Painting and Face Painting Books

We all like being creative. Our busy schedule hardly gives us any time to spent time with our self’s. Constant focus on work makes our life dull. One of the best ways to make your life colorful is by doing some painting in your spare time. A Painting Book consists of some beautiful and decorative paintings. If you are an artist it will definitely help your cause.

Today you can find many painting book outlets providing some wonderful painting books. If you would like to learn painting you can find a painting book that meets your cause. There are books for beginners that provide step by step guidance of different aspects of painting. These books also provide you with some useful information about color mixing. Painting books are also available for advanced artist. These painting books are highly advanced and drive the artist to new world of creativity.

There are different types of painting books that can suit your needs. One of such types is a Face Painting Book.

Face Painting Book will provide you all the tips and techniques that professional face painter artist use. The painting book provides you with all the fabulous face painting designs, simple and easy techniques and useful stepwise guidelines.

The painting books consists books like creative painting books, facial art books, wild animal face books, scary face books, FX face books, etc. These books contain different tutorials on painting animal’s faces, scary faces, etc.

You can use the face painting books and paint an animal or a Dracula out of a human. The book also provides a complete guide on how to questions. These how to questions will help you provide answers to different questions. Even if you are known to the art of face painting, the book will help you improvise your techniques and strokes. In addition, many new designs and ideas are provided in most of the books.

Outstanding Contemporary African Artists Following Old Traditions Of Tribal Art

Africa is a huge continent with many different peoples, groups, cultures and tradition. This diversity is seen even in the artistry that it presents to the world in the old african tribal art. Modern African art has a very strong, storied and personal history. Their beautiful and coveted African masks were created to honor their ancestors, to ensure a healthy and plentiful crop, to celebrate, to mourn, to be used in initiation rituals. There work was deliberately and purposefully created to meet the spiritual needs of the tribe. They were infused with spirituality and served a functional purpose. These African masks were used primarily to communicate, seek advice and please the ancestors. The spirits and ancestors were even believed to have inhabited the African masks after special and specific rituals were performed.

African Figures and fetishes, another popular artistry of this continent, were also strongly connected with the supernatural, and were again created to commune with the supernatural world. The artists of Africa, especially beginning in the early 20th century, greatly inspired the art of the West, energizing great artists such as Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh and Modigliani. Their organized forms, spirituality, abstraction and imagination, helped to free Western artists from their restraint.

Today, the torch has been passed to a generation of African contemporary artists, artists such as Efiaimbelo, Fanizani Akuda, Frederic Bruly Bouabre Prince Twins Seven-Seven, and Reinata Sadimba. These artists have striven and continue to strive to uphold the excellence of the artistry of their forefathers. Classic African tribal art had a mystical element. African tribal art pieces which were prized, were those who had spiritual significance and those which were actually used for mystical purposes. African tribal art techniques and their significance to the tribe and to the African people, were passed from generation to generation and the function and purpose of the art was much more important then its’ aestheticism. These pieces were actually used in ceremonies, at funerals at initiations and at rites-of-passage ceremonies.

As times as changed and as African people have moved out of villages, into the cities and as dependence on the tribe is now not as strong, these classic pieces of African tribal art are still widely respected, and intertwined in some way in contemporary life of the African. However, artists and artistry of later generations has evolved. The new art is influenced by today, by the world and art is crafted just because and no longer has to serve a spiritual or mystic purpose.

Below, we will discuss 3 contemporary and outstanding African artists. These artists are introducing the world to the new Africa, its new artistry and forms. And while sometimes ignored and ridiculed for not living up to the standards of the past. They are seeking to create their own standard. Now you can find individuals and groups who will mass produce cheap African tribal masks and figurines that many people around the world still expect to come from Africa, but this is often for profit. Real African artist are serious about their craft, and their work is of the utmost craftsmanship and is inspired from someplace real.

