SPOKANE AND THE INLAND NW • 26 SPRING INTO SUMMER WORKS DIVIDED INTO 7 THEMES • FROM MY 250+ PC. COLLECTION
50TH ANNIVERSARY OF CREATING / EXHIBITING MY AMERICANA ART
SPOKANE & THE INLAND NW • MANITO PARK • Just one of Manito Park's breathtaking settings is the pond with a recently paved path around it. "Mirror Lake," as it was chrishtened a second time, has done nothing but become more beautiful every year. Truly the "Jewel of Spokane," the park opened in 1904 on the South Hill between Grand Blvd and Bernard. It was "home-away-from-home" for me and my neighborhood pals when we were youngster. Highlight • Remarkably, both my parents and grandparents here courted before their marriages.
FULL CIRCLE • Soon after I came home as an infant from Sacred Heart Hospital, we moved to the historic Codd House nearby on Bernard. Decades later in 2002, when my husband Doug and I returned to Spokane, we bought a Craftsman a half block away from Manito. This is the view the park treated us to every SPRING INTO SUMMER day.
Over the years I've learned a lot about Manito. Plus, to help with grief after losing Doug to cancer, both sis Peggy and Nancy Young (Hospice House),wife of TFM President Bob Young (TheFriendsOfManito.org), suggested I become an active volunteering TFM member, so I'm learning even more. NOTE • My collection of Manito paintings now numbers 16 works.
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 structures in Downtown Spokane 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 constructed. Add to that, the school system, golf courses, bike trails, parks and gardens. As shared above, Doug and I loved Manito's Mirror Lake every SPRING INTO SUMMER.
Spokane Preservation Advocates (SpokanePreservation.org) respects how special Spokane is, and works hard to keep it that way. See their newlsetter on my WELCOME and BIOGRAPHY pages. Also, from 1960-2000, lake property was still affordable, so families stayed and bought vacation lots. Highlight • NBC'S TODAY SHOW • In November 2023, a travel segment aired highlighting destinations around the U.S. The initial one featured our Inland NW neck of the woodswere Riverfront Park, The Davenport Hotel, and the Coeur d'Alene Resort. CONGRATS TO US!
50 YEARS OF EXHIBITS & EVENTS • Thank you for joining me at "Meet & Greets" like this • and an even bigger thank you to friends, family, and patrons for making the past 50 years SO rewarding.
A BENEFIT EVENT • At this year's first TFM's sale, I shared part of TFM event booth offering Manito, Spokane & Inland NW cards, plus a handful of prints and puzzles. I donated 100% of my $700+ proceeds to TFM. As mentioned above, funds earned at these sales makes ALL the difference for the park. I am so grateful to the friendship of TFM volunteers during the tough times, and the Park Dept. for choosing my Plant Sale image poster to promote this year's season in the park's kiosks.
NOTE • 2ND PLANT SALE or ARBOR CREST'S ART / GLASS FEST • As these two end-of-Summer dates directly conflict with each other, my participation is yet TBD. Please check this website for details as the SPRING INTO SUMMER season unfolds.
COMING SOON! • THE ROCKWOOD SOUTH HILL EXHIBIT • Mid-October 2025 through Mid-February 2026 • Please visit my website as the seasons unfold for all the details on my 60+ piece fAmericana exhibit. The event features portraits of Spokane / Inland NW landmarks, parks, schools, "Home Sweet Homes" and more • Fine art of settings in all all seaons • Presented at Rockwood's Summit • 25th Avenue off Southeast Boulevard.
7 THEMED GROUPS • AND MORE
As noted above, I've divided this SPRING INTO SUMMER collection into seven groups, some with sub-catgories. Often, the first image is SPRING-themed and the second, SUMMER. The artwork shares familiar regions, communities, neighborhoods, folks who love them• and more. I've created 250+ INLAND NW (SPOKANE) paintings in my 500+ 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 • These pdfs are updated with NEW art as my schedule allows.
