Art

Regional Art: There's No Place Like Home

2008-08-06T16:59:00Z

Daryle Lambert's 31 Club Blog

Learn How to Buy & Sell Collector Quality Art

Have you thought about becoming a specialist in art from your surrounding area? Over the years, I have had some of the greatest art in my home by collecting the works of Kentucky artists. I’ve also made the largest amount of money in this business in Kentucky Art sales.

I’ve found many of my Kentucky paintings in other states where they weren't as appreciated as they are at home, so big bucks were made that way. If you think about becoming specialized in the art of your region, both past and present, you might agree that this makes great sense.

As you know, I am forever on the hunt for paintings by Harvey Joiner, Carl Brenner, Paul Sawyier and Patty Thum. There are, of course, many more artists I’ll always add to my collection if they are presented to me, particularly from the Kentucky River Artists. You might recall I stated that everything in my house, with the exceptions of my wife and son are for sale for the right price, but two paintings by Patty Thum are my wife’s favorites, and they would have to go for a pretty penny if she’s to ever part with them.

I’ve been able to share my passions for Kentucky Art with my readers in several past blogs. It isn’t often one finds himself in a position to share his passions with others, however I’m in this position today.

You see, over forty years ago, I got to know an attorney in Owensboro Kentucky, by the name of Robert E. Humphreys, Jr. He had been a friend of my father’s for many years, and Mr. Humphreys assisted both of us in the oil and gas business. Although I knew him quite well, I had no idea many years later I would discover we had a similar passion – a love for the artists of Kentucky. While he was considerably older than me, this was one part of his life we had never discussed.

Well, a year or so ago, I was told Mr. Humphreys had one of the best known collections of Kentucky Art, and upon his death, his daughter and son-in-law acquired it. I wanted to introduce myself to them, so I phoned their residence and had a conversation about our love for these paintings. To my surprise, I was told that this collection would be shown in the Owensboro Kentucky Fine Arts Museum during the month of August, 2008. They also sent me a wonderful book that contains the entire collection of 48 works of Kentucky art Mr. Humphreys collected over three decades. I can’t be thankful enough for this gift. My only regret is that I, more than likely, won't be able to attend the showing this month.

You can feel the excitement I receive when I look at these wonderful paintings by going to the site of the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art. I’ve linked it below. What an honor to have such a wonderful exhibit shared with the people of Owensboro and the many others who will attend this fabulous showing. I hope they will show their appreciation to the family.

Think about becoming knowledgeable about the art of your region. After all, there’s no place like home.

Put a Turbo Charge on your Art, Antique & Collectible Treasure Hunting Skills with FREE MENTORING from Daryle Lambert. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets to help you profit. Then Learn to Grow Your Money Exponentially Buying and Selling only Antiques, Fine Art, and Collectibles with Daryle's Strategic Business Program. Our Members are Newbies to Seasoned Dealers, making more money than they thought possible. Join Daryle Lambert's 31 Club, today.

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Today's Photo is a painting by Frank J. Girardin(1856-1945), a native of Louisville, Kentucky who later moved to Richmond, Indiana. This piece is available at Payne Fine Arts

TODAY'S LINK:

Owensboro Museum of Fine Art Humphreys Collection

Paintings: Artist's Signatures, Initials Mongrams and Unsigned Paintings

2008-06-14T19:48:00Z

Daryle Lambert's 31 Club Blog

Learn about Collector Art and How to Buy and Sell For Profit

We purchased this signed painting, but the artist's signature has not yet been identified. It will soon be available in 31 Club Gallery.

Taking some of the mystery out of recognizing value in Fine Art Paintings is a topic I get many e-mails on. Members e-mail me about wonderful paintings they'd like to buy, but the artist can’t be identified. Maybe there are only initials, a signature that can’t be read, or just simply a monogram with a figure on the painting. Perhaps the signature can be read, but the artist is not in the guides on paintings. People have often said to me, “I liked the painting, but I didn’t purchase it because I couldn’t identify it.” This could be a huge mistake.

