardens.
LANDMARKS • THE FUN ONES
"FRIENDLY FOLKS AT FRANK'S DINER" (THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT, SPOKANE, WA • PAINTED APRIL 2020 ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 8X10-INCH)
I created this portrait of Frank’s Diner (FranksDiners.com)in Spokane’s Downtown District four years after painting the North Side’s Knight’s Diner, also a famous railroad car café. Barney-Smith and Pullman competed against each other in the early 1900s to be the best at producing elegant beautifully detailed railroad cars. In 1906, Barney Smith manufactured this “observation car” which was purchased by the Northern Pacific Railroad for their president to use as his private car until its replacement in 1931. That same year, Frank Knight (brother of Jack Knight of Knight’s Diner fame) discovered Car #1787 in Seattle and converted it to Downtown Spokane’s Frank’s Diner. Highlight ~ Frank’s Diner has been named BEST BREAKFAST and BEST DINER nearly 20 times by The Inlander’s People’s Choice Awards. A second Frank’s Diner was later opened on the Newport Highway in a 1913 Laketon #4216, an equally beautiful dining experience.
"SNOWMEN ON THE SOUTH HILL (ROCKWOOD BAKERY)" (THE SOUTH HILL, SPOKANE, WA • PAINTED JANUARY 2016 ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 8X10-INCH)
Three friendly festive snowmen welcomed patrons to this beloved bakery a half block east of Grand Boulevard and Manito Park on Spokane’s South Hill. Whether the weather was chilly, as pictured in this piece, or warm for al fresco dining on the deck of the historic 18th Avenue setting, the Rockwood Bakery has always been a favorite of loyal patrons. For folks with a sweet tooth and discerning love of rich coffee and flavorful tea, from the day that the Rockwood Bakery opened, people have gathered there every morning to start their day. When my sister’s husband Ron was working on the hardwood floors in our bungalow near Bernard Street on 18th, he breakfasted every morning there. Highlight ~ In the early 1900s, this historic structure served the neighborhood as the Rockwood Market. It was the first to offer its customers meat lockers to freeze their large quantity purchases ~ perfect during hunting season in the Inland NW.
• The Legendary Landmarks Collection • Prestigious & The Fun Ones pdf ~ Click on this pdf to see and learn about all 11 paintings in this collection.
INLAND NW PARKS & GARDENS • SPOKANE'S MANITO PARK
"AUTUMN AT THE MANITO ADMIN. BUILDING (HEADHOUSE)" (MANITO PARK, SPOKANE, WA • JULY 2019 ACRYLIC-ON-CANVAS • 8X10 -INCH)
The stunning focal point of the South Hill neighborhood, Manito Park (TheFriendsOfManito.org) was deeded to the city of Spokane in 1904. The handsome single-story basaltic rock and shingle Administration Building or “Headhouse” as it was also known, was constructed in 1912 on the north side of the Gaiser Conservatory, south of the Ferris Perennial Gardens and east of Rose Hill. It was built to house the offices of Manito’s horticultural staff and The Friends of Manito, a non-profit service group whose purpose it was to help Spokane’s Parks & Rec. Department preserve, promote and improve the city’s beloved setting. Highlight ~ Revised from the original artwork completed in 2003, this piece celebrate family (three generations) enjoying the beautiful setting on a gorgeous sunny Autumn afternoon ~ walking the dog, playing in the fallen leaves and more.
"SNOWFALL AT THE BASALTIC ROCK BRIDGE" (MANITO PARK, SPOKANE, WA • PAINTED OCTOBER 2020 ACRYLIC-ON-CANVAS • 8X10 -INCH)
One of the most unique things about 90-acre Manito Park (TheFriendsOfManito.org) was the prolific use of native basaltic rock on structures throughout the grounds when this magnificent park was created in 1904. This included rest-rooms shelters, Headhouse (the administration building on the north side of the Gaiser Conservatory), the Park Bench Cafe, storage buildings above Duncan Garden on its east side and later in the 1950s, the huge fireplace at the west end of Manito Pond. A remarkably beautiful feature at the park was its stone bridge that connected Rose Hill to the property that originally housed zoo animals before it closed in 1932 due to the Great Depression. This decision was further spurned by an accident that maimed a child when she reached through bars to feed a polar bear. Highlight ~ I painted this scene with Doug, me and our granddaughters enjoying the day after a fresh snowfall.
