Featured Thrift store art....

Here is a small Wallace Nutting tinted photograph. These don't bring what they used to but worth picking up for very little money.



Another large religious print I couldn't leave behind. I really have no innate affinity toward these, but hate to see them get wasted when of good quality. This sat for awhile before I bought it. Again, this one has a nice frame in great condition.

 

The Jesus in Gethsemane picture is out of style now, but about 100 years ago the were a common thing. (These days I look at it and wonder who the white guy is and how he got into a picture of Jesus. ) The Wallace Nutting was popular at about the same time. Might have been in the same house.

 

Here are some I picked up this past week. All were $1.00 each!

These small tweaked photo prints on textured paper were done by a local artist names Susan Martens. She was a friend of mine that passed away a few years ago. All are framed as in the first.








This is a small oil pastel that is signed Skip Sams. I found a guy by that name in Chicago. He is primarily a musician/producer but also puts himself out as a life coach and motivational speaker as a former addict. I imagine this is his but I am not entirely sure. There were a few more at the thrift, priced a bit higher, that I did not like quite as well. I may go back for them if still there later.

 

Quite a few to show today. Mostly thrift store finds and for very little money. Generally know what I have but a few with questions. Most images can be enlarged by clicking on them.

This very large abstract painting on canvas (50" x 26"), is unsigned. No markings of any kind. Makes me think this is not a factory painting. Maybe a student or hobbyist work. Don't remember exactly what I paid but somewhere around $10.00. Mounting fixtures on the back suggest this is oriented correctly. I might like it better mounted upside down.


Found this one at the roadside. Can't beat free and I even like the frame. Signed Gina. I think probably an amateur but not horrible. (28" x 24")



This etching is by Ernest Christian Rost (1867-1940). Bought for only $3.00. (18" x 32")


This unframed painting is signed Beadell. While there are a few Beadell's listed, I think this is probably by a talented amateur. Bought for $4.00. (20" x 24")




This odd modernist painting is only signed a, lower right. Interesting but I can't say I really like it. Only paid $3.00. (24" x 18")

 

This watercolor is by California artist Eloise Pickard Smith and dated 1958. Her work evolved significantly over time but I have been able to find similar from this time period and the signature matches. (24" x 21") Bought for $5.00.



This oil on canvas is signed K. Rossi but I believe it to be a factory painting. Much better than most. Think I paid $12.00 for this. Kind of ironic that I paid more for a factory work than for any other painting. (20" x 24")



This is by regional artist John Erickson. Bought for $4.00. (15" x 19")


This small watercolor is by Southwestern artist, Eva Arenas. Only $3.00. (8" x 6" work size)



Have a few more to show but will probably have to wait until tomorrow.

 

the abstract looks like a cityscape , or skyline.........

 

Very 60s/70s abstract. I can see someone hanging that on a wood-paneled wall and being a happy camper. A few mid-mod houses still have them without the nasty white or whatever paint. The Gina piece was probably someone's Souvenir Of painting. Gina may well have made her living selling them to tourists. WTG Gina!

 

The Rossi is a (rough) copy of Bierstadt's 1864 painting 'Valley of the Yosemite."

Debora

 

I like the Rossi better !

 

Perhaps seeming them both in person would make you change your mind.

Debora

 

no, I don't think so.....I'm nota big fan of fuzzy shadows..

 

Like the Eloise Pickard Smith. She was living in Southern California in 1958 but painting appears to be the Sierra Nevada foothills. A rather ordinary scene enhanced by the strong verticals (that cross!) of the poles and diagonals of the wires.

Debora

 

Of all of the ones from Nutting down I like the Eva Arenas cactus painting, it’s very pretty. I’ve always been fond of the dessert. What do you do with all of these? Sell I assume? Where out of/on if so?

The Nuttings I see at auction mostly pass or go extremely low. They seem very bland to me, though obviously well done. Edit:I’m sure sun fading doesn’t help that.

 

Brad-The amount of work your finding in your college town this cheap's a wonder.
Most of the pieces seem to have been done by serious amateurs & pros.
They'd be $10-$75 in my local Thrifts, buy as many of these lotto tickets as you can.
Don't need Google Lens or even a brain at 1 to 5 each.
Your little Mayberry never ceases to amaze me !

 

Do you resell these for profit? They wouldn't go very well here on Cape Cod. I used to buy cheap paintings and prints for the frames thinking at some point I'd refurbish the frames for my own work. Then I stopped painting. I have a LARGE trunk at the end of my enclosed porch filled with them.

 

Not selling anywhere right now. Used to sell art on ebay pretty successfully but not currently set up for the photography and packing. Haven't navigated ebay selling in several years so really don't know the market there anymore. Hope to have some kind of sale locally at some point but would probably retain the best works for a better venue down the road. Even when I had the shop space, I never sold good art very successfully here. If it was over a $50.00, regardless of potential value, it was a very hard sell.

 

Picked up this very nice frame for $4.00. It is kind of an odd size, for an 18" x 22" painting but too nice to pass up.


This limited edition lithograph (3/6) is signed, Jeremy Petersen. The only possibility I found for him is a graphic designer by the name that used to work in Chicago. Fairly accomplished and a no-brainer at $5.00. (24" x 19")





Lastly, this fairly large Chicago cityscape watercolor is by listed artist Ralph Rapien (1904-1995). It is a good find at $7.00. (24" x 19")

 

Brother Brad-Like i said, i want my astral body to pick in the Midwest and the rest to live in Oregon.
PS-The great thing about where you live is you get the castoffs from the great cultural city of Chicago-really beautiful place.If you love late 19th century-Modern architecture,this is the place in the U.S.

 

You should see all the art I pass by ..... I do try to be somewhat discriminate but sometimes it is difficult when it is so cheap.

 

Yep,for a buck each,what the heck.The thing is Brad,respectfully-your town's populace seems to have a low art consciousness,and the potential of finding a truly great piece in this burg is really exciting.
I'd be tempted to camp there-be a regular Journ Mag !