Featured Help w/Signature on Small Sailboat Painting

hi everyone. i found these two paintings yesterday. i think they're both better than average. they're both small. they appear to be oil on old art board. and i think they're early 20th century(1920s or 30s). one is signed and the other is not. it wasn't until i got them home and removed the price stickers that i discovered the signature on the one(the larger). it was framed in Rhode Island, so it could be no one special or possibly someone of some importance. i actually like the unsigned painting(at the bottom) better. i realize identifying the one artist does not confer identification on the other, but i was hoping someone here might recognize the work. also, i've included a jpg with the contrast pushed a bit, in case that helps. it seems to me there are 4 or 5 characters that are barely visible at the end. any help will be greatly appreciated...thanks

 

I can't help with the signature but just wanted to say, I love these!

 

the single is lovely !!!

the other...... kinda static , and they're too close together to be under full sail.....

just a personal view..

 

Charming.

Debora

 

i can see your point. i like it more from the standpoint of composition. i this it's a very nice composition, and i also like the style. it has more of an impressionist/arts & crafts feel to it.

 

Still inconclusive, but maybe this helps a bit.

 

Nice-I'll go with the top single boat as my fave too.
@Debora would you venture a possible date on that 4-digit Westerly, Rhode Island phone number ?
Holy Cow-"Dunham's Paint and Varnish in Westerly, Rhode Island: A Historical Overview-Dunham's Paint Company has a long history, dating back to 1852."
Dang-Some of that NE History goes back !

 

The internet says 1920s to 1950s or a tad later. Oddly, there's not much to be found about Dunham's on the internet. And those are very hard to date.

Debora

 

i was figuring 30s because it's 4 digits. i assume that's earlier than 5. i could be wrong.

 

Very nice finds, Jim. Love the style and the vibrant blues.

Ditto. The second one is more stylized and sculptural. To me it has an Art Deco feel.

 

Label does look 1920s or 1930s. Why don't you see if the local research librarian can help? S/he'll have access to local telephone directories among other things.

Debora

 

The paint store at that address and phone is mentioned in a 1944 yearbook from Westerly High School

https://www.e-yearbook.com/yearbooks/Westerly_High_School_Bulldog_Yearbook/1944/Page_62.html

 

Like them both but think from different hands. First is more accomplished.

 

I can ' feel ' the 1st one....

 

Agree. More accomplished. And with some clever visual touches such as the US flag fluttering out from behind the sail.

Debora

 

Artists, can paint a beautiful yacht, can’t spell their own name. Me, can spell my name, can’t draw a stick figure.

 

me too....

 

Artists interpret life to make art.... They also interpret their marks. Some more abstract than others.

 

To my eye, the second one is more illustrative. Something one would see in a children's book.

Debora

 

thank you all for your input. it's not looking good for figuring out who the artist is on the first one. i did want to say, one of the issues i have with the first painting is, there's a number of spots in the upper right corner about 2 inches down from the top where the painting was apparently touched up a bit in the sky region. what's odd about this is, the blue that they used, isn't the same as the rest of the sky blue(which is a beautiful choice of blue, i must say). But, it's the blue that the artist used in the flag as well as the horizon and to sign his name(poorly). so i'm guessing these touch ups were probably done by the artist himself. i'm just afraid this is going to be an issue when i try to sell this piece. it isn't overwhelming, but it's there. also, i do want to say, i like the first one too, just to be clear. i just keep coming back to that blue touch up.