1. Efiaimbelo: African contemporary artist Efiaimbelo (born 1925-2006, Androka, Mahafaly Land, Madagascar) created most of his outstanding art in the South West portion of Madagascar. Efiaimbelo’s work was inspired by his Mahafaly ancestory. This group of people are known for their creation of funery steles or aloalos, which are used to mark graves at the site of tombs. It is a craft which has been passed down from father to son for many generations. These funery steles (aloalos) are crafted to celebrate the memories of the deceased and also are tributes to particular eras of time. Aloalos are placed or planted around the strucuture of the tomb in a the shape of a square.

Efiamibelo has expanded the artistry of the aloalos. He was one of the first artists to paint aloalos exclusively for decorative appeal. He begin using acrylic colors and adding new and excited images to the aloalos.

Efiamibelo’s work was also later influenced by the West and he subsequently incorporated Western themes into his art work. Efiamibelo was a sophisticated African artist, who did much to champion and move forward his genre.

2. Fanizani Akuda: African contemporary artist, Fanizani Akuda (born1932-, Zambia), is one of the legends of first generation Zimbabwe sculpting. He also became a member of the world renown Tengenege -Art-Community in the 1960’s. His work commonly features “slit eyes”, people and animals interacting together, happy people and families. Akuda’s artistry has taken him all over the world, from Germany, the United States to Australia plus many more countries. His work has been exhibited in some of the finest museums in the world and he continues to be one of the most respected artists in the world and a true master at his craft.

3. Frederic Bruly Bouabre: African contemporary artist Frederic Bruly Bouabre’s (born 1923-. Zepregue, Cote d’Ivoire) life’s work became inspired from a vision he experienced in 1948. In that vision, he saw in the heavens, seven colorful suns which created a beautiful circle around their Mother sun. He that became Cheik Nadro, ‘He who does not forget.’ From that point on, Bouabre began to study and become increasingly knowledable about such subjects as poetry, arts, tradition, religion and philosophy. He became a great scholar and champion of his Bete people.

In the decade of the 1970’s, Frederic Bruly Bouabre began using ball point pen and crayons to create small, postcard-like drawings. He titled these drawings Connaissance du Monde. Bouabre continues to be inspired by science, tradition, dreams and signs. This quote by Bouabre, “Now that we are recognized as artists, our duty is to organize into a society, and in such a way to create a framework for discussion and exchange among those who acquire and those who create, From that could arise a felicitous world civilization,” expresses his feelings of responsibility he believes are attached to artists and their lives work.

Visionary Landscapes book review featuring the art of Justin Michael Jenkins

Visionary Landscapes, the long awaited coffee table style book featuring thirty-one hand selected master drawings by the artist Justin Michael Jenkins, has been in the works for quite sometime. We are now proud to offer the world this 160 page full color published book through the independent publishing source, Lulu. Our vision for this exclusive volume edition was to have a high end collector style book that features many drawings from the chess, anatomy, mind, spiritual, and abstract collections. We decided on a 7.5″X7.5″ format that is suitable for many table styles including most coffee table settings. We have published this through our publishing division at Imaginative Pencil called Imaginative Pencil Publishing.

Visionary Landscapes fuses the insights, critiques, and reviews from various artists, critics, and scholars from all over the world with the intimate perspectives of each work by the artist himself. We collected numerous sources from around the world with regard to the style and approach of Justin and organized the book in such a way as to portray each drawing from various perspectives and also do a complete analytical reviews of the entire range of thought behind all the works. The goal of this exclusive edition is to give hidden insights that would otherwise go unnoticed by many viewers and create a collection of reviews and critiques by selected artists and scholars with a large portion of the deeper understanding coming from the artist himself. We want each reader to explore this large selection of drawings that span many collections and ranges and to become more aware of what the artist is trying to achieve both in meaning and message. Our hope is that readers will be rewarded with not only the secrets of how the artist came to certain conclusions and how he acheived them and why, but essentially the core meaning of each work will be revealed in the simplest terms by showing each drawing as a seperate analysis within the overall meaning of the book. The intimacy of the book centers on the artists deep ciritques and view points of each drawing featured which gives the reader access to the artist on a more personal level like hes in front of them explaining each work.