INLAND NW PARKS & GARDENS • OTHER SPOKANE COUNTY AND STATE PARK SETTINGS
"ICE RIBBON AT RIVERFRONT PARK" (THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT, RIVERFRONT PARK, SPOKANE, WA • JULY 2019 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS •8X10-INCH)
In early December 2017, Spokane opened the first ice ribbon on the West Coast ~ a fun addition to Riverfront Park which was part of the updating plans happening on what was once the site of Spokane’s Expo 74 environmental fair. The ice ribbon promised a wonderful urban experience with its 16-foot wide 700-foot trail curling around the west end of the park. Fire pits, an ice lounge and more promised a great experience for skaters young and old. Summer offered roller-skating instead and other activities, so the ribbon could be enjoyed year round. An extra attraction were the gondolas that carried folks over the thundering Spokane Falls. Highlight ~ I filled this artwork with skaters of all ages enjoying the crisp Winter day. In the background of the artwork honoring the ice ribbon's memorable opening day, I pictured Riverfront’s pavilion and iconic clock tower.
"VISTA HOUSE VIEW" MOUNT SPOKANE STATE PARK, WA • PAINTED FEBRUARY 2010 ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 8X10-INCH)
This artwork portrayed the historic Vista House (MountSpokane.com) on a gorgeous sunny day with friends, family and a group of eager young S.S.R.A. ~ including my nephew Scot and niece Isabell Simpson when they were just starting out in the racing organization. Located at the summit a short hike up from the top of the #1 chairlift, this granite stone cottage was designed by Spokane architect, Henry C. Bertelsen to blend with Mount Spokane’s stunning natural setting. It was built in 1933 during the Great Depression with help from the C.C.C. (the Civilian Conservation Corps), headquartered at Riverside State Park on Spokane’s North Side.Renovated in 2002 under the direction of Mount Spokane State Park, it re-opened to skiers on Sundays and holidays, offering refreshments and a huge, friendly fireplace. Highlight ~ During warmer Spring and Summer months, the Vista House has opened its doors to host weddings and other special celebrations. Although the rustic Vista House has its special charm, the view from the property is truly "the star" of these events when the sun is shining and the sky is clear.
• The Inland NW Parks and Gardens Collection pdf ~ Click on this pdf to see and learn about all 30 paintings in this collection.
BROWNE'S ADDITION • HISTORIC HOME SWEET HOMES
NEWLY REVISED! "FALL PICNIC AT THE PAGE-UFFORD HOUSE" (BROWNE'S ADDITION, SPOKANE, WA • PAINTED (REVISED) AUGUST 2024) ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 8X10-INCH)
In August 2024, I revised this 2010 art of a beautiful Queen Anne perched on the west bluff of Browne’s Addition overlooking Latah Creek. Alfa J. Page and his wife Flora lived there first, followed by William and Ethel Ufford ~ thus its name. When I finished my first effort, it had just been restored by Katherine Fritchie from a battered apartment house back into the single family dwelling it had started out as in 1896. After she completed the very challenging project, Fritchie sold it. The family pictured in this altered artwork fell in love with this Victorian beauty, and it became their beloved home. My new portrait of it celebrated them all enjoying a picnic done with an Autumn theme which included Fall foliage and vivid flower beds. They would have lived here forever if multiple staircases, three floors, and health challenges had not made that impossible. They purchased a single-story home near Rockwood, so a portrait of their Browne’s Addition “dream house” full of memories was a necessary memento. Their wish inspired my new portrait. Highlight ~ The reason this Queen Anne spent time as an apartment house was that after the Great Depression, folks who owned the large mansions in Browne’s Addition, Spokane’s first neighborhood, were pressured to divide their homes into apartments for returning World War II servicemen. Even its stunning wrap-around porch had been encased for that purpose!