If you judge a painting to be worth $400 because of the frame, the content, and quality of the work, and you can purchase it for about $100, then your decision is made. Even if the painting is not signed, you might not want to hesitate to purchase it. I have seen paintings in beautiful frames sell for $100, and after a little research, it was discovered that the frame was a Newcomb-Macklin frame worth up to $1,000. And this might be a real shocker: Some vintage frames have been known to bring over $100,000. And, unsigned paintings can still sell for thousands, as William shared with me when he saw an unsigned painting sell for over $5,000.

I have seen signatures appear after the painting had been cleaned and have found signatures hidden behind a frame. So, if you buy a painting for a few dollars and know that it’s worth more than four times what you paid for it, then it has met our rule for buying. Anything from there that enhances its value is only a plus.

I’ve accumulated many secrets over the past 45 years in this business and I've shared many of them them in my book. Today, I'll share one of those secrets with you.

Did you know that, like authors who’ve written under pen names, artists also painted under alternate names? Did you know Leon Gaspard also painted under the name Leon Schulman and John Edward Castagno used the name Czako? Artists painted under alternate names, and they are listed in the back of American Signatures and Monograms by John Castagno. In the back of this book on signatures and monograms, you will also find the initials used by some of the greatest artists to ever decorate a canvas. If you find a painting signed with only initials, the identity of that artist might be discovered right here in this book. If you’re serious about finding valuable paintings, there might be a true treasure waiting for you because others didn’t have this information, but you did. Castagno’s books are very expensive, but if your interest lies in this area, his books will prove to be key tools for you.

At a house I was called to about several items, I stumbled across a painting of an Indian Chief that looked to be unsigned. I asked what they were asking for it. The answer came quickly: $250. I thought that was a good price, but I asked if I could take it out of the frame. They agreed, and lo and behold, there was a signature behind the frame I didn’t recognize. I had just made a very serious mistake.

You see, the owner quickly asked if I would mind if they waited another day before they sold the painting. We had already settled on several other items I was purchasing, and I didn’t want to miss out on those items as well, but I said, “Sure” anyway.

That evening I quickly researched the painting and found that it was worth about $10,000. I called back the next day but they told me that their daughter really liked the painting, so they’ve decided it should stay in the family. You see, they had done their research after I left, also. So, remember this story, and keep this in mind: If you come to the conclusion that something should be purchased, stop trying to convince yourself further and simply buy it.

You may find that this approach will produce several paintings that will only return you a small profit, but by taking a risk, you might end up with a piece that will make your whole year or even more.

Join Daryle Lambert's 31 Club, today. Put a Turbo Charge on your Antique & Collectible Treasure Hunting Skills. Get FREE MENTORING. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets that help you increase your profits. Continue to Grow Your Money Buying and Selling Antiques, Fine Art, and Collectibles with Daryle's Strategic Business Plan. Our Members are Newbies to Seasoned Dealers who are making more money than they thought possible.

My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership.

print

2008-01-22T02:04:00Z

I have what I think is a print of a middle age woman and two young girls on the bottom it has m.l. & co NY copy right 1899 cant find anything on this can you help

Painting Found in Trash Worth $1 Million

2007-10-24T14:34:00Z

This is a great little story about sheer luck and circumstance. I found it originally on AOL.com and you can click here to read the full version, but a recap goes something like this:

One March morning four years ago, Elizabeth Gibson was on her way to get coffee, when she spotted a large and colorful abstract canvas nestled between two big garbage bags in front of the Alexandria, an apartment building on the northwest corner of Broadway and 72nd Street in Manhattan.

“I had a real debate with myself,” said Ms. Gibson, a writer and self-professed Dumpster diver. “I almost left it there because it was so big, and I kept thinking to myself, ‘Why are you taking this back to your crammed apartment?’” But, she said, she felt she simply had to have the 38-by-51-inch painting, because “it had a strange power.”

Art experts would agree with her. As it turns out, the painting was “Three People,” a 1970 canvas by the celebrated 20th-century Mexican artist Rufino Tamayo that was stolen 20 years ago and is the subject of an F.B.I. Investigation.

Experts say the painting — a largely abstract depiction of a man, a woman and an androgynous figure in vibrant purples, oranges and yellows — is in miraculously good condition and worth about $1 million. Ms. Gibson returned the painting to it's original owner and will receive the promised $15,000 reward from the seller, as well as a smaller finder’s fee from Sotheby’s, which the auction house declined to disclose. On Nov. 20 it is to go on the block at Sotheby’s as one of the highlights of a Latin American art auction.

