Art that I've bought other than at yard sales is from small galleries IRL and the most I've paid was $950. for a 20"x30" original oil.

Have to say I'd personally never buy original art online other than from a brick and mortar gallery. I'll post a link below to a gallery I recently found that has some interesting pieces. I think it's easier for people to scam online and one never knows whether the art is done assembly line by several artists which makes it less valuable to me. I like to know the artists personally that I buy from and at a small gallery one can meet and speak with the artist. When I find an artist whose style I like I usually want more than one so it's easy to check back to the gallery to see recent offerings.

I've also bought many original oils and watercolors at yard sales and the most I've paid for those is $20 for a huge oil which is framed! While I'm barely an amateur art connoisseur most of those paintings are of quite good technical quality and the others I find interesting amateur artists' efforts.

I think it's wise to not consider price when buying art but to have a budget and try to find something that you cannot live without within that budget.

Here is a link that might be useful: some interesting works here

The first one is interesting and well done, YES! Get it. The second one looks like a print from Coldwater Creek and is not particularly well executed unless you consider it ironical- NO.

Oh, I find it so Interesting/Sad that art is once again delegated to the yard sale category. Just like you might support local businesses so that you have more than Wal Mart and Ace, support art.

Although I do like the first painting, I think $3500 is grossly overpriced and would not pay $1000. That he ran an art school is here nor there.

I don't think you can gauge quality of craftsmanship online. If I really liked it in real life, I might pay as much as $450 $250 because it is large and an original. I think it's the colors that appeal to me. I don't think it is a strong composition but won't comment more because it might spoil how you look at it.

(P.S. I've lowered my offer after doing a little research, lol. )

This post was edited by snookums2 on Sun, Apr 14, 13 at 15:28

OK, well #2 is out. I totally see coldwater creek now. Too funny.

I have these on the wall opposite the spot I think would work for painting number 1 above. I feel like they would work well together.

Some of my favorites are from ebay, so I dont mind buying on line usually, but I usually don't pay over a few hundred for them either and haven't purchased any in a long time. Most of what I have is left over from my old house and just doesnt really work here. I would be replacing this:

That is in my old house. I do like it a lot, but it just seems to ornate for this house and out of sorts.

I think I will bring it to the auction place. I have been slowly doing that with things. I feel like I will be in this place a long time and I have the need to purge things that are left over from the fancy big house that just don't work here. :)

Actually, the very fact he ran an art school has much to do with it. Quality has nothing to do with art prices unfortunately.

That's pretty much what I meant. As a buyer trying to assess quality art, his being an art teacher or running a school doesn't mean he was a great artist or that this is a great painting, priced accordingly. They are pricing high on a BS fact that might impress some people so they are willing to pay more.

Now if he ends up going down in history as one of the greatest teachers of all time, then I guess a person could still miss out, lol.

Research his other work to see what people are willing to pay, in terms of investment value. Then, can you be sure it is authentic?

I can tell you that the first one is very well executed yet it appears to be under glass. Did you find out if it's original or a print. If original, I'd offer 750.00. The second one is lovely in it's tone but not highly creative. It even could be photo shopped. I'd offer 100.00. Most sellers will sell. My son sells art on Ebay and often takes low bids just to move it out. You know darn well the seller never paid that. FYI, I'm a trained artist in oils, water colors etc.

Find out what this artist's art goes for elsewhere. Ask for provenance. Also, google buying art on ebay.
I would only buy directly from the artist or from a reputable gallery.

Here is a link that might be useful: buying art on ebay

"the distinguished American artist Frank Thomas Novack" does not turn up on searches or the two databases linked.

They have a lot of very expensive offerings. This is the prestigious gallery.

Here is a link that might be useful: Fine Antiques

This post was edited by snookums2 on Sun, Apr 14, 13 at 9:41

Unless you have money to burn, I wouldn't spend a $1000 on unseen art by an unknown. Besides, you don't know if it's an original or not.

I like the first picture, but I think it belongs in a sunroom. Or a room with a lot of sun. lol

I feel that both of the paintings are overpriced by a factor of ten, in terms of lasting value/what you could ever hope to sell them for. Art has both a "what it is worth" value and a "what it is worth to ME" value, and they aren't necessarily related. I don't think that any of the art on my walls has any resale value, but that doesn't mean I don't love it.

I think you should ask yourself what you would pay for the painting if you knew that its resale value was zero, and pay that. Would you still be happy to have it for 3500? 2500? 350?

Here is a link to a book I really enjoyed about art fraud on eBay: Not to say that either of the paintings you posted are frauds, but just because I found it a fascinating book about
this man's entry into the art fraud market, the customers who did and who did not get mad and want their money back when they realized what they bought wasn't real, etc.

http://www.amazon.com/Fake-Forgery-Lies-Kenneth-Walton/dp/1416948058

Thank you all. this has been an interesting discussion. :) It is good to know you think it is done well yayagirl. It says it is an original oil. I don't think it is under glass. I will put the link to the auction below.