"WINTER AT THE WAKEFIELD MANSION" (BROWNE'S ADDITION, SPOKANE, WA • PAINTED MAY 19974 ACRYLIC-ON-CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)
“The historic Wakefield Mansion, once the family residence of lawyer and capitalist, W.J.C. Wakefield, was designed and built in Browne’s Addition in 1897 by famed Spokane architect Kirtland K. Cutter. Created in the classic Mission Revival style, it was located on the lot west of Amasa Campbell’s Tudor 2-1/2-story home. This was just one of several elegant residences near Coeur D’Alene Park commissioned by the community’s new wealthy businessmen who wished to proclaim their financial success in the form of spectacular family homes. This painting celebrated the theme of holiday gatherings. Note the turkey in the dining room window and folks arriving with hot dishes to contribute to the feast. Highlight ~ In the late 1940s, thousands of servicemen were returning from fighting in World War II, so large structures such as the one in this painting were divided into several apartments. The Wakefield still offers apartments many decades later!
BROWNE'S ADDITION • THE MAC'S AMASA CAMPBELL HOUSE • SERVANTS' QUARTERS AND FAMILY ROOMS
"DESSERT IN THE SERVANTS' DINING ROOM" (BROWNE'S ADDITION, SPOKANE, WA • PAINTING SEPTEMBER 2015 ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 8X10-INCH)
The Campbell’s servants’ cozy dining room (NorthwestMuseum.org) was located on the east end of the mansion and faced First Avenue. When I painted this portrait of it in 2011, the walls were a neutral white, but since then, they have been papered with replicated wallpaper. The staff ate their meals in this room and probably gathered here to be briefed on daily tasks. This dining room was in the servants’ portion of the residence across the hall from the busy kitchen as the cook prepared meals for both the Campbells and the staff. Wainscoting enhanced the room and windows on two sides let in plenty of natural sunlight. Highlight ~ The live-in household staff consisted of five to seven servants ~ the cook, the first maid (main floor duties), the second maid (second floor duties and assistant to the first maid), two more domestics as needed, the coachman and a gardener to manage the grounds surrounding the mansion.
"TULIPS, TEDDY BEARS AND TWIN BEDS" (BROWNE'S ADDITION, SPOKANE, WA • PAINTED OCTOBER 2021 ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 5X7-INCH)
I took a bit of poetic license with this cozy guest room next to the Campbell’s Linen room. It was devoid of wallpaper and other accoutrements when I took photos of it over a decade ago when I began work on my Campbell House (NorthwestMuseum.org) collection. Regardless, the room’s two matching twin-size “posters” were charming and delightful ~ perhaps making it the perfect guest room for visiting youngsters. In addition to our kittiewinks Andy and Sophie, I included a huge container of multi-colored tulips marching across the fireplace mantle. Highlight ~ I also tucked two friendly teddy bears into this scene as in 1902, famed Richard Steiff introduced his iconic stuff teddy bears (named for President Theodore Roosevelt) ~ roughly at the same time that the Campbells were beginning life in their recently completed home in Browne’s Addition, Spokane’s first and oldest residential neighborhood.
• The Entire Browne's Addition Collection pdf ~ Click on this pdf to see and learn about all 34 paintings in this collection.
THE SOUTH HILL NEIGHBORHOOD • SOUTH HILL PRETTY PUBLIC PLACES
NEW "OKTOBERFEST AT CATALDO CATHOLIC SCHOOL" (THE SOUTH HILL, SPOKANE, WA • PAINTED AUGUST 2006 ACRYLIC-ON-CANVA S 8X10-INCH)
Known as St. Augustine’s School (StAugustinesSpokane.com) when my sisters and I attended classes there in the 1950s and 1960s, later the parochial grade school changed its name and absorbed students from Sacred Heart and Our Lady of Lourdes parishes ~ thus the name change. The handsome old building was designed by famed architect Kirtland K. Cutter and served as the original church, school and Franciscan Sisters’ convent in the 1930s and 1940. The school holds fond memories for hundreds of South Hill kids, including me ~ now parents and grandparents of children who attend classes there today. Highlight ~ This artwork, inspired by my sister-in-law, Jan Simpson, celebrates Autumn’s Oktoberfest, a colorful season in Spokane. My niece and nephew Scot and Isabel were pictured as youngsters with their chums (girls in their plaid uniforms and boys in navy slacks) at this seasonal celebration.