LANDMARKS • THE LEGENDARY ONES • TWO ICONIC BELOVED K.K. CUTTER SETTINGS
"SPOKANE'S HISTORIC STEAM PLANT" (THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT, SPOKANE, WA • • PAINTED OCTOBER 2016 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)
Spokane’s Steam Plant was designed by the architectural firm of Cutter & Malmgren in 1916. Their work and that of later visionaries inspired my art for itss 100th birthday. The plant supplied steam heat to Downtown Spokane for nearly 70 years. When doing this became too expensive, Washington Water Power closed the plant, shutting off the last boiler in 1986. After 10 vacant yearsand an uncertain future, WWP formed Steam Plant Square, LLC. Working with a team of historic-minded businesses including Wells & Co., life came back into the plant along with two others that were folded into the project. Care was taken to maintain its original personality, infrastructure and equipment during the process of creating office, retail and dining space. The stacks on the skyline were saved for future generations. The Steam Plant was the first Spokane building to receive the National Preservation Honor Award in 2001, listed on the National, State and Spokane Registers of Historic Places. Highlight • It was recently purchased by Spokane developer, Jerry Dicker.
"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 • NEW Art of a Vintage Nursery / Greenhouse and a Decades Old Ice Cream Parlor With Made from-Scratch Treats
NEW • "VISITING HAASES GREENHOUSE IN SPRING" (MORAN PRAIRIE, THE SOUTH HILL, SPOKANE, WA • PAINTED MAY 2024 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 5X7-INCH)
Located on 34th Avenue on Spokane’s South Hill just north of Ferris High School, I was introduced to this charming plant-filled rustic greenhouse in 2023, just after Doug and I moved to our cottage on Moran Prairie. My girlfriend Mary Anne bought us a brilliant pink hanging basket as a gift for us which precipitated myvisit to this nursery tucked into a pleasant neighborhood by Ferris High. I learned it was started in 1951 by Edward Hasse and his son Willard. I also learned that its signature stones • glimpses of which I pictured on the front of the structure here • dated back to the 1920s. My gardener extraordinaire sis Marilee suggested wax begonias to border our home, as the plants flourished in both shade and sun. With help from Sean Hasse, I chose these in red and white from their enormous collection • as well as other plants that did a stunning job of decorating our yard. Highlight • As Doug was spending a lot of time on our deck overlooking thel gardens during some very tough health challenges, I’d like to think these gorgeous colorful blossoms helped lift his spirits during those last months. Thank you, Hasse’s Greenhouse, especially Sean and Colleen, for the help and inspiration.
"DOYLE'S DARLING ICE CREAM PARLOR" (THE NORTH SIDE, SPOKANE, WA • PAINTED DECEMBER 2015 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)
Located in the midst of Spokane’s West Central neighborhood on the North Side on the corner of Boone and Nettleton, this whimsical red and white signature “landmark” was built in 1939 as the Pacific Northwest was climbing out of the Great Depression. For decades, it overlooked the trolley line tracks on Boone Avenue that carried passengers to and from beloved Natatorium Park. It was a favorite spot for folks to stop and purchase ice cream treats. Nat Park closed in 1968 and its site became the San Souci Mobile Home Park. The West Central area fell on difficult times, making it quite a challenge for the little ice cream shop to keep going. Years later in the 2000s, the Kendall Yards development began to take shape. This neighborhood overlooking the Spokane River from the north bank helped breathe life back into the ice cream parlor. It was spruced up with a shiny new coat of paint and other improvements. Highlight • From the 1930s on, Doyle’s was always known for its delicious homemade flavors. in 2013, the parlor was voted #6 for the finest ice cream out of 11 Spokane establishments.
• 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 • NEW ART OF THE PLANT SALE FUNDRAISER AND THE ROSE GARDEN
"MORNING AT THE FRIENDS OF MANITO PLANT SALE" (MANITO PARK, SPOKANE, WA • MARCH 2005• ACRYLIC-ON-CANVAS • 8X10 -INCH)
1903’s Montrose Park’s name was changed to Manito Park in 1904 which meant “Spirit of Nature”• indeed a fitting name. Over the many decades since its creation, Manito Park has worn many hats. In its early days, it even included a zoo until an injury involving a child plus the Great Depression ended that chapter. To this day, visitors can still find the metal rings that tethered animals during that time. Over its many decades, Manito Park has become a renowned Spokane, WA / Pacific Northwest “jewel.” To financially support the considerable challenge of keeping the park and its gardens in beautiful shape, in 1990, The Friends of Manito (TheFriendsOfManito.org) was begun by a group of very committed volunteers who loved the setting. Their fundraising Plant Sales (the first in early June and the second at the end of August) have raised record amounts of money annually for this purpose. Highlight • This art was created as a homage to TFM’S ambitious efforts in Summer 2024, picturing some board members with volunteers (left), shoppers (center) and three lead volunteer advisors (right) who inspired my portrait of the sale. And yes, the sale has always been a “pet friendly” community event!