Need help getting through your piles of collectibles? Let iTaggit help! We help manage collections for those who need it most. Organize collections by adding in your item's important information and pictures on iTaggit. Show them off in our Gallery and send them to your friends to check out or add to. Research collections with our Google search tool to learn more about your things. Whatever it is that you seek for your collections, iTaggit will help you!

Artist Profile: Val Walden

2007-08-20T13:51:00Z

This month we are profiling one of our iTaggit users - 'Val' who is Val Walden, a local Austin artist who works in Pastels and Watercolors. Val has posted some of her work here at iTaggit. Her collection 'Impressions Left Behind' and samples of some work from her 'Red Skies at Night' collection are on iTaggit. Her work is exciting and incorporates strong, bold colors in stunning visual pieces.

Val is now a resident artist at ArtSpoken Gallery & Studio in Austin, Texas. She is a member of the Waterloo Watercolor Society, the Austin Pastel Society and the Austin Visual Arts Association. More on Val's beautiful work can be seen at her website www.waldenart.com.

iTaggit is the leading website for managing and organizing your collections. Every month we highlight collectors and artists through our newsletters and online blogs. Check us out at www.itaggit.com.

ultraviolence pays

2007-08-02T02:34:00Z

At comic-con last week i picked up several signed designer toys including one I bought from Frank Kozik at his booth - a clockwork orange themed "ultraviolence" grenade man limited edition run of 130. he signed the box and the figure for me. - so today i was looking on ebay for similar items and found several of the same. the lowest price at writing this was $100 the highest was $180. - i paid $60 for him. with the limited edition hopefully the price will escalate. we'll see. and to think i just bought him cos it was cool and i could get it signed by the artist and buy from him so no middle man.
but nice to know it's a valuable piece.

The Power of Negative Space

2007-08-01T15:30:00Z

I remember the first time I heard the term negative space, I thought "what does that mean?" My art teacher explained that it was the area not drawn/painted/printed. She wanted us to learn the power of the blank space you leave around an image - and so made us draw an intricate tree by drawing only the shapes of the negative space.

Ever since then I have been fascinated by negative space. I like art that leaves the eye with a place to rest - and the depth the design can convey when the canvas isn't completely saturated.

Today's search of ETSY for artists started with a search for lace. The lace theme is showing up on everything from China to Jewelry to Fine Art. As I looked through the results, I was struck by these three artists' use of negative space.

This Queen Anne's Lace screen print by SarahParott825 is a homage to the mid-century modern style. I love the blue color and the simplicity of the flower with the intricate black details. A grouping of these would look awesome in my living room!

This Bubble Lace Ring by ColleenBaran leaves the negative space open for your skin to show through. She has a series of jewelry in this style and I like how the openness of the design compliments the delicate circles.

Finally, this Violet Jade Moon woodcut print by AzureGrackle and Procyonidae achieves a sublime richness of design in layers. The paper is a pale blue and the inks are purple and reddish orange. I absolutely love the design of this piece - it has the feel of an old piece of batik fabric.

iTaggit is a great place to post your art collections. You can see what you have, show it off to your friends, and use our detailed field items and reports for insurance purposes.

To view more of my blogs on Crafts, Art, Antiques and Jewelry, click here!

How do you "collect" Installation Art

2007-06-05T17:16:00Z

I recently heard about this artist who creates installation art in public places - creepy things, like a "bum" with no face or a man with his head embedded in the wall. To document his work, he has filmed people's reactions as they pass by his art.

I was reminded a little of Candid Camera and Ripley's Believe it or Not - and I am wondering what the artist's intentions were/are. (I am SO showing my age!) With sites like YouTube - people all over the world can experience his art. But that begs the question of how this changes collecting art... how does one collect installation or performance art? Through a video tape? a blog review? a podcast?

See video of Mark Jenkins in the following links...

Homeless Man with no Face

Man with Head in the Wall

Cheech Art Goes Up In Smithsonian

2007-04-24T20:39:00Z

Comedian Cheech Marin plans to donate copies from his Mexican-American art collection, Chicano Visions, to several schools and museums.

Click here for more information on the story.