NEW! "MERRY CAROLERS AT SAINT MARK'S" (THE SOUTH HILL, SPOKANE, WA • PAINTED OCTOBER 2021 ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 8X10-INCH)
Winter at Saint Mark’s… This remarkable structure was built on the corner of Grand Boulevard and 24th Avenue on Spokane’s South Hill in 1950 near Manito Park. Architects Funk, Molander and Johnson designed this Mid-Century Modern ~ giving it a Swedish-style influence. Unique for its time were its A-frame lines and needle-shaped bell-tower embellished with four angels. It was modern inside and acclaimed Spokane artist Harold Balazs created the interior art and sculpture as part of its design. This neighborhood Lutheran church made a remarkable statement for it’s time, considered to be a fine example of Mid-Century Modern architecture in Spokane. The property was particularly pretty during the Holidays, especially after a fresh snowfall. I pictured a diverse group of carolers in the foreground in front of its signature basaltic rock wall welcoming folks to the Christmas Eve Service. Highlight ~ In 1955 when I was about to start kindergarten, Saint Augustine’s parish had not implemented this program into their curriculum yet, so some neighborhood moms suggested Saint Mark's. My mother Sally enrolled me! I just loved kindergarten, as we were constantly creating art projects with crayons, pastels, clay, plaster of Paris, finger-paints and more ~ shades of things to come for me!
THE SOUTH HILL • HOME SWEET HOMES
NEW! "FULL CIRCLE SIMPSON RANCH (MORAN PRAIRIE)" (THE SOUTH HILL, SPOKANE, WA • PAINTED SEPTEMBER 2024 ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 8X10-INCH)
In 2020, Doug and I moved to a home he fell in love with on Moran Pairie. We began an ambitious facelift as it was built in 1989 and desperately needed updating. We worked on every room on both floors for two years ~ and it finally became our "dream house." After my sweetheart lost his 6+ year battle with Sarcoma cancer in 2023, I finally cleaned out his file cabinets, shredding dozens of medical documents. Magically among them, I discovered an envelope of vintage photos dated from 1931-1945 by my grandmother Jessie. I compared these notes to those in her daily diary that she kept until we lost her to cancer in the mid-1050s. Amazingly, I learned our cottage was exactly where their ranch (farm house, barn and fields) had been on Regal Road near the Palouse Highway. It was "full circle" for me as all the pieces fit! Highlight ~ The picnic scene included (L-R) Grandpa Charlie Simpson, my dad Joe in his navy uniform, dogs Smokey, Whiskers and King, Jessie with one of her legendary pies, my cousin Jim Flemister with dad’s sister Wanda and her husband Ed.
NEW! "WINTER MAGIC AT THE GLOVER MANSION" (THE LOWER SOUTH HILL, SPOKANE, WA • PAINTED NOVEMBER 2023 ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 8X10-INCH)
Known historically as the “Father of Spokane,” when James Glover built his grand mansion on Spokane’s South Hill, he chose fledgling architect Kirtland K. Cutter who had just begun his career there. In 1889, Cutter also designed the F. Rockwood Moore residence (demolished) near Glover’s, amid criticism by the local wealthy that these two new homes looked too “old and established” ~ which was actually Cutter’s goal. Accolades for the Glover Mansion by Dr. Seward Webb (son-in-law of W.H. Vanderbilt) gradually won Spokane over, guaranteeing Cutter a firm place in its architectural history. Although similar in many respects to F. Rockwood Moore’s house, it is unusual as the first two floors were constructed of granite instead of the prolific basaltic rock on the South Hill. Banker and partner to Moore, Glover wanted to make a statement with his home, and the interior is filled with imposing, yet comfortable details. Highlight ~ This painting pictured the setting at Winter with fresh snow blanketing the beautiful setting and its three welcoming snowmen. When I painted its portrait, the Glover Mansion (GloverMansion.com) was serving Spokane as an elegant event center.