"ROMANTIC ROSE HILL" (MANITO PARK, THE SOUTH HILL, SPOKANE, WA • PAINTED MARCH 2018 • ACRYLIC-ON-CANVAS • 8X10 -INCH)
Rose Hill has always been a romantic spot and a favorite Spokane settings in warmer months. Couples walking at dusk, weddings beneath the pergola in Spring • this setting has been remarkable since Superintendent John Duncan designed the first plans for it in 1941. Additional suggestions from the Rose Society in 1948 included a test garden and memorial roses. Grading began in 1950, the soil was prepared and a sprinkler installed. The award-winning Rose Garden was chosen in 1951 to be one of 90 test gardens in the U.S. by the American Rose Society. Years later, the Dahlia Society shared space there as well, with one of the first of eight test gardens in the U.S. and Canada. Several structures were built to enhance Rose Hill. Highlight • In 1993 when noted Spokane photographer Erna Bert Nelson died, she left a bequest of $700,000 to Manito Park and the garden she loved. A rose arbor • also known as “the pergola” • with 14 columns of board, brick and steel was constructed for visitors to the park to enjoy.
INLAND NW PARKS & GARDENS • OTHER PARKS LIKE RIVERSIDE STATE PARK'S BOWL & PITCHER PLUS COMSTARK PARK IN THE 1950S
"PICNIC BASKETS AT THE BOWL & PITCHER" ("(RIVERSIDE STATE PARK, THE NORTH SIDE, SPOKANE, WA • JULY 2014 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)
Minutes from Spokane’s Downtown District, historic Riverside State Park came into being under the direction of Park Superintendent Aubrey Lee White who was known as the "Father of Spokane Parks." The basaltic rock formations on the south bank of the Spokane River resembled a bowl and pitcher, which inspired its name. President Franklin Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps (C.C.C.) built the famous swinging suspension bridge that spanned the river which recently was robustly restored and strengthened. Restoration work was also completed on the Aubrey L. White Parkway on both sides of the river, the rock walls that border it and more. A new set of timbered steps that climbed up to the hiking trails on the south side of the bridge was also updated in Summer 2012. Highlight • I painted our friends Bill and Carol Mulhollands and Gene and Sarah Simshausers joining us at this iconic setting for a picnic on a gorgeous sunny day • a beloved tradition for this rustic destination.
"SUMMER FUN AT COMSTOCK PARK IN THE 1950S"(THE SOUTH HILL, SPOKANE, WA • PAINTED JUNE 2015 • ACRYLIC ON CANVA • 8X10-INCH)
In the 1930s, the E.A. Shadles donated 21 acres and $150,000 on the South Hill to create Comstock Park in the name of Mrs. Shadle’s father, former Mayor J.M. Comstock. Comstock was a very civic minded man who worked actively with the Spokane River Parkways Association to beautify the property around the Spokane River east of town • especially near Riverside State Park, Seven Mile and Deep Creek Canyon. The handsome Comstock pool structure was the work of Whitehouse & Price (also known for their iconic Saint John the Evangelist Cathedral on Grand Boulevard). In July 1938, Comstock Park was dedicated with its huge state-of-the-art swimming pool. Most of the kids on Spokane’s South Hill learned to swim there, including most of us Simpsons + plus my mom when we lived four blocks away. I gave this piece a mid-1950s with friends and family of all ages enjoying sports and games at the beloved old pool. Highlight • In recent years, the Comstock Pool was completely rebuilt and expanded into the Comstock Aquatic Center.
• 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" • TWO APARTMENT HOUSES • A RARE PINK ONE AND A FEDERAL-STYLE ONE
PINK PALACE ON PACIFIC" (BROWNE'S ADDITION, SPOKANE, WA • PAINTED JANUARY 2021) • 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!
