Art, is it possible to buy a nice original oil painting for cheap?

[Frogfur]

The way I paint, I won't give you more than fifteen bucks to get it out of here.

 

[Skit]

Checkout goodwill online. They do get some nice pieces.

 

[Sharky]

that's how the masses of original oil paintings are produced: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...artists-recreate-paintings-sale-overseas.html

 

[Roberteaux]

Yes, of course it's possible.

We have all sorts of art festivals in my home town. But then: since the time of its founding, Deland has always been a Bohemian sort of place, with residents that have always been very fond of various types of artistic expression. The city calls itself "The Athens of Florida" owing to that seemingly traditional tendency among its residents. We have galleries here, live theater performances, art museums, and so forth. Deland even has an opera house, though it hasn't been used as such in decades.

We also have art festivals on a fairly frequent basis. They close down the main drag, and people set up to display their creations. These affairs are very popular and well-attended:

New Orleans is another place to go to find original art works at reasonable prices. If you go down Royal Street in the French Quarter, there are galleries galore-- though a lot of the stuff is just reproduction art, mostly done as giclée repros.

But when you get to St. Anthony's Garden (behind the St. Louis Cathedral) on a nice day, you'll find lots of original art work hanging off the iron fences that enclose the garden itself.

You'll see the same thing in Pirate's Alley, and lots of paintings will be on display on the iron fences all the way around Jackson Square. About the only time they're not out there is when it's raining.

Whereas street artistry is concerned, it will always be the case that some of what one sees will be gauche or otherwise tasteless, and some works will be of poorer quality-- while yet other pieces will be surprisingly good, and even excellent. From a consumer perspective, it's kind of a crap shoot.

It's also the case that popularity in given artistic styles are often influenced by some sort of complex and difficult-to-define zeitgeist, in which true masters may go somewhat unnoticed until long after their deaths.

Fans of artists such as Vincent van Gogh often boggle at the reality that the artist sold relatively few paintings during the times of his life, and Rembrandt van Rijn actually died a pauper. Meanwhile others such as Jackson Pollack, Edvard Munch, and Andy Warhol were actually quite successful as artists-- and almost despite themselves at that.

Art is weird like that. Hard to pin much of it down.

Best to simply like what one likes, and to hell with the rest of it.

--R

 

[marksoundguitars]

Seems like around here you can't turn around without tripping over an arts festival. We have an older section of town that's become an arts district, with a bunch of galleries and a couple of nice restaurants. Always something going on there.

 

[NRBQ]

Picked up a Snot Collage on Ebay for two bucks. Score!

 

[jeff_farkas]

I recall getting a few nice paintings at a starving artist sale.

 

[NRBQ]

I recall getting a few nice paintings at a starving artist sale.

I'm definitely going to do that when one comes around again.

 

[NRBQ]

I thought I post a pic of the painting that's hanging in my living room now. It's a really cool painting from an artist named Albert Swayhoover, and it's all done with a pallet knife so the painting has a lot of depth and texture. Most of his scenes are of Long Island and Maine, his stuff is sold as posters and lithographs in shops and online. Unfortunately he passed away in 2017 but it's nice that his work lives on. It was painted in 1974 and it's called "Clouds Are Lifting." My family has owned the painting since it was new in 74 and we have two, the other is the largest he ever painted, done in 76, that one's probably worth $10 or 15 grand, but my sister has that one, RATZ! I've spent many an hour just staring at Clouds Are Lifting close up, it's fascinating and it has hidden details when you really look hard. Then you can step back and just take it in, I just love the Sea and the Sand and his stuff is really good.

I've included a few closer shots that show the texture and detail of the painting as best as I could get with natural lighting.

 

[bilbarstow]

Another good option is Estate Sales or auctions. We have several every weekend around here (mid-west), in fact there are 3 Auction companies to handle them. Sometimes you can get originals painted by the "estate" person, but very often the people were just collectors. I've seen all ranges of art go for very few $. Until somebody else likes the same painting as you.

 

[DarrellV]

I thought I post a pic of the painting that's hanging in my living room now. It's a really cool painting from an artist named Albert Swayhoover, and it's all done with a pallet knife so the painting has a lot of depth and texture. Albert passed away in 2017 sadly but his work lives on. It was painted in 1974 and it's called "Clouds Are Lifting." I've spent many an hour just staring at it close up, it's fascinating and it has hidden details when you really look hard. Then you can step back and just take it in, I just love the Sea and the Sand and his stuff is really good.

I've included a few closer shots that show the texture and detail of the painting as best as I could get with natural lighting.

Oh... I like that!

 

[don71]

I didn't see this mentioned, but how about a local community college? If they have any classes, they probably have an art fair or at least a display. Heck, you might even get a painting commissoned by a local artist done to your liking or subject for reasonable cost.

 

[acstorfer]

 

[Digger]

I was going to say check out local art showsx but you need to spend $2 to $300 to get anything worth owning. Cheap gets you rubbish!