Book Preface

This first volume will approach the latest drawings from the studio of award-winning artist Justin Michael Jenkins with an analytical, fresh, and insightful point of view. With the help of the artist, we have compiled a small volume that will contain thirty of his most recent drawings taken from five unique collections. The artist will give us his insight into each work of art and the hidden meanings behind the symbolisms and objectivity that lie beneath the color and forms.
This book attempts to give viewers, collectors, scholars, and historians an ambitious and fresh examination into the mind, soul, and overall vision of the artist. We have collected various critics, essays, and feedback from numerous people about the approach and style of artist Justin Michael Jenkins and organized it in the pages ahead along with a gallery of works. We hope this book will give each reader a broader understanding of what the artist is trying to accomplish within the bold shapes, twisting forms, and surreal settings. We also want to shed light on the message his work tries to convey to the world.
Now that you have a basic understanding of what this book will attempt to accomplish, let’s begin our journey and exploration into the surreal, visionary, and inventive world that lies deep in the corridors of the artist’s mind with the hope of finding the truth and inspiration behind his style.

Imaginative Pencil Publishing came to Lulu because the company wanted to be in control of the publishing process and found Lulu’s print-on-demand tools to be fast, easy and, most importantly, free. Visonary Landscapes is available for purchase at www.lulu.com, in a marketplace filled with other unique and wonderful surprises. “Independent publishing and print-on-demand is the wave of the future, and the future is now,” said Michael from Imaginatvie Pencil Publishing. “The Lulu process allows me to cut out the middle man (i.e. a separate publisher) and get my work out there the way I want it. Our book, Visionary Landscapes, is much like Lulu itself—it puts control of your destiny in your own hands.”

ABOUT AUTHOR

Imaginative Pencil is a company founded in 2004 that specializes in the sale, distribution, and exhibition of the visionary and surreal pencil art of Justin Michael Jenkins.

Justin Michael Jenkins was born in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. to George and Carole Jenkins. Besides his professional status as a full time artist, he is also a writer, designer, and webmaster. His hobbies include studying the game of chess and collecting Civil War memorabilia.

ABOUT LULU

Founded in 2002, Lulu is the world’s fastest-growing print-on-demand marketplace for digital do-it-yourselfers. Please see www.lulu.com for more information.

For more information about selling this book in stores or to order a copy for yourself, please visit our book website at Lulu or contact Michael Retla at publishing @imaginativepencil.com or call 1-304-376-0762.

Buying Watercolor Paintings

I’ve been buying watercolor paintings for decorating jobs. I’ve found some really nice pieces on eBay. I recently bought a watercolor painting by an artist named Y. Gianni. The painting was produced in 1890 and depicted an Italian village. It was very vivid and pleasing to look at.

I was trying to find just the right watercolor painting for a client when I came across one by an artist named William B. Gillette. The colors were pastel, ranging from soft greens, browns, blues, purples and peach. The scene was that of a pebble beach and crashing waves. The hills on one side gave the beach a feeling of privacy. It really spoke to me and my client loved it.

There was a cabin that I was decorating for a discerning client that needed one more piece of art to complete the look I was going for. I found a wonderful watercolor painting that fit just right. It had a lot of mossy green colors and there was a lake with a lake house. The artist turned out to be Charles Dickens Wader. He is a well known artist from New York.

I have a client that collects art from Romeo Tabuena. I was fortunate to find two watercolors that the owners had purchased directly from Tabuena in the fifties when they lived in San Miguel. The owner settled with me for an even thousand dollars. My client was thrilled.

A lawyer friend of mine hired me to redecorate his office. I had a lot of fun putting in things that reflected his interests and tastes. He loves polo and I found a wonderful watercolor painting of two polo players on horses. My friend liked the paintings and they have become a conversation piece in the new office.

