Wednesday, July 30, 2008

MARVIN FINN

Born the son of an Alabama sharecropper in 1913 , Marvin Finn left school in first grade to work the fields. In his spare time, his father whittled and eventually taught Marvin to do the same. Because he was from a large family Marvin Finn never had any toys. Instead, he began creating his own by modeling them after barn yard animals.

Mr. Finn followed one of his brothers to Kentucky in 1940, working at a variety of different jobs. In 1952 he married Helen Breckinridge and together they had five children. Mr. Finn's passion for carving wood continued and when his wife died in 1966 the grief-stricken Finn gave up his other jobs and started whittling toys full-time. Over the years Marvin Finn gained many admirerers including Phyllis George who established the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft.

Marvin Finn died in 2007.

Below are some auction results from the last few years.




Marvin Finn-Outsider Art-"Ox" Paint on wood, Dimension: 16 x 13 x 10, Kimball M. Sterling Inc, Nov 3, 2007, sold for $200
















Marvin Finn, "Pig" Paint on Wood, Dimension: 7 1/2" H x 11" L, Clark Art and Antiques, June 21, 2008, sold for $30





Marvin Finn- Threee piece lot-. Painted wood cutout. 24"-49" tall Provenance- Richard Edgeworh Outsider Art Estate, Kimball M. Sterling Inc, April 14, 2007, sold for $200






Wednesday, July 23, 2008

PAINTINGS FOR $125 OR LESS

Today I found one of the best resources for good, affordable art. In fact, it is such a good website, I almost didn't want to blog about it because it may make the best paintings sell faster. However, my feelings of professional duty urged me to keep the public informed:

The site is called Daily Painters and it lists real paintings (not giclees or prints) by accomplished artists. Many, many of these paintings are listed for sale between $100-$125. For quality paintings this is really unbelievable value.

Andy Smith, Marbles in Sunlight, watercolor, 6 x 4 $100





Anne Fewell Marion Rose,
acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas, 8 X 8, $125











Hall Groat II, Bumblebee with Pennies and Quarters, 6 X 6, $100

Saturday, July 19, 2008

ARE YOU GETTING A GOOD DEAL?

Wayne Beam Morrell, Front Beach, Rockport 1975
estimate $4000-$6000

The image of "the beach" is iconic in American art. It conjures leisurely holidays and family picnics. Tempting isn't it? But if you haven't done your research, an image like this one may make you feel more stressed than relaxed. Are you getting a good deal or are they asking too much? How much have similar pieces sold for?
On Monday, July 20 (that's tomorrow!) Trinity International Auctions will be selling a wide variety of art pieces including the one above by Wayne Beam Morrell. Morrell is an American artist born in 1923. A similar piece, below, was sold in May of this year. This piece is the same measurement, the same medium, and is a very similar image to the one being offered at Trinity. It sold for $3450.

FRONT BEACH ROCKPORT, MASS, SUMMER 1989
24" x 30"

Oil/Masonite, Signed
Auction House:
James D Julia, Inc.
Estimate: $4000-$6000
Sold: $3,450
05/10/2008

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

APPRAISAL TALK TONIGHT


Tonight I am giving a talk at the Shively Branch Library in Louisville about how to research your artwork and how to understand the marketplace. If you are interested in attending, there is a brief article in the Courier-Journal about it. Below that, is a link to a map of library location. The talk is at 7:00 p.m.


Friday, July 11, 2008

KEEPING UP WITH EMERGING ARTISTS

Bird's Nest by Keith Taylor archival pigment print

You probably know that one of the best ways to keep up with what is going on in the art world is to visit art galleries in every city you visit. But did you know that every year there are art shows put on by universities? This is one of the best ways to buy art. The artists are trained but they have not yet made a career so bargains are aplenty.
If you don't travel a lot or you are just too shy to go to a student show be sure to check out New Blood Art which specializes in affordable art for emerging artists from the UK. Locally, check out the University of Louisville's Belknap Gallery which has a variety of shows throughout the year.
Another option for good and affordable art is 20 X 200. This website describes itself best saying, "We introduce two new pieces a week: one photo and one work on paper. Each image is available in three sizes.* The smallest size is reprinted in the largest batch – an edition of 200 – and sold at the lowest price – $20. Hence the name 20x200."
Finally, the Saatchi Gallery salesroom online takes no commission from the artist and charges no commission from the buyers. All of the transactions go through Paypal. Perhaps the best part of this website is that there is an art forum, artists can create their own profiles, and there are a variety of mediums represented including painting, photography, and video art.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

RESEARCHING YOUR ART & PROTECTING YOURSELF

During World War II, the Nazis stole at least five million art objects from people and countries throughout Europe. When the war was over, the allies tried to find and return as many of the looted items as they could. Today, the search for Nazi stolen art continues with the help of museums, law enforcement, and websites such as the Art Loss Register which allows users to search a database of all stolen art and art objects.

It is important to know that there are no federal bureaus or departments which regulate the sale of art. Instead, art sales are governed by the Uniform Commercial Code. This code is enacted in various states and it says that art work must have a clear title, the item must be what it is purported to be, and it says that the person selling the artwork has to have the legal right to transfer the title. The problem comes in when the work was stolen generations before and has changed owners many times through the years. The fact is, theft nullifies title. If a claim is made in less than four years (or fewer in some places) then the person who most recently purchased the piece does not have a legal right to the artwork. When the statue of limitations is up, it would seem that the person making the claim that the property is rightfully theirs would be out of luck. That is not the case. If the person making the claim did not know who to sue because they did not know where the property was, then they only have to file the claim within the appropriate period after the location of the piece was discovered.

