Beautiful mid-century landscape of a calm stream winding through a forest full of birch trees by California artist Portia Barnes (American, 1885-1962). Signed "Portia Barnes" lower right. Unframed. Linen size: 28"H x 22"W. Portia Barnes was a California and New Mexico based artist and art educator active in the early to mid 20th century. She was well known as a porcelain painter, which she taught at the Cloudcroft Art Colony in New Mexico for several years in the early 1950’s. Barnes was a student of well-known porcelain painter Franz B. Aulich. Her husband was George W. (Stud) Barnes as specialist in animal husbandry and district head for the Agricultural Extension Service of the Texas A&M College System. In 1949, Barnes was honored in having his full length portrait hung in the College Animal Industries building of Texas A&M, and dedicated in the presence of a large group of persons representing the College and the cattle industry. It was painted by his wife, Mrs. Portia Barnes.