Follow this link to see Marin's collection: http://www.chicano-art-life.com/visions.html

Austin Fine Arts Festival T-shirt Promotion

2007-04-09T15:46:00Z

A big welcome from iTaggit to all who attended Austin Fine Arts Festival, April 14-15, 2007.

If you'd like a "Masterpiece." T-shirt, simply create an account, put a public collection in the "Art" category, and add 10 of your favorite collectibles into the collection (along with images and some field information). For help on creating collections and adding things, please refer to the tutorials on your home page.

Email us at support@itaggit.com with your mailing address and T-shirt size, and we'll send you a shirt in the mail. Offer valid until June 30, 2007.

Ultraviolet Light: A Must For Collectors In The Know

2006-10-09T14:27:00Z

IF YOU WANT TO BUY important paintings from 100 to 600 years old, you had better learn the proper use of ultraviolet lights in analyzing their condition. Virtually all major auction houses, offer clients the critical ability to view paintings under UV lighting during the presale exhibits. ARC Chairman, Fred Ross managed to take these four excellent snapshots of the professional in-painting on the face and hands of Mignon by William Bouguereau.

Two of the prominent practitioners of the Modernist Century in art, proudly exhibited Bouguereau paintings in their personal collections: Salvador Dali, and Andy Warhol, of which this painting, Mignon was sold with his Sotheby’s estate sale roughly a decade ago.

Basically the paint from the original work glows differently than newer paint which glows a deep dark nearly blackish purple. However, the novice with this UV knowledge must resist the temptation to be over confident, since at times the glow from these lights can be misinterpreted. Let me explain!
I once had a Guillaume Seignac painting which had been partially cleaned on only the hands and face of the figure. The green, wet-behind-the-ears youngest member of the 19th century department at Christie’s at that time, took one look and decisively declared that the entire face and both hands had been repainted making the painting nearly worthless in her opinion. Since this was over 20 years ago, and I was not well known there yet, I could not get any higher-up to come out and "manage" the situation. I simply headed across town to Sotheby’s where the then second in command of 19th Century European Paintings instantly read it right, (only the hands and face had been cleaned on an otherwise filthy painting). He accepted the consignment and the painting sold for $8,000 the correct price for 12 x 18 inch Seignac in the early 1980’s. It’s no wonder that the gal at Christie’s found another field to occupy her time, and the fellow at Sotheby's was recently promoted from one of the top departmental jobs to an even more important executive position.

Ultraviolet lights are tools of analysis, and like all tools, experience pays off, at times in a big way. Sometimes over-zealous restorers or inexperienced ones can find themselves having difficulty in painting an important area - like the cheek on the face of an important portrait. What they sometimes do then, is to repaint the entire cheek, thus lowering the value big-time for potential and sophisticated buyers who know to look under the black light. If you guess right in such a situation, you may find yourself making an offer far below estimate on a painting that was eschewed by other collectors not wanting an over restored work in their collections. If you’ve guessed right, all that paint will come off and the original work will bounce back with all it’s glory and beauty, perhaps being worth twice or even four times what you paid for it. If you guess wrong, it’s worth even less than you paid for it... but hopefully you can write it off on the taxes with next year's superlative earnings. Below is an example:

Article Source: http://www.artrenewal.org/index.html

Take Better Photographs

2006-10-02T20:42:00Z

By: Ju Ashman

People think that with the arrival of the digital camera, it is easy to take good photographs.

What is easy, is for us to delete the bad ones. It is still tricky to take a good photograph.

The best thing you can do is relax and not be in too much of a hurry to take a photograph. Really take time to compose your shot and make sure everything looks right before you press that shutter. Even though it easy to just delete the picture with digital, it is good practice to slow down, otherwise you could end up with 50 quickly taken photos and not a decent shot among them.

There are many ways that even the average snapper, with a few pointers, can take photographs that will actually make them money.
If you are trying to sell your work to magazines or other publications, the following tips will help you with some of the techniques needed to take a photograph that will sell.

1) Always use a tripod or monopod when shooting in bad light or when usinga slow speed. If you haven't room for either, pack a small beanbag to steady the camera.

2) To avoid camera shake, hold the camera in a comfortable position before you take the shot, squeeze the shutter gently and tuck elbows into the body to avoid camera shake.