For this reason, it is imperative that you GIVE YOUR APPRAISER EVERY AVAILABLE PIECE OF INFORMATION and that your appraiser conducts due diligence. In fact, in the contract your appraiser sends you there should be a sentence that reads something like, "It is your responsibility to provide me with factual information within your knowledge, as may be requested. This includes, but is not limited to, bills of sale, insurance records, auction catalogs, exhibition records, and previous appraisals of said property." In the case that your work is stolen, the court will try to balance the steps you took to ensure clean title versus the steps the original owner took to report the loss and make it known to law enforcement and the art world.
BEFORE YOU BUY A PIECE OF ART MAKE SURE YOU:
1. CHECK THE ART LOSS REGISTER
2. CONTACT THE FBI'S ART LOSS PROGRAM
3. IF THERE IS A catalogue raisonné OF THE ARTIST WORK CHECK IT!
4. READ PUBLICATIONS THAT SPECIALIZE IN THAT TYPE OF ART
5. CHECK GOVERNMENT WEBSITES IF THE ARTWORK ORIGINATED IN ANOTHER COUNTRY

Sunday, July 6, 2008

WHAT COULD YOU LOSE?

Six months ago I appraised an artwork that had been in a fire one year before that. The only existing "before" photo was in black and white and was from 1952. Trying to prove that the painting was in excellent condition and had not suffered any damage between 1952 and the present proved to be very tricky for the client. The best I could do for her was to say what I believed was a direct result of fire damage and water damage caused by putting the fire out. Proving that there were no nicks or scrapes in the intervening years was entirely up to her. To get your insurance company to reimburse you for the full value of your artwork after the fact is very difficult when no photos or previous appraisals exist discussing the condition. And, as much compassion as I have when people break, lose, or damage their artwork I can hardly blame the insurance company for not reimbursing their clients for the highest value of the piece.
Damage of artwork is not reserved for just the casual collector. From time to time, institutions with entire departments dedicated to preserving, protecting, and hanging artworks has mishaps. Sometime between June 30-July 1, The Metropolitan Museum of Art's most important terracotta relief by the artist Andrea della Robbia (1435-1525) fell off the wall. The relief, entitled Archangel Weighing Souls had been exhibited in the same spot since 1996. Although the museum's spokesman Harold Holzer was quoted as saying the work was "eminently restorable" one can only hope the museum had very good insurance. To get an idea of how much Della Robia's work can be worth one only needs to look at past auctions. In February of 2003 a glazed terracotta piece by the artist was estimated to sell at Finarte Semenzato between $150,053-$171,489. Damage can hurt value even if the piece is repaired by the best experts in the world. And, as much as it hurts to see your piece is damaged, it is heartbreaking to get less money than you deserve because you did not have a preexisting condition report.
THREE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT YOUR ART

1. (BEST OPTION) An appraisal is always best because your appraiser takes photos and gives a detailed description of your items. This is an unbiased report that your insurance company can rely on.

2. (BETTER OPTION) If you can not afford a complete appraisal have an appraiser come in and take photos and brief notes about each piece. This is a less expensive option and still provides your insurance company with unbiased evidence of the "before".

3.(GOOD OPTION) At the very least you should take photos of each artwork and each signature along with basic notes about size, framing, and condition.

BE SURE TO STORE AT LEAST ONE COPY OF ANY INFORMATION IN A SAFETY DEPOSIT BOX.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

COLLECTING THE 4TH OF JULY

4th of July, Kevin H. Adams , Oil on canvas, 20" x 20" in, $2800 R.H. Ballard Fine Art, Ltd. R.H. Ballard Fine Art, Ltd., (540) 675-1411
Holiday Collectors make up a good part of the collecting market. Although Christmas, Easter, and Halloween are probably the most collected area, there are certainly people who collect 4th of July art and memorablia. Below are a few items on offer in the marketplace right now

Coney Island, July 4th 1949, Andreas Feininger , 1949, Photograph, 16" X 20", Gallery M (303) 331-8400 Send Email,call for pricing
Rare Large Cotton 19th C American Thirty-Four "Great Star" Flag, Circa: 1860, 50.5" x 74.8"
Equinox Antiques & Fine Art (802) 362 - 3540 Send Email
Circa: 1860The Canton With Thirty-Four White-Painted Stars Arranged In A Five Point Star Formation On A Speckled Blue Field, Hand-Stitched To The Red And White Stripes, Mounted On A Wooden Frame, (Toning, Stains)

Red White and Blue,
Michael Mut , Installations, Contemporary (ca. 1945-present), Denise Bibro Fine Art (212) 647-7030 Send Email

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

PADUCAH ARTISTS

Paducah, Kentucky. A mecca for artists. Started in August of 2000, Paducah's artist relocation program has become a model and an inspiration for artists and art programs throughout the country. The program gives artists a vested interested in Paducah and the art scene by offering affordable real estate, financial incentives, and help with marketing. As a result, there is a plethora of art talent in Paducah from every corner of the nation. To see a first hand account of how it has affected the life of an artist check out artist William Ferrar Renzulli's blog.
It is no secret in the art world that Kentucky art is under- valued. However, with programs like this gaining national attention, Kentucky art might just be a great investment for the future.

Work by Michael Crouse, an artist who relocated to Paducah from Huntsville, Alabama.