"FINE FELINES AT THE FINCH HOUSE" (BROWNE'S ADDITION, SPOKANE, WA • SEPTEMBER 2005 • ACRYLIC-ON-CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)
Located west of the MAC • Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture (NorthwestMuseum.org) • in Spokane’s Browne’s Addition, this beautiful four-columned mansion was a fine example of neoclassical architecture. Designed by Kirtland K. Cutter in 1897-98 for John A. Finch and his wife, Charlotte, it is arguably the most imposing house on this street of grand homes. John Finch was one of young Spokane’s wealthy businessmen, partnering with Amasa Campbell in several successful mining ventures througout the Inland NW. The scene was afternoon tea time and I’ve pictured my sisters Marilee, Peggy, and me relaxing on the front lawn while Sally Mom brought us a plate of freshly baked cookies. This piece was created for cat lovers as 14 of them are sprinkled throughout the artwork. Highlight • Dorothy Dean, Spokane’s beloved version of “Betty Crocker,” lived in an apartment on the main floor here with her husband for many years after downsizing from an imposing view mansion on Sumner Avenue. ( Finch House photo courtesy of Sally Simpson.)
BROWNE'S ADDITION • MAC'S AMASA CAMPBELL HOUSE • FAMILY & SERVANTS ROOMS • KITTIES ON THE LAWN AND YELLOW GUEST ROOM
"KITTIEWINKS AT THE CAMPBELL HOUSE" (BROWNE'S ADDITION, SPOKANE, WA • PAINTING JANUARY 2010 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 8X10-INCH)
This portrait was completed for a book I have been working on for over a decade, "Andy and Sophie Visit the Campbell House" suggested by a past gift shop manager when my work was very prevalent there. I’ve loved this beautiful old mansion since my first visit as a Campfire Girl in the mid-1950s. In those days, it was the Cheney Cowles Museum • about to begin its remarkable journey of restoration to become the historic focal point of the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture (or simply the MAC) (NorthwestMuseum.org). I painted a glimpse of the guest rooms and linen room (with its sewing machine) on the second floor and the library, reception room and servants’ dining room on the main floor. I tucked our “kittiewinks” into a thick patch of lawn in the front yard, waiting to enter the historic Tudor-Revival with me, my husband Doug and Sally Mom, who introduced me to the Campbell House those many years ago as a Camp Fire Leader. Highlight • I dedicated this painting to Sally Mom.
"GORGEOUS BLOOMS IN THE GUEST ROOM • CAMPBELL HOUSE" (BROWNE'S ADDITION, SPOKANE, WA • PAINTED OCTOBER 1998 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 8X10-INCH)
I painted this pretty portrait of the Campbell (NorthwestMuseum.org) House's exquisite signature yellow guest room and filled it with large bouquets of yellow daisies and daffodils in crystal vases on tables and the mantle placed to enhance its decor. This comfortable room was one of two guest rooms • one for adults and another smaller one for children. Both guest rooms had brilliant yellow tile fireplaces • this one a very large "walk-in" one, and the child's bedroom, a much smaller version. Particularly noteworthy was the original family-owned tufted upholstered chaise lounge with a similar armless chair by the vintage steamer trunk. Trunks of this sort were normally necessary for the wealthy during this golden era to accommodate large wardrobes when traveling, especially on ocean liners to Europe and back. Highlight • My favorite detail of this inviting setting has always been the cushioned window seats that overlooked First Avenue, offering a cozy place for guests to relax with a good book on a rainy Spring day.
• 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 • PRETTY PUBLIC PLACES • NEW PARISH PICNIC AT SACRED HEART • AND THE CEDAR STREET MILK BOTTLE
NEW "PARISH PICNIC AT SACRED HEART" (THE LOWER SOUTH HILL, SPOKANE, WA • PAINTED AUGUST 200 6• ACRYLIC-ON-CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)
During Doug's last year, we were looking for a parish that might be a better fit for us, especially as Doug's health was starting to falter. We admired Fr. David Kruse who filled in often at our church, plus he and Doug had forged a friendship that lead to my husband asking him to celebrate his last Mass after he passed. But as we only saw Fr. Kruse now and then, we agreed we needed a change • more consistency, kindness and connection. When chatting with longtime friends / neighbors Bob and Darlene, they suggested Sacred Heart with it's outstanding choir and inspiring, yet down-to-earth Pastor Fr. Victor Blazovich. That Sunday's Mass was wonderful! The accoustics let us hear every word of Fr. Vic's homily, and more importantly, remembered his message. The was angels singing from heaven. Plus, we knew several folks there already. Sadly, a few months later, I lost Doug. Many compassionate friends and family (several pictured in this art), Deacon Brian, Fr. Vic and so many others shared endless kindess when I needed it most. Highlight • On June 2025, our parish plus guests from all over the NW were there for Fr. Vic's 25th Anniversary of his Ordination. The church was packed, this celebration dovetailed beautifully with our Spring picnic. I shared this nearly-finished art with Fr. Vic, Deacon Brian, parishioner friends and others I hadn't seen in ages. I created this art as a homage to that special day!