• The Entire South Hill Collection pdf ~ Click on this pdf to see and learn about all 93 paintings in this collection.
THE NORTH SIDE • THE GONZAGA COLLECTION
NEW! "FRIENDS FOREVER AT GU • COLLEGE HALL" (GONZAGA UNIVERSITY, THE NORTH SIDE, SPOKANE, WA • MAY 2024 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 5X7-INCH)
“Friends Forever at G.U.” • Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA • May 2024
Gonzaga University (Gonzaga.edu) was begun by Italian born Father Joseph Cataldo, S.J., and the school began educating white male students only in1887. By 1896, It was incorporated and able to grant degrees. College Hall, a permanent residence and four-story structure, was finished by John Huetter by 1899. He also built the house that went on to become the Bishop White Seminary, and later the GU Alumni House. Huetter also built the historic men’s dormitory DeSmet Hall whose most famous resident was legendary crooner and actor Bing Crosby. When I painted this, College Hall was still the key building on the beautiful campus. In 2022, my niece Isabell and five other girls who met each other in class became roommates, sharing a two-story Dutch Colonial within walking distance of campus. Izzy asked me to I created this special portrait for her and prints for her “Friends Forever” roommies as graduation gifts. Highlight ~ All six earned their diplomas on May 12, 2024.
' "CLASSMATES AT GONZAGA'S COLLEGE HALL" (GONZAGA UNIVERSITY, THE NORTH SIDE, SPOKANE, WA • JUNE 2013 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)
Gonzaga University (Gonzaga.edu) owes its beginning to Italian-born missionary Fr. Joseph Cataldo, S.J. Often in poor health, he was a dynamo nonetheless and was appointed General Superior of the Rocky Mountain Mission in 1877 (8 residences and 38 members scattered throughout the Northwest). Competition with Protestants for access to local Native American tribes was the main reason for founding a Jesuit college in Spokane. When it opened, applicants had to “know how to read and write, and not be under ten years of age.” Originally only white students were permitted to enroll.
Railroad land was purchased in 1881. Gonzaga began educating in 1887, and was incorporated and able to grant degrees by 1896. A permanent residence and four-story building was completed by 1899. Handsome, stately “College Hall” became the key building on the beautiful campus. Highlight ~ The hall’s entrance was further enhanced in April 2008 by the dedication of George Carlson’s Saint Ignatius statue, a reflection pool and new landscaping.
THE NORTH SIDE • PRETTY PUBLIC PLACES
"FRESH FLOWERS AT SAINT JOE'S" (THE NORTH SIDE, SPOKANE, WA • PAINTED MARCH 2015 ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 8X10-INCH)
I painted this portrait of Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church to honor its 125th birthday. Jesuit Leopold Van Gorp purchased the West Central neighborhood property at the corner of Dean Avenue and Walnut Street in 1890 and sold it to the Corporation of Roman Catholic Bishops of Nisqually, Washington Territory. A frame church was originally built on the site, but as the parish grew, German-born Julius A. Zittell (named Washington’s “state architect” in 1987) was tapped to design a new church and later a convent. The church was constructed in 1901 of brick masonry in the Late Gothic Revival style and the convent in 1924 in the Collegiate Gothic style. This church featured many fine Gothic architectural details including its handsome steeple, stepped buttresses and beautifully detailed stained-glass windows. It was enlarged in 1909, but other than that, very few exterior alterations were made over its 100+ years of service. Only Our Lady of Lourdes (1881) parish held the distinction of being older than Saint Joseph’s in young, thriving Spokane. Highlight ~ A 1901 issue of the Spokesman Review described Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church as “one of the prettiest small churches in the Northwest.”
