Alfred R. Mitchell was born in York, Pennsylvania in 1888 and grew up in New Jersey where his artistic interests were well fueled by his mother who conducted a private school. As a child Alfred worked primarily with clay that he pulled out of a nearby river and would form different animals surprisingly well. When Alfred finished school and prior to moving to San Diego he moved out west and drove a stage coach throughout the Nevada desert during the Mina gold rush and also mined gold for a short time; this is where Mitchell first discovered a great love for desert landscapes which became one of his more common subject matter. It was not until about 1913 when Mitchell was 25 years old that he began to get serious about his artwork again as he studied with Maurice Braun a local San Diego landscape artist and it was at this point he became a painter and left sculpting behind.

Alfred then left California for a formal education in painting back in Pennsylvania and toured Europe on a scholarship visiting the main art centers before returning back to the west coast. Mitchell called San Diego home for the remainder of his art career and made an incredible impact in the city as he was a main influence in the finding of the La Jolla Art Association beginning in 1918 of which he was a regular exhibitor. Since then Alfred R. Mitchell has become one of the most significant, appreciate and collected San Diego artists for his art and impact on the art community.

This original oil on board is entitled "Entrance to Pansy Garden" seen on the reverse and is dated 1927. Signed in the lower left corner in light blue ink "Alfred R. Mitchell" and resting in what's believed its original frame makes it even more special. This painting depicts a scene we don't see very much in Alfred's works and it is a nice change from the usual landscape or coastal scene he painted so much of. The quality of execution is stunning and the condition is mint, the painting just needs a good cleaning but their is no damage or condition issues at all. Their are a couple cosmetic blemishes to the gold painted wood frame.

This is a fantastic early painting by Alfred dated 1927 (pencil on reverse) which was still the near beginning of his art career in California. The backside of the artist board is where the painting in entitled "Entrance to Pansy Garden" and is signed a second time by Mitchell with his home address of that time "1527 Granada Ave, San Diego California" their is also a second name and address on this painting "Mrs. C.M. Roderfer, 3855 Alameda Rd, Sand Diego Cali". This painting was purchased by the Roderfer family specifically by Clinton Roderfer who lived in Sand Diego served in the U.S. Army Air Corps with the 449th Bombers as a top gunner on The Shack-B-24 Liberator and retired from the San Diego fire department in 1976. The Roderfer's lived on 10 minutes away from Mitchell's home at the time. Clinton passed away in 2003 who was survived by his wife Virginia who passed away in February of last year. This painting has a fantastic history to it and is ready to be appreciate and enjoyed in a new home or collection. 

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