Leafy02. You are so right, and thanks for the reminder. :) I do not look at any art I buy as an investment. I am just not in that league. I will say I don't really care if this guy Frank Novack really painted it or not. I did find it interesting though to read his story.

I could not find anything on what his paintings might sell for either.

Well I submitted an offer. I don't want to think about it anymore :)

Here is a link that might be useful: Listing

WOW! That link was an eye-opener, Boop!

Their prices on non-art items are incredibly high. A graphic example is this Dooney & Bourke purse, which they have 'reduced' to $360.05.

I laughed when I saw this - " It is a rare opportunity to be able to get a pristine / unused classic older Dooney & Bourke treasure." as there are thousands of D&B on eBay, and this style is offered by another seller for $55 as a Buy It Now!

I'd steer clear just seeing their prices on other items.

Here is a link that might be useful: Exceptional Vintage Dooney & Bourke USA Shoulder Purse

I really like the first painting. I would offer $500 and then maybe go as high as $700 if they press. It is pretty good sized.

The second painting if you really like it maybe offer $200-250. It would cost a decent amount to frame it and it seems to be already framed.

Good luck!

This business is housed in an antique mall in Alexandria, VA. It looks like they have an interesting collection. Look at this one from an Armenian artist.

Notice they use similar verbiage in their postings:
This signed original oil painting on canvas (linen?) is by the distinguished 20th century Armenian artist Shmavon Shmavonyan (Shmavonian). We have given it the title "The Travelers" since that is the title of a very similar painting on his website. If you can translate everything the artist has written on the back of the canvas, you will have more information about the painting.

[Rather than re-stating much of the information available from an internet search on this internationally acclaimed artist from Armenia, we will leave additional background research up to you!]

Here is a link that might be useful: Armenian painting

I would be happy to run by the gallery to see how it looks in person. I have been in this antique mall in the My Vernon area (Alexandria, Fairfax County, not Alexandria City) if you would like. I could go next weekend.

Browse the eBay gallery. Says it all, imo. The prices are obscene.

$60 for an 8" Stangl bread plate with a hairline crack. Similar plates are selling for under $10. The whole store looks like this.

I would not consider this seller reputable in any way.

This post was edited by snookums2 on Sun, Apr 14, 13 at 11:33

"pre owned vera wang ballet flats from 99$ to 94$-" what a bargain.

$2,000. 6m to go.

"We do not know the origin / provenance of this basket; perhaps a specialist in antique baskets will be able to identify it from our photographs.
VERY APPROXIMATE DIMENSIONS: over 30â x over 19â x 10â (over 13â including the handle)
This is a phenomenal work of art.
a superstar on its own. "

Returns: To provide low pricing and a constant stream of quality merchandise, we are unable to accept returns for buyer remorse, buyer mistake or improper fit.

Here is a link that might be useful: large antique basket

This post was edited by snookums2 on Sun, Apr 14, 13 at 12:29

"I know it is a personal decision, but how do you decide how much to pay for art?"

I spend a lot of time in art galleries and at art openings. Result is that I get a sense of what various artists charge for art in various media and in various sizes. I also get to see the art close up and personal, which is a very different experience relative to looking at images of images online. I also return to galleries after shows have opened, if i want to, and that gives me the chance to see how much art, IF ANY, sells at the prices listed. I can also bargain with the owner for a piece, if I want to. ;)

I also regularly visit antique shops, and, at art galleries featuring dead artists, I get a sense of what the market will bear for their work. Finally, I like to go auction previews and sometimes, the auctions themselves; sometimes, I'll follow the works and see what the final selling prices vs. the estimates are.

Now, about your two pieces. I don't care for either of them, but you didn't ask whether I'd buy them, did you now? :)

Given the media, their size, and the work done to frame and mat the second one, I think that, if you like them, both "sale" prices are reasonable. (For the first one, the regular price is absurd, really.) For the second piece, you'd probably have to spend somewhere in the order of $200 just to have a piece framed and matted like that, which means you'd be getting an original acrylic for not much more than you'd spend on a print. (BTW, if you go to the auction listing, you'll see the size given for the second piece includes the frame and mat - it's not only the painted part. The seller doesn't tell you how big the pieces itself is, and you might want to ask about that.)

As far as an investment or reselling those pieces, forget it. When I suggested the prices are OK, I was thinking in terms of what I'd pay for similarly sized pieces at a gallery. Galleries around here take somewhere between 30% - 50%, so, to get a positive return on your "investment," your art would have to appreciate substantially - you do the simple math, and you'll see how unlikely that is. We've gotten our money back on a few pieces, but those were by listed artists and/or by artists who are collectible in our area. Your two pieces are by complete unknowns as far as I can tell. We've also had to keep pieces that turned out to be hard to unload. We also have a couple of pieces that a local auction house would have been interested in -- if we'd had more to go with the lot. By themselves, it just wasn't worth it to them.

