Antique Michigan Watercolor James W. Ashcroft 1899-1971 Hunting Fishing Cape Cod

Up for consideration is a Watercolor by listed Michigan Artist James Willian Ashcroft (1899-1971). The painting itself without the matting and frame measures 11.25 by 15.25 inches. It is signed lower left. It is untitled but it is probably a painting along the Eastern Coastline Cape Cod. The matting is pretty funky and needs to cleaned or replaced..likewise the painting itself is lightly discolored.    If you have any questions concerns or something to share please feel free to contact me. Here some info regarding the artist. Ashcroft was trained in England and emigrated and came to Michigan his mentioned a few times in the Detroit Free Press in the 30's and 40's. He won a few awards through the DIA. Here is some information gleaned from Askart.Very little in the way of artistic information seems to be available on this artist. Born in England, he was the son of James W. and Ann (Sleigh) Ashcroft. By the time of the 1930 Census, he was living in Highland Park, Michigan and worked at the local auto factory as an assembly line inspector. In 1935 he married Lois Russell and the marriage license stated that he is an artist, living in Highland Park.The city directory for Royal Oak, Michigan, in 1938 states his occupation as an artist. In 1939 he receives an award at the Detroit Institute of Arts of the Moreau Purchase Prize for a work titled "Mid-Winter. The 1940 census for Detroit, has him living there, married, with the occupation as artist. Interestingly, he divorced Lois Russell in August of 1941, and married Ardelle May Foord, age 19, in September of that same year. Ashcroft is nationalized as a citizen in 1942. I could locate nothing about his artistic education but would believe that he possibly studied at the Detroit Academy under Joseph Gies, circa 1920. Source:Around The TownJames W. Ashcroft, Detroit artist and treasurer of the newly formed Artcrafters League, a group dedicated to t he task of "making the city more art-conscious," will give a free lecture on "Art and Life," under auspices of the Theosophical Society at 8 p.m. Sunday in the society's lecture hall, thirteenth floor of the Wurlitzer Building.Source:Detroit Free Press (Newspaper) (Detroit, Michigan) 02 Mar 193 5.Exhibit of Works of Three Artists at the Cinema TheaterJames W. Ashcroft was born and educated in the south of England. After serving in the British army he came to this country to continue his artistic work. He has exhibited both here and abroad. His preference is watercolors, and he shows his British training throughout. His present subjects are The White Barn, Along the Huron River, The Bathers , and Winter, Lakeview, Michigan.Source:The Detroit Jewish Chronicle (Newspaper) (Detroit, Michigan) 27 March 1936.Submitted by Edward P. Bentley, Art Researcher and Historian, Greenville, Michigan.If you have any questions concerns or something to share please message me. Please see photos as part of the description. Buyer pays shipping. 

Best Regards,

John

JohnnyCrystal Est. 1987