Featured in this lot is this beautiful, original framed oil on canvas painting done by Richard Melvin Prunty (1925-2011) circa mid to late 1900s. Richard was born on May 10, 1925, in Toledo, Ohio, to Harold and Eva (Imler) Prunty. Shortly after, his family relocated to Minneapolis, where he met his future wife Patricia. He grew up less than two miles from the Minneapolis Art Institute, where he spent a lot of time appreciating the old masters' art. He attended high school till the eighth grade and then completed his high school education by earning his GED with remarkable competence. He joined the Marines at the age of 17 in 1942 and fought four years on the Pacific Front during WWII, winning a Purple Heart for injuries incurred while serving in a highly recognized anti-aircraft unit. Following the war, he worked as an artist and printing press operator at the Minneapolis headquarters of Holiday Service Stations. With his enthusiasm for other people's art, a strong imagination, and a great deal of natural talent, he continued his career as a self-taught artist. He spent ten years as the art director of Continental Advertising in Minneapolis. He quit Continental in 1964, at the insistence of his family, to pursue freelancing. He opened a studio in Walker, Minnesota where he honed his enthusiasm for wildlife and the outdoors. His paintings and prints were sold nationwide with the help and encouragement of his wife, Patty, and can now be found in companies and private collections across the Midwest. His art has been recognized with first, second, and third place in the Minnesota Loon Festival, as well as Geese Unlimited Print of the Year. He was also an accomplished woodcarver who was once commissioned to create three full-size totem poles. He passed away in Walker, Minnesota, in 2011. The painting shows a snowy scene where two ducks are preparing to land in the snowy grass. The scene has a cold feeling to it and other ducks from the flock can be seen preparing to land in the same area in the background. The painting is signed in the bottom right hand corner in red paint reading, "Prunty". It is set in a wood frame and shows good condition overall with little wear present and no signs of damage is noted. A small indentation is noted near the bottom right middle section. The visible art measures 23 1/4" L x 35 1/4" W, while the entire piece measures 30 1/8" L x 42 1/4" W x 1 1/8" D. It weighs 6 pounds and 14 ounces.