My friend’s dad liked the office I decorated so much that he commissioned me to redecorate his office. He is a hunter and I found a really nice watercolor painting of several mallard ducks flying above a marsh. The painting was done by Jim Killen and he has painted for Ducks Unlimited. His work is well known and respected. My friend’s father really liked the find and proudly hung it in his reception area.

I was really unsure where I was going to find suitable art for the program director’s office at a local radio station. When I went to visit with him for a consultation, his office was absolutely stark. I like watercolor paintings and that is my first choice for buying art. I found a fantastic watercolor painting of Bob Marley surrounded by sunflowers. It was awesome and perfect for this job.

There is a musician that I was working for a couple of years ago that wanted their studio decorated with paintings from the artist Raoul Dufy. Raoul Dufy made a whole series of paintings called Hommage to Mozart. I was able to purchase three watercolor paintings in this series. I have always been on the lookout for more paintings to purchase for this client.

A friend of mine asked me to find a watercolor painting to give to her mother. I found one by Henry H. Parker that was of cattle in landscape. The frame was what caught my eye at first because it is heavy gilt. It would never hang in my house, but it looked great at my friend’s mother’s house.

Palazzo Fabroni & Contemporary Art In Pistoia – Tuscany

From 1990 to 2004 Palazzo Fabroni, building of the 18th century in the heart of Pistoia (Tuscany – Italy), had an important role in the planning of exhibitions of both Italian and international artists, like Roberto Barni, Enrico Castellani, Giuseppe Chiari, Luciano Fabro, Jannis Kounellis, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Giuseppe Uncini.

After few years of works of renovation, from 2004 to 2007, Palazzo Fabroni has now reopened and houses the exhibition of Claudio Parmiggiani, supervised by the art historian Jean Clair; the exhibition goes over the artist’s International experiences and represents one of his highest achievements.

Many and meaningful have been the intuitions which, from the mid 60s, have been connoting in an early, very original and innovative way his research; as well as obstinate has been his determination to pursue independence within the Italian artistic context, in a lonely path, intentionally out of any group or classification; however this has not meant estrangement and has not prevented him from crucial encounters with other protagonists of contemporary art. With them he shared that path which, from the zeroing of the representative painting, has led through different ways to a new art grammar. His language comes out from associations of images, able to provoke real mind short-circuits.

During the years, side by side with extraordinarily powerful and evocative works which have been object of lectures and critical essays by well known personalities from different fields, philosophy, art history, literary, he alternated with works of absolute radical vision and environmental dimensions.

The Delocazioni (from 1970), works made by using fire and smoke, are his most powerful images of absence; Terra (1988-89), a huge terracotta sphere with the artist’s hands imprinted on it, given back to the earth and buried in the cloister of the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon, is a tragic and desperate gesture; Il faro d’Islanda (2000), the tall, solitary, radiant steel tower, a metaphoric self-portrait of the artist, erected in the desolate and deserted land of Iceland, a light of hope in its immense geographical remoteness.

In many occasions Parmiggiani has also created works for public areas, museums, galleries, religious buildings. In the twelve rooms of palazzo Fabroni Parmiggiani he shows twelve new works, specially made and created through an extraordinary free use of materials which contribute strongly, in a real inner journey, to perceive them as a unique great work, as a unique mental object. The itinerary consists of a succession of spaces and the artist gathers the diversity of each one and creates new and vital connections with his work.

The works exhibited are visible only in conditions of natural light, since artificial lighting has been purposely abolished in order to highlight in the space that particular feeling and that particular emotion only the slow passing of light and shade on things can create when observed.

