It’s hand-painted. You can see pencil lines around the building — the chimney in particular — and clouds. There’s no stamp or postmark on the back, just the following written in pencil:

There’s a pink/peach tinge to the snow on the roof and smoke from the chimney that I think is a nice touch.

My gut level reaction upon seeing this work was to identify it with the kind of generic paintings one sees on the wall of a hotel room. I think, in part, the frame in this photograph isn’t living up to the complexity of the painting. With a more neutral matte and elaborate (or, perhaps, just wider) frame, my gut would probably think differently of this watercolor. My eyes are telling me that Mason was an very proficient illustrator. This would, I imagine, be a very time consuming work of art. Of course, every Mason work is interesting to me since I live in her former home.

Sue Ellen’s comment imparted a number of interesting details about the artist. Here’s an excerpt:

She was extremely intelligent and loved to talk about any subject, she excelled in the world of art. She knew so many painters personaly. I always looked up to her. I used to take my small daughter down to her house in hopes that some of that “fiesty’ spirit would rub off on her. I think it did, and I may pay for that one day, but I don’t mind.

See other Ella May Mason paintings via this link.

If you read Tim Anderson’s last newsletter, and have seen the website lately, you have heard a new name: ArtsLink.

As Tim wrote, he has been communicating with us for some time about the possibility of handing off the gallery of MissionaryArts.com, to be incorporated into the ministry of ArtsLink. We all felt that we were uniquely suited to the task, in that ArtsLink is the only mission organization mobilizing artists to take their skills to the international mission field.

ArtsLink, a ministry of Operation Mobilization (www.om.org), is one of an umbrella of creative arts ministries, growing to include all genres of art. You can read about our ministry at www.omartslink.org. Maybe you will join us one day for an outreach?!

But we are also excited to promote YOU, the artists. We have discovered, like Tim, that many artists can’t go overseas, but want to contribute to the effort by donating art to raise funds for missions. Maybe you can’t go, but you are doing what you can, with the gifts God has given you, and we are confident that God will multiply each offering. You are key partners, as we grapple with the financial challenges of going to all the nations, and we are grateful for you. Thank you for your heart.

“God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love, which you have shown toward His name, in that you ministered to the saints, and do minister.” — Heb. 6:10

We assumed responsibility on schedule, with a great handoff by Tim, who has done an outstanding job. His knowledge and experience will be invaluable as we transition, but it is especially his gracious spirit and Kingdom thinking that we’ve come to appreciate so much. We look forward to a long and fruitful friendship.

Expect to see some site changes as we integrate Missionary ARts into the ArtsLink website, which we are currently updating. But the goal of Missionary Arts will remain the same: to continue to support artists through the sale of their artwork, resulting in an expansion of missions work around the world.

Thank you for staying with us, praying with us, and watching as God takes us all to the next level. Hopefully, the transition will be seamless for you, but please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any concerns, or just to say hello!

Warm regards,

Geinene Carson & Pat Butler

This is an interesting landscape probably done when Mason was in her middle or late twenties (if I’m recalling her age at death two years ago correctly). The painting isn’t overly thrilling, but parts of it surprise me: The layering appearance in the foliage, the texture and color in the clouds and the use of color. The strong red in the middle of the painting is a somewhat subtle but effective focal point.

I don’t know what to make of the “bubble” peeking out from behind the trees on the right side. This may be damage on the 59 year old canvas or something I just can’t discern in the photograph.