"ICE CREAM AT THE BENEWAH CREAMERY • CEDAR STREET " (THE SOUTH HILL, SPOKANE, WA • PAINTED MAY 2015 • ACRYLIC ON CANV A• 8X10-INCH)
When I was a youngster growing up on the South Hill, the weekend began with a stop at the Benewah Creamery’s milk bottle dairy for four gallons of milk, enough to last our ever-growing Simpson family for another seven days. Located on Third & Cedar, the creamery served Spokane until 1978. It was one of two structures (originally six were planned) designed by the fame architectual firm of Whitehouse and Price • famous for the Hutton Settlement, Saint John the Evangelist, and other important local buildings. The milk bottles were built with a hefty price tag of $3,700 each for the times. The North Side bottle was constructed on Garland Avenue in 1934 and the one here in 1935. The Depression may have been the culprit that allowed for only two to be finished. I gave this artwork a 1950s theme, including a “Woody” station wagon and vintage trailer in the parking lot with family peppered about the scene. Highlight • The Benewah Creamery milk bottles shone throughout many decades as fine examples of “literalist” architecture • functioning beautifully as their own advertisements.
THE SOUTH HILL • "HOME SWEET HOMES" •TWO NEW WORKS • ONE BY PROVIDENCE HOSPITAL • PLUS MY GRANDPARENTS' RANCH
NEW! "PEONIES AT MARY'S PLACE BY PROVIDENCE" (THE LOWER SOUTH HILL, SPOKANE, WA • PAINTED OCTOBER 2024• ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 8X10-INCH)
In 1906, the Jordan House on 108 West 8th Avenue, was built for $18,000 in 1906. It survived longer than anyone thought it would, as the property was nearly encased by ever-expanding Sacred Heart. Meanwhile, also In the early 1900s, a 16-year-old Greek immigrant shortened his name to Alex, settling in Central WA. 20 years later he travelled to Ellis Island to meet and marry his Greek bride. They returned to Washington and started a family, but tragically, botulism soon took his life. Mary remarried, became a Gianetsas, and in 1944, moved with her two children to this Spokane property. The huge west lawn irritated son George as he had to mow it, so in 1947, it became a parking lot. In the 1960s, Providence Sr. Peter Claver offered $200,000 for the property, but then at the last minute asked for $15,000 more. Mary not only stopped the sale, but refused all other offers, and began enlarging her house. When she died, she left her estate to her daughter Dorothy, hoping to keep the property in the family, but Dorothy passed in 2022. George Alex lost no time in offering the commercial lot for $5.9 million, and Diamond Parking stepped up. In August 2023, George hosted a tour / sale for folks connected with the home so they could choose from its treasures before the public did • sadly, painful for many, knowing the hone's fate. Efforts to save "Mary's Place" by relocating it failed, and it was demolished soon after the sale. Highlight • A little poetic license • I filled the gardens with peonies • free for all to brighten rooms of the hospital's patients nearby.
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.
• The Entire South Hill Collection pdf • Click on this pdf to see and learn about all 100+ paintings in this collection.
THE NORTH SIDE • THE GONZAGA GROUP • NEW GRADUATION PORTRAIT AND GU'S FIRST DORM
NEW! "FRIENDS FOREVER AT GU • COLLEGE HALL" (GONZAGA UNIVERSITY, THE NORTH SIDE, SPOKANE, WA • MAY 2024 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 5X7-INCH)
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 this beautiful campus. In 2022, my niece Isabell and five other girls who met each other in class, moved in together, sharing a two-story Dutch Colonial within walking distance of campus. Izzy asked me to I create this special portrait for her and prints for her “Friends Forever” housemates as graduation gifts. All six earned their diplomas on May 12, 2024. Highlight • Isabell went on to finish a year of graduate scool at esteemed Notre Dame • winning a special award in the process. Her mother, Jan, visited the campus several times during her daughter's time there, and found it to be a truly beautiful campus. Isabell accepted an offer to use her financial degree in San Diego with an established accounting firm there. She will be missed.
