Having Your Artwork Appraised

People frequently call me to ask if I will appraise their artwork- it is the start of a long and involved conversation which starts with "I don't do appraisals." That being said I try to help people who call with this question.

The first thing I try to ascertain is if the art is an original or a reproduction. Being a reproduction does not necessarily mean that something is valueless. When possible I like to see the artwork to determine this.

1. If it is done by a famous artist is it in the correct medium (oil, etching, watercolor)? I have seen a number of Van Goghs in the gallery but they turn out to be reproductions- determined by the fact that they are printed instead of painted.
   
2. Is it a true artprint process (intaglio, lithograph, monoprint) rather than a reproduction method? By looking at a print through a magnifying glass you can determine if it is a reproduction if the ink is applied in dots- a machine process. You should also see the embossed edge of the plate at the outer perimeter of a real print.
3. Do the brush strokes match what is painted? Famous art is being reproduced on canvas and "enhanced" with brushstrokes.
   
4. If the piece has age to it, flip it over and look at the back. The wooden stretcher bars of a painting will show oxidation (turned dark brown) to indicate age. All of the components should look about the same age.
   
5. Is there a signature? Most artwork has little value without a signature. Check the back too! If it is quite dirty or the varnish has discolored the signature could be hidden.
   

The second thing I try to ascertain is if you want the appraisal so that artwork can be insured, valued for an estate or if you are simply curious about its worth. For legal or insurance purposes you will need an appraisal done by an appraiser. The value will need to backed up with auction records of comparable works by the same artist. Appraisers are liable for their appraisals so they research thoroughly. They have also gone through years of training or apprenticeship. For this reason they need to charge for their services. In return you will receive the information backing up their estimation of worth on the art. The appraisal will need to be written on their letterhead. They should also be willing to share their credentials. If you are merely curious, you probably don't want to pay for an appraisal and should skip to the paragraph on "looking on the internet." If you have a contemporary piece the gallery where it was purchased should be willing to provide updated valuations on request.

Value is determined by what an artist's work fetches on the secondary market- this means there must be records of the work being sold at auction. Your painting by great grandpa may have great sentimental value and could potentially fetch a decent price on the open market, but it may have no appraisal value because the artist has never sold at public auction. People often ask what a piece is worth before opting for conservation work. They feel that if the painting is only worth $200 but the conservation work will cost $300 that they shouldn't move forward. My feeling is if you like the artwork and hope to pass it on to future generations then conservation is worth while. If you compare the costs of conservation to the cost of a new piece of art it REALLY makes sense.

So how do you determine if the artist has any art world recognition? The first place to look for information on an artist is the internet. A good site is artnet.com. You can at least find out if there are any auction records for your artist. You will need to pay a fee if you want to look at the records, but you may buy a limited number of inquires for about $20. Be careful- it is addicting! Another great resource is Ebay. This will at least give you a sense of what the going prices are if there are any listings. Compare works of the same medium, similar subject matter and similar condition to get the most accurate estimate of value. If the artist has a more local or regional fame, the state or town Historical Society is another great resource.

If you do need an appraiser I am happy to recommend some names of people that I have worked with. Be clear on what you are receiving from them- is it a replacement value or fair market value? Replacement values are much higher. They reflect the cost of going out and purchasing another piece of art similar to the one you currently have. A fair market value reflects what you might receive if you took your art to a dealer to be sold. I recommend that a copy of this appraisal be kept on the back of the artwork so that it is never separated from it.

Ted Arnold- Objects of Desire

McGowan Fine Art announces the opening of “Objects of Desire" featuring the paintings of Ted Arnold. The show will run from December 1-January 2, with an artist’s reception on December 4 from 5 to 7 PM.

Ted Arnold is a Dartmouth educated painter from Maine by way of California. The West Coast landscape still informs his still lifes and mise en scénes with strong light and vibrant colors, but his subject matter of china, teacups and other prosaic kitchen utensils are the stuff of more universal appeal. He also harnesses these bright colors to portray festive family gatherings and street scenes.

Arnold’s studio has shelves full of teacups, platter, urns, and richly decorated fabrics that he uses as models for the densely painted canvases. “I don’t think of my teacup paintings as simply stillifes” says Arnold, “but as conversations.” Each painting requires a careful balance of colors and shapes with a composition formed from his collection of china and fabric. Some cups- because of their unusual color or seductive shape- star in many of the paintings. Patterns of china emerge to create families- similar yet distinct like a reunion of cousins and siblings. Elegant bleeding blue china stars throughout the show as a counterpoint to the homely orange daisy teacup or green Fiesta ware plate. “The cups and pots and creamers are from many lands and of many persuasions like people in our cities,” says the artist.

Arnold also looks for the relationships- or conversations- between people. In “Billy’s Dinner” he has taken a very thin slice of home life- a family dinner. This painting is almost twelve feet long and broken into three sections. The length of the painting allows the story to unfold in time as you walk the length of it- a narrative in real time. People and the detritus of a meal are scattered across the surface. There are dark figures receding into the background, wine glasses and plates glint from the glowing candles. A hand holds up a glass to toast the figure across the room. Each person and table setting is truly having a conversation of color and form.

The reception takes place the evening of Midnight Merriment in Concord. The Main Street will be closed to traffic from Pleasant to Centre. Caroling and hay rides will be taking place on Main Street to celebrate the start of the Holiday Season. For more information visit mainstreetconcord.com.

Bridal Registry- At an Art Gallery?

Are you about to be married and dread the process of taking yourself and your future spouse to a giant chain department store to register for china and crystal? Have you waited to find the perfect mate- and in the meantime filled your home with all of the essential furnishings? Or do you aspire to have an art collection of your own now that you are settling down?

In the past I have been asked if we do bridal registries at McGowan Fine Art- and the answer is a resounding yes! It is a great way to start or add to your collection, and the process is easy.

If you are familiar with the gallery, just come in and I will create a list of artwork that you like. I can help you to choose a variety to give people a broad selection of price ranges. I will create a webpage with your selections on it which can be sent as a link to people making registry requests.

If you are not familiar with the gallery I would recommend making an appointment so that we can give you a complete tour of the gallery and our extensive collection of art. We can then create a list or webpage of the items you would like.

If people have purchased a piece of artwork that is not appropriate, we make it easy to return if done in a reasonable amount of time Another option is for people to purchase gift certificates which can then be be used to purchase a piece of art.