3) Try and fill the camera frame with your subject for greater impact (unless your photois for a magazine cover in which case you need to leave room at the top for the title).

4) Look ALL AROUND the viewfinder before you press the shutter to avoid any clutter spoiling the photo or any stray branches sticking out of a subjects head!

5) When photographing kids, try to shoot them when playing and having fun for more spontaneous pictures. Don't forget to get down to their level otherwise you will end up with shots of the top of their head.

6) When taking photographs, especially landscapes, always turn around and look BEHIND you.There has been many an instance of the best photo of a shoot lurking there.

I hope these points will help you take better photos. Have fun with your camera.

Author Bio
Julie Ashman. Visit www.e-information.co.uk for a superb business manual containing more than 10 ventures you can start with your camera.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com - Free Website Content

Art Gallery

2006-09-20T16:45:00Z

Art Galleries are generally known for art that highlights the natural beauty all around the world. Everyday there are people creating entirely new works of art, and placing them in art galleries all over the world.

The type of art included in a gallery can vary. Art can encompass a wide variety of medium, such as, drawings, paintings, photography, and sculpture, to name a few. The purpose of the art gallery is to show off the work of local and national artists in a way that people will want to purchase them. Many of the artist's works can also be bought as prints. This allows the artist to sell more, while making the price more affordable to people.

Local Art Galleries

Most major cities have wonderful art galleries. If you have never visited an art gallery, you should make a point to do so. You may think that an art gallery is not where you would want to spend the afternoon, but you may be surprised at how interesting an art gallery can be. Check your local phone book for an art gallery near you.

Virtual Art Galleries

If you have Internet access, then you can find an online art gallery, my choice as well. If you can view and possibly order from the comfort of your own home why not. Virtual tours of art galleries are a lot of fun.

As with walk in art galleries, virtual art galleries are also worldwide. Listed below are a few galleries that you can visit online.

o Art Vitam, Miami, Florida

o Art of this Century, Paris, France

o Art Space/Virginia Miller Galleries, Coral Gables, Florida

o Artco Galleria de Arte, Lima, Peru

o Casa d'Arte San Lorenzo, Pisa, Italy

o Diana Lowenstein Fine Arts, Miami, Florida

o Espace D'Art Yvonamor Palix, Paris, France

o Galleria El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia

o Galleria Habana, Mexico D.F., Mexico

o Galleria de Arte Isabel Aninat, Santiago, Chile

Take the time to experience wonderful works of art at your local art gallery or on the internet. Even if you are not an art enthusiast, the works of fine artists all over the world will impress you.

For more information, visit http://www.artgalleryinfocenter.com

o Galleria Habana, Mexico D.F., Mexico

o Galleria de Arte Isabel Aninat, Santiago, Chile

Take the time to experience wonderful works of art at your local art gallery or on the internet. Even if you are not an art enthusiast, the works of fine artists all over the world will impress you.

For more information, visit http://www.artgalleryinfocenter.com

How to Start An Art Collectible Hobby and Beautify Your Home

2006-09-20T16:18:00Z

Collecting is a fun hobby, and one of the most interesting things to collect are art collectibles. Many different items can be painted with artwork and become an art collectible. Hobby enthusiasts collect such things as saw blades, and wooden eggs which have had artwork painted on. People even collect designer rugs as art. Another art collectible hobby is collecting limited edition plates, thimbles, Christmas ornaments, and figurines produced by such companies as Bradford Exchange. And of course, many people collect fine art paintings.

The person with an art collectible hobby will probably find his or her own favorite artists whose works they appreciate. They can choose to focus on one particular artist, either past or present, or they can choose from the works of many artists. On the other hand, they may collect art and art objects around a theme they enjoy, such as cigars, wild animals, or piano music.

One may think of an art collector as a rich person who has the money to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on an original Van Gogh. A person of more modest means can collect art too, however. Post cards are a good place to start. Most art museum gift shops offer high quality, glossy postcards printed with some of their more notable acquisitions. By buying those cards one really appreciates, anyone can have an art collection.

Ebay is a good source of art collectibles whatever type of art or collectible you fancy. In fact, if you are just starting out, the choices and options can be overwhelming! Just remember that you can sell your own belongings as well as buying those of others. This should make the impact on the budget a little less powerful. Other ideas for inexpensively collecting art collectibles are scouring flea markets, thrift shops, and garage sales. You never know what treasure someone else may be getting rid of.