' "DAFFODILS IN THE RAIN AT DESMET" (GONZAGA UNIVERSITY, THE NORTH SIDE, SPOKANE, WA • PAINTED APRIL 2016• ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)
In 1925, John Huetter began construction on GU's (Gonzaga.edu) first dormitory. A stonemason / brick-layer, he also built College Hall and the Huetter House • later Bishop White Seminary, and after that, GU's Alumni House. At a cost of $98,000, the men-only dorm offered 72 double rooms. In 1924, Gonzaga mounted the passion play “Golgatha” in Spokane, raising $7,000 towards the cost of construction. On October 25th, 1927, DeSmet Hall opened, followed by a football game • Idaho VS Gonzaga. GU won 12 to 3 and ticket sales also went to building fund. I pictured a group of folks wearing shirts that spelled "BULLDOGS" (L-R) B & U • Teresa met Sean Mulholland when he lived in DeSmet Hall and they became lifelong sweethearts. L & L • Sean’s parents, Bill and Carol Mulholland graduated from GU in the 1970s. D & O • Doug and I are in this group as dad graduated from GU before World War II, later finishing law school, and then meeting and marrying Sally Mom. G & S • Dear friends Joe and Mary Doohan were both GU graduates, with Mary spending time in GU’s Florence Itlay program). Highlight • A Bing Crosbyrumor had it that the famous crooner / movie star was expelled from GU when he threw a piano out a DeSmet Hall window • NOT so, as he was already in Hollywood in early 1924 when construction on DeSmet Hall began.
THE NORTH SIDE • PRETTY PUBLIC PLACES • BEAUTIFUL SAINT JOE'S • AND THE "JACK RABBIT" AT OLD NATATORIUM PARK
"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.”
"RIDING THE "JACK RABBIT" AT NAT PARK" (THE NORTH SIDE, SPOKANE, WA • PAINTEDJUNE 2009 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)
Historic Natatorium Park held lots of great memories for most Spokane “baby-boomers” • and their parents before them! The much loved amusement park that included at one time a baseball field and dance hall was located on the Spokane River at the far west end of Boone Avenue on the trolley line. The park had dozens of rides at the height of its popularity, but the two favorites were the glittering Looff Carousel • now at Riverfront Park • and the “Jack Rabbit” roller coaster. This ride was a thrilling one around dizzying tracks that lasted about a minute and a half. Each trip left its riders breathless and “lunch-less” if they had eaten too many hot dogs and cotton candy before climbing into a seat on it. The hearts of every Spokane kid broke when the park closed in 1968, but it had lost money for years with other events going on in the city and folks heading to nearby lake cabins in Summer. To add insult to injury, when the park closed, the grand roller coaster was dismantled and burned to the ground. Highlight • My cousin Jim Flemister tricked me into riding the roller-coaster just as soon as the height and age regulations made me eligible to ride. This first trip on it scared the heck out of me, but to this day, I remember it as the most thrilling one ever!
THE NORTH SIDE • HOME SWEET HOMES • TWO PATRIOT-THEMED "HOME SWEET HOMES"
"FLOWERFIEELD IN THE FALL (SAINT GEORGE'S SCHOOL" (THE NORTH SIDE, SPOKANE, WA • PAINTED JULY 2018 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)
This portrait of a beautiful Queen Anne near Gonzaga Prep in the Logan Neighborhood was in the midst of an ambitious renovation when I discovered it four years before I began creating this portrait of it. The property’s unusual choice of old wagon wheels to border the entryway suggests it may have been part of a North Side homestead at one time. I was truly stunned at what a lovely home it must have been when originally constructed • and delighted to see someone had taken it under their wing, breathing life back into the setting. I did some lengthy research trying to discover whose place this once was, but all to no avail. I gave this portrait a patriotic theme with colorful balloons, lots of bunting, and friendly folks about to enjoy a Summer al fresco meal. Highlight • This was one of a only a very few large Queen Anne Victorians built in the Logan neighborhood • my Simpson grandparents lived in a similar home on Cleveland (now demolished) before the Great Depression. Highlight • There were few large mansions in the Logan area as that part of town had dozens of modest cottages and bungalows built after World War II to house returning servicemen and their families.
