This was most likely painted in the late 1940's before R.G. took to painting in oils.  It is one of many watercolor paintings RG created 'en plein air.'  He would head over to San Pedro Harbor on a Saturday, supplies in tow, and spend the morning painting.  The methed he found challenging was to study a subject for a couple of minutes, then to turn around and sketch and paint it from memory; hense, among many others, the watercolor "Rustbucket" was born.