One nice thing about art collectibles is that artists can be found in every part of the world. The art collector should scout the local art shows, museums, and artist's hangouts to find out just what sort of talent can be had less expensively and close to home. Because of the local flavor of some artwork, art collectibles make good travel souvenirs. For instance, the artist Linda Barnicott specializes in paintings of scenes, buildings, and landmarks found around Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Similarly, collectors can find local artist almost everywhere.

An art collectible hobby will keep you interested in life and give you a home filled with art masterpieces as well. If you enjoy pretty and interesting things around you, consider starting an art collectible hobby today.

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Keywords: Start An Art Collectible, Art Collectible Hobby, Start An Art Collectible Hobby

About the Author
Tri Bros Broda,
More Details about Start An Art Collectible Hobby here. If you enjoy working with your hands, make arts and crafts as a hobby and would like to turn it into a business than "Craft Business Pack" or, "Craft & Assembly Jobs Package" will take you by the hand and walks you through the steps to earn money.

Keywords: Start An Art Collectible, Art Collectible Hobby, Start An Art Collectible Hobby

Defining Abstract Art

2006-09-15T14:35:00Z

Defining Abstract Art
by: Lynne Taetzsch

The term “abstract art” is like the term “modern music” in the sense that it is a very broad umbrella sheltering a wide variety of art. But like “abstract math,” the general sense of the term is that it is the opposite of the concrete, or “realism.” At one end of the continuum is a painting of a violin so perfectly rendered that we feel we could reach into the frame, pick up the instrument, and play it. At the other end is a canvas painted pure white or black all over. There is nothing in it to reach in and touch.

A simple, common definition of “abstract art” is “not realistic.” Yet many artists who call their work abstract, actually do have a subject in mind when they paint. They take a figure or landscape and simplify it, exaggerate it, or stylize it in some way. They are not trying to imitate nature, but to use nature as a starting off point. Color, line, and form are more important to them than the details of the actual subject matter. They want to give a sense or feel for the subject rather than an exact replication.

Historically, the term “abstract” has been associated with a variety of art movements. The cubism of Picasso, Braque and Cezanne was a geometrical abstraction. In the United States, a group also known as the New York school of action painters was defined by critics as “abstract expressionists.” Yet the individuals in this group varied greatly in their approaches. Jackson Pollock did overall drip paintings. Mark Rothko painted shimmering color field canvases based on a simple square pattern. Willem de Kooning did not abandon subject matter like the others, but abstracted the female figure in much of his work.

Art that has no intentional beginnings in any subject matter is sometimes referred to as “non-objective,” or “non-representational.” A related term is “minimalism,” or the tendency to take as much away from the painterly surface of the canvas as possible. A white square painted on a white background is an example of minimalism. The end result is not so much the point as the daring it took to get there.

“Modern art” is another term commonly used to refer to abstract art, though originally this term was used to differentiate the experimenters of the twentieth century from the traditional European painters and sculptors. Thus, “modern art” began over seventy years ago, and is no longer new. Many movements in art have come and gone since then. For example, “pop art” incorporates popular culture such as comics and movie stars. Well-known artists of this genre include Andy Warhol, who painted Cambell’s soup cans and portraits of Marilyn Monroe; and Jasper Johns, who did a series of flag paintings.

“Contemporary art” is another one of those terms that covers a wide variety of art. The best definition of “contemporary” is the work of any living artist, though the term has also been used to mean art that you would hang in a contemporary home. This sense of contemporary is more like the term “modern,” in that it means the opposite of “traditional.” Thus, “contemporary art” is also sometimes used to mean “abstract art.”

Another way to define the term “abstract art” is to enter it as a search term on Google or Yahoo and look at the results. There will be millions of them, proving that the term is used today to cover a vast amount of art. I use the term “abstract art” to define my own painting because I know that people who love my art tend to define it this way. They often find me by entering the term on Google. Others use the term “modern art” or “contemporary art” to find me.

So where does that leave us in our definition of abstract art? Like most definitions of art movements, the answer is complex. We can look at it historically from an art critic’s perspective, or use it as the general public would, to mean something other than traditional realistic representation.