"DEER PARK PATRIOTIC PICNIC" (DEER PARK, WESTERN WA • PAINTED MAY 2023 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 5X7-INCH)
I completed this home portrait of a handsome two-story in the forest north of Spokane in Deer Park as a wedding gift for Jelsamina Fruci and Drew Edwards. The daughter of dear friends of Doug and mine, Dave and Jeannine Fruci, I painted the newlyweds to the right of by the bride’s parents and Godfather Stacey Lavin. Others here were her sister Kristana's family at the picnic table and friends of the family (including Doug and me) unloading boxes of fireworks for an after-dinner display. The red, white and blue theme of the art was a patriotic celebration as the marriage took place the weekend before Memorial Day. Joining the revelers were the couple’s pooches, rooster and a handful of the chickens from their coop on this 20-acre property. What a perfect day for a patriotic celebration at this sweet country setting! Highlight • In June 2025, I gave a print of art I painted of Jelsi and daughter Emerson Jeannie's milestone birthday. See it in the Loved Ones & Pets in Painted Portraits section of my COMMISSION page.
• 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 HOMES" • A FAMILY-FILLED MID-CENTURY MODERN • AND A VINTAGE FRENCH COTTAGE
"SPRINGTIME COMES TO SIMPSON STREET • DETAIL" (SPOKANE VALLEY, WA • PAINTED JANUARY 2023• ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 16X20-INCH)
This piece pictured a detail of a 16x20-inch painting of an imaginary neighborhood, sharing homes I’ve lived in and loved over the years. I originally painted it in March 2007, but altered it over the years to include grandchildren and other changes made to various properties pictured since then. This final January 2023 edition of the art showed the Valley detail with the addition of our red VW bus in front our family’s 1962 mid-century modern. This was Sally Mom’s favorite of all the homes our family shared throughout the decades.When the South Hill's Bernard Street was widened into an arterial, my parents packed up us kids and headed to the suburbs in Spokane Valley east of Tower Mountain. The new Kokomo neighborhood was filled with playmates of all ages and I’ve kept in touch with many of them over the years. This artwork pictured my brothers Bob, John, and Bill throwing frisbees back and forth for dogs Chum and Andy. Younger sisters Marilee and Peggy • best buds to this day • just finished a bike ride around the neighborhood. Highlight • Summer meant outdoor dining on the deck, so I pictured me with my folks • arms filled with burgers, salad, corn on the cob, baked beans and more, about to call everyone up for dinner!
"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. This cottage was part of a tiny pocket of historic homes just off Argonne Road a few blocks from the paper mill in Millwood. Highlight • This residence was probably the most noteworthy one in the Spokane Valley other than Royal Riblet's Cliff House at Arbor Crest Cellars.
• 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, the shop's walls covered with vintage treasures. Folks passing through Hayden on their way to Spokane and all points north, east and south usually left this charming community area with a memento of time spent in the North Idaho "Panhandle, thanks to the Cast & Blast. I painted my sisters, Peggy, Marilee and me in full fly-fishing gear in front of the shop • from vests to boots. This was a bit of a stretch, as our Summers spent at Hayden Lake for decades, were more about sunbathing, water skiing, and cruising around the lake in one of the many mahogany Century boats there in the 1950s, '60s and '70s. Sadly for all its customers, a short time after I finished this art, the unique shop locked its door for the last time. The owners decided it was time to retire and enjoy all of the activities their mercantile had supported for years. They took themselves off to fly fish somewhere! Highlight • Time marched on and this property became part of a strip mall, but many “lake people” still remember it fondly.
"MAPLE TREE FARM" (LATAH CREEK VALLEY, WA • PAINTED DECEMBER 2018 • ACRYLIC-ON-CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)
The Arpin Family (L-R) Lori and Greg with daughters Sarah and Megan) pictured heret, founded their home in Latah Creek Valley in 1992. Architect McKie Wing Roth (from Maine) and builder Gene Plett created this authentic reproduction of an 18th Century New England farm. The Arpins lived there 28 years.In this art, the family is joined by Golden Retriever Grace, kitties Milly and Lily, and a flock of hens ruled by rooster, Bob Dylan. A farm indeed, the Arpins planted maple (thus the name), oak and spruce trees, a small crop of alfalfa, a vineyard, an apple orchard and an enclosed garden of raised beds with a greenhouse. Additionally, the farm had a little red barn, a pool and pump house with special touches like a black school bell as Lori was a teacher for several decades. There was also a wrought iron cannon in front, weather vanes above, birdhouses and blue toile curtains at the windows. With their married daughters recently blessed with kiddos • yes, Lori and Greg are retired doting grandparents • they downsized to a cottage a block from Cannon Hill pond. Highlight • To honor their life by Latah Creek, Lori commissioned this memory-filled family portrait.
• The Entire Greater Inland NW / North Idaho Collection pdf • Click on this pdf to see all 19 paintings in this collection.
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