"Spreening Sparrow" (After Morris Graves) Original Oil by Anita Blythe 8 X 10

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Anita Blythe’s Spreening Sparrow is a striking early 1970s homage to American visionary artist Morris Graves, a founder of the … Read more Anita Blythe’s Spreening Sparrow is a striking early 1970s homage to American visionary artist Morris Graves, a founder of the Northwest School. Rendered in rich, earthy hues and expressive brushwork, the oil painting reinterprets Graves’ mystic symbolism with a personal touch. The central figure—a stylized, phoenix-like bird with anthropomorphic qualities—appears mid-motion in a surreal desert landscape under an eclipsed sky. The composition vibrates with psychological intensity and spiritual overtones, hallmarks of Graves’ influence, yet bears Blythe’s own emerging visual language.

This piece is executed on a canvas panel and retains vibrant color saturation with strong compositional balance. The dramatic celestial eclipse and the intimate interaction between the bird forms create a layered narrative evoking both stillness and cosmic significance. A rare early work by Blythe, this painting bridges Pacific Northwest mysticism with emerging feminist and ecological themes of the 1970s.

Title: Spreening Sparrow (after Morris Graves b.1910–2001)
Artist: Anita Blythe (b. 1956)
Medium: Original Oil on Canvas Panel
Dimensions: 10" H x 8" W
Date: Circa 1970–1974
Signature: Signed lower right front
Provenance: Certificate of Authenticity available

Artist Bio:
Anita Blythe (b. 1956) is an American painter known for her emotive, symbol-laden oil works created primarily during the 1970s. Largely self-taught, Blythe’s practice was shaped by exposure to modernist and abstract expressionist movements. Her work often blends natural motifs with dreamlike compositions, suggesting narratives of transformation, intuition, and inner life. Though relatively private in her creative output, her paintings have surfaced in private collections and are now gaining renewed appreciation for their unique voice and historical context.

Blythe’s current work focuses primarily on plein air landscapes, capturing the natural world directly from observation. She also continues to create from her home studio, producing original pieces that blend bold composition with expressive color. Her vintage-era works are increasingly sought after by collectors of modernist and mid-century-inspired art. See less