"THE SPOKANE COUNTY COURTHOUSE" (THE NORTH SIDE, SPOKANE, WA • PAINTED AUGUST 2014 ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 8X10-INCH)
29-year-old W.A. Ritchie won the design competition sponsored by the Board of County Commissioner in 1893 for the new Spokane County Courthouse. Construction in the French Renaissance style began in 1894 on property located just across the Spokane River from the heart of Spokane's Downtown District. At the time, It was regarded as a masterpiece with its romantic statuesque towers, handsome masonry and intricate wrought-iron metalwork. The center tower and roof were freshened up in 2012. It has been an important part of Spokane’s skyline forwell over a hundred years. A dubious honor, the courtyard held Spokan's first public hanging on its grounds in 1897, executing a man who had murdered a woman. Highlight ~ I dedicated this painting to my father, Joseph A. Simpson, a successful Spokane attorney who spent a great deal of time practicing law in this building.
THE NORTH SIDE • HOME SWEET HOMES
"FLOWERFIEELD IN THE FALL (SAINT GEORGE'S SCHOOL" (THE NORTH SIDE, SPOKANE, WA • PAINTED JULY 2018 ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 8X10-INCH)
ÍLocated on the banks of the Little Spokane River on Spokane’s North Side, Flowerfield was once the 440-acre Summer estate of Louis Davenport, his wife and son. Davenport had once commissioned Kirtland Cutter to design and construct a huge mansion in the Rockwood neighborhood on the South Hill, but was forced to sell it prematurely after only two years to the Porter family due to investors' demands for early repayment for his grand Davenport Hotel. He relocated his wife and child into a sumptuous suite at his Davenport Hotel. This Summer home must have been a welcome countryside escape from Spokane's busy city life in Summer. Highlight ~ The property was sold in 1955 and 120 acres of it became Saint George’s School (sgs.org), one of the finest private schools in Eastern Washington. The Davenport’s lovely two-story residence was preserved as part of the Saint George’s campus ~ and went on to serve as an event center.
"THE OLD MAXWELL-PETTET PLACE" (THE NORTH SIDE, SPOKANE, WA • PAINTED AUGUST 2008 ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 8X10-INCH)
This snowy scene portrayed the old Maxwell-Pettet place located on picturesque West Point Road. This sprawling North Side residence was reputed to be the oldest home in Spokane, according to community public records. The original small cottage was built by the Pettet family who sold it a short time later to the Maxwells ~ which is how the home got its name. The Maxwells lived in this residence for several decades. Eventually, the property was sold to the Powell family. Over the years, the original wood cottage was encased and added on to, resulting in this remarkably pretty rambling cottage in the woods on cliffs overlooking the Spokane River and old Fort George Wright. Highlight ~ William Powell married Helen Campbell, the only daughter of Amasa and Grace who raised their daughter in the historic Tudor-Revival Campbell House, part of The MAC (Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture).
• The Entire North Side Collection pdf ~ Click on this pdf to see and learn about all 33 paintings in this collection.
THE SPOKANE VALLEY • HOME SWEET HOME & PRETTY PUBLIC PLACE
"MILLWOOD COTTAGE ON MARGUERITE STREET" (SPOKANE VALLEY, WA • PAINTED NOVEMBER 2023 ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 8X10-INCH)
Named "Rosebush Cottage," This Tudor-influenced Norman-Revival cottage was built in 1923 by General Manager of the Inland Empire Paper Company Waldo Rosebush. The paper company was Millwood’s largest employer for nearly a century. Rosebush had spent time in France during World War I where he discovered the prototype for this finely detailed, beautifully crafted residence in the Argonne Forest. He purchased the architectural plans from the French owner and built his home a short distance from the main thoroughfare through Millwood, aptly named Argonne.In 1936, Rosebush left the mill to work with the army in Alaska and the Pacific, ultimately retiring to Appleton, Wisconsin. However, he loved his charming cottage so much that he kept it as his official residence, returning annually to visit friends and vote in Spokane’s local elections until he passed away in 1961. Highlight ~ This cottage was part of a tiny pocket of historic homes just off Argonne a few blocks from the paper mill in Millwood. Highlight ~ The residence was probably the most noteworthy one in the Spokane Valley other than Royal Riblet's Cliff House at Arbor Crest Cellars.