What you need to keep in mind is that art is a highly illiquid "investment." Buy art because you like it, but don't think you'll ever get your money back on it. Maybe if you buy from street fairs or directly from artists....or maybe not.

oops, that would be Mt. Vernon area. I suspect the price in person will be quite different.

You have all been very helpful! Cyn427 - you are very sweet to offer.

Well, they did no accept my offer and I sort of have a negative vibe about them now from what you are saying about their other auctions. I do keep thinking about it though!

I may show it to DH, I offered below our agreed upon "don't spend more unless we both agree amount" Maybe I will be surprised and he will like it too.

It is not really a high end sort of place. It is one of those places where people rent space and in this one, there is a lot of junk. Fun to browse every now and then, but I have never bought anything there. You probably are right about the vibe. I have never seen anyone particularly friendly working there.

I just followed the link. It looks to me like someone has practiced the art of using lots of descriptive words to create the illusion that the objects are of substantial value and to suggest that the "reviewer" is credentialed. The description of the first painting, written in pseudo art-reviewer lingo, lists some of the piece's colors, followed by "and many other great hues." This cracked me up. Good to know there are "great hues".

A regular basket on the site, with what looks like black electrical tape wrapping the handles, has been "marked down" to $403. The site says that some of the pieces on sale are from the proprietors' own collections. They must have found this particular piece in the collection on a shelf in their garage. I would not spend a penny at this business.

As an artist and art teacher, I would only say NEVER HANG ANYTHING ON YOUR WALL YOU DON'T LOVE!

Art is only priceless to the person who loves it. Do not buy art to match your sofa!

If the subject speaks to you, then this is something you should buy. Most artists are starving and will work with you, unless they have an agent and a name.

I remember a time my young son and I were looking in the window of an art gallery. There was an abstract in the window. His little brain was all about $ for a new bike. Price of the painting was $3000.00. His comment: "Wow! That is an expensive frame!"

Later in life I did an abstract, and every day I see something new in it. To me, it's priceless! And it doesn't even have a frame!

I vote that if you love a painting no matter what, because it speaks to you, buy it!!

Suzi

Wow Suzi, you have spoken such true words when you say, "NEVER HANG ANYTHING ON YOUR WALL YOU DON'T LOVE"!

My husband and I have some art on our walls that we loved when we first saw them and no matter how many years they have been hanging on the walls, I still get so much pleasure and joy out of looking at them every day. We have a couple of prints I got only to "match" the decor and I grew tired of them REALLY FAST!

Over 25 years ago at an art show, I saw a painting of a village scene (looked like from Europe, perhaps Italy or Spain) that I loved but at the time thought it was a little more money than I wanted to spend. Have regretted it ever since as I have not since that time found anything like it or that I love as well!

Oh, my.

That basket made me cringe. "Phenomenal work of art"? Seriously? Put down the crack pipe, seller. You're high.

I think there's a big difference between supporting artists and letting some used furniture collecting crook rip us off for "fine art & antiques".

This post was edited by snookums2 on Mon, Apr 15, 13 at 10:33

Looks and sounds to me like you dodged a bullet by having your offer declined.

I agree with you nosoccermom. I was in awe...but not in a good way...at that ebay store.

All the "art" I've picked out myself are pictures that hit my heart in some way. It's like "Love at first sight." You know it when you see it.

One of my favorite's is a small print I bought for $24.00. It's gotten so many compliments, you'd think it was worth thousands! lol

All the "art" I've picked out myself are pictures that hit my heart in some way. It's like "Love at first sight." You know it when you see it

Yep. Most of my faves are of the "I paid very little for this" variety. My latest treasure came from a little junk shop in Suffolk, England. It was marked as a print, but I had a sneaky suspicion it was an original. I paid the equivalent of about $46 for it, got it back to my cottage and took it out of the frame, and sure enough - original acrylic, and the subject matter is a door in St. Ives, Cornwall - where I visited on a wonderful holiday last year. So win-win-win: Affordable original of a place that has special meaning to me. I just got it back from my framer last week and am even more in love with it, now that it's been given the perfect mat and frame.

I guess the most I've ever paid for a painting was $2,400 (or was it $2,600? I forget. ;-)). It's a large canvas of a Native American gentleman, and I bought it directly from the artist, himself a young Native American. I felt really good about supporting his work, and having had the painting for a number of years now, I still absolutely love living with it and can't imagine my wall without it.

Art has to really speak to me in some way before I want to live with it.