NEW! "AUTUMN BRILLIANCE AT ARBOR CREST" (SPOKANE VALLEY, WA • PAINTED NOVEMBER 2023 ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 8X10-INCH)
Particularly breathtaking during Autumn, brilliant foliage and colorful turning leaves have decorated the basaltic rock historic gatehouse every year. Located south of the stunning Cliff House on what was once the Royal Riblet Estate, I was told that this quaint structure served as the servants’ quarters when Riblet made his home there. This painting was created looking north at the back of the gatehouse draped in ivy. Purchased by Harry and Marcia Mielke years ago (Marcia helped me create this art by sharing stunning photos), the property stayed in their extended family, housing beloved Arbor Crest Cellars (ArborCrest.com). In addition to its premium wines and craft beers, this Spokane Valley has hosted its Summer Art & Glass Fest for over a decade, and in November, November’s Holiday Marketplace. Pictured in the foreground were Doug and me with dear friends the Capryes and Frucis who’ve joined me at nearly every art event here since I began appearing in them over 10 years ago. Highlight ~To the right, see a glimpse of the Mielke’s beloved black and scarlet 1931 Model 452 Dual Cowl Sport Phaeton Cadillac.
• The Entire Spokane Valley Collection pdf ~ Click on the pdf to see and learn about all 18 pages in this collection.
THE GREATER INLAND NW & SURROUNDING TWO-STATE AREA
"THE CAST & BLAST" (HAYDEN, IDAHO • JULY 1999 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS •11X14-INCH)
In the 1990s, this rustic split log store in the community of Hayden was THE spot for bait, lures, rods, shells ~ and every possible gift item for outdoor sports enthusiasts. Charming and cozy with the shop's walls covered with vintage outdoor treasures, folks passing through Hayden on their way to Spokane or all points north, east and south usually left the area with a memento of their time spent in the North Idaho "Panhandle" ~ thanks to the Cast & Blast. I painted my sisters, Peggy, Marilee and myself in full fly-fishing gear, from vests to boots, in front of the shop. This was a bit of a stretch, as our Summers spent for decades at nearby Hayden Lake were more about sunbathing, water skiing, and cruising around the lake in one of the mahogany Century boats so prevalent there in the 1950s through early 2000. Sadly for all its customers, a short time after I finished this portrait, the unique shop locked its door for the last time. The owners retired to enjoy all of the activities their mercantile had supported for so many years ~ off to fly fish at some nearby pristine setting.
Highlight ~ Time marched on and this lot became part of a strip mall, but many “lake people” remember it fondly.
"FRIENDS FOREVER ~ DELTA DELTA DELTA HOUSE" (WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY, PULLMAN, WA • PAINTED SEPTEMBER 2002 ACRYLIC-ON-CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)
The National Chapter of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority began at Boston University, Massachusetts on the eve of Thanksgiving in 1888. On December 14th, 1918, Delta Delta Delta opened its doors at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington to become one of the prettiest, most popular houses in the Greek system there. Allison Orrico, a student there in 2002 (and daughter of good friends, Mark and Janis Orrico), suggested the portrait of her handsome three-story Colonial mansion as a gift for all the Tri-Delta sisters. The result was this pretty painting celebrating Spring, sisterhood, lifelong friendships ~ and graduation from W.S.U. that year. Highlight ~ This fine art pictured many of Allison’s sorority sisters in the foreground of this piece in front of their beautiful historic Delta Delta Delta House.
• The Entire Greater Inland NW / North Idaho Collection pdf ~ Click on this pdf to see all 19 paintings in this collection.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FINE ART OR CONTENT ON THIS PAGE?
iPhone • 206.406.1409 (Talk, Text & Voicemail)
PittyPat Studio • "AMERICANA" FINE ART ~ QUESTIONS? Please call or text me.
On the Web • PattiSimpsonWard.com
Please Visit my Facebook Page • "PattiSimpsonWardArt."