Until 23.03.2008
Palazzo Fabroni
Arti Visive Contemporanee
Via Sant’Andrea 18, 51100 Pistoia (Tuscany – Italy)
Tel. 0573 371817 – Fax 0573 371838
Official Website: www.parmiggianiapistoia.it

Opening times:
Tuesday-Saturday 10.00-16.00
Sunday and holidays 12.00-16.00
Closed on Monday

Tickets:
€ 6.00 full price
€ 3.00 reduced price

Preparing for the Art Appraiser’s Exam

• Locate all items in advance of the appraiser’s arrival and make them accessible.
• Share pertinent records about when and where items were purchased, including their receipts. Receipts often have a painting’s title, which may or may not appear on the back of the frame or on an attached plaque. Art works without a title may be determined if the artist is still living. Unfortunately, some artist’s do not remember titles or record them in a permanent ledger. Not all art bears the date or dates it was completed. The date of the receipt could assist in dating the artwork. The goal is to create as complete a record about the artwork as possible. Don’t slow the process down or create an opportunity for the document to be less complete by holding back information.
• Allocate enough time for the appraiser to carry out the inspection and the photography. Appraiser’s typically need about 15 minutes an item for both activities. While the appraiser often enjoys visiting with clients, he or she must focus on the task at hand in order to not take additional time or overlook pertinent information.

Handcrafted Designer Jewelry – Precious Gifts With An Artist’s Touch

Receiving a gift of fine jewelry is always appreciated, but handcrafted designer jewelry is an unexpected delight.

Handcrafted designer jewelry is a gift that goes far beyond simply being precious metals and gems. It is something unique and special that reflects the unique and special place the receiver holds in your heart. There is no gift that has the power to move a woman like a rare and individual work of art that she can wear close to her heart.

Every piece of handcrafted designer jewelry can truly be called artist’s jewelry because each piece is individually designed and crafted by hand by a talented artist with a personal vision that he or she has brought to life in rare metals and precious gems.

Artist’s jewelry must pass the same standards of fine jewelry you can find in any major mall, but goes far beyond them in both quality and distinctiveness. When shopping for a gift of jewelry, you can give that special person a piece that she might see on another woman at any time, or you can give her something that has been created for no one else but her.

Handcrafted designer jewelry can be refined and elegant, with South Sea pearls and 14 carat gold or contemporary and edgy, made of unusual metals and set with rare stones you might not find anywhere else. Artist’s jewelry’s value is not found in the materials themselves, but in that indefinable something that speaks to the soul when an artist has captured a mood or a feeling and translated it to a piece of gorgeous wearable art.

Skilled craftsmanship combines with artistic sensibility to create one-of-a-kind artist’s jewelry that enhances the beauty of the wearer. Each piece will reflect not only the skill of the designer, but the impeccable taste of the wearer. As a gift, handcrafted designer jewelry sets apart both the giver and the receiver as truly memorable.

An artist’s jewelry can be so many things. A delicate tendril of vines twining around the throat, each leave hammered and finished by hand. A bold, hand-polished cabochon stone channel set in platinum to draw attention to an unforgettable hand. A sleek curve of etched metal that clasps a wrist. Or an intricate, unforgettable pair of elaborately carved earrings set with a stardust sprinkling of precious stones. The one thing handcrafted designer jewelry will never be is ordinary.

Fine jewelry has the power to move through its beauty and its feel. There is nothing quite like the feel of cool, precious metal against the skin. The rich, textural details of artist’s jewelry delight the touch as well as the eyes. So give your loved one a gift as daring and unforgettable as she is – handcrafted designer jewelry unlike anything she has ever seen or touched – much like you.

The Chihuahua Art Of George Rodrigue Blue Dog Comes Of Age

The Blue Dog by George Rodrigue is perhaps the most famous Chihuahua art in the world. Rodrigue was born in an area of French Louisiana known as the Acadiana. He was educated at Catholic schools before going to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The Chihuaha art “Blue Dog” first made its way into the American conscious in 1984.

The Chihuahua art of the Blue Dog is based on Rodrigue’s childhood pet, Tiffany.

The first Chihuahua art print “Watch Dog” was based on a familiar Cajun folk tale. The Loup-garou is a mythical werewolf that roams around places in Louisiana at night. Rodrigue recalls that he was told as a child to go to bed or else the loup-garou would get him. It is a “boogie man” story that became world art. The “Watch Dog” painting was set in a full moon landscape, which gave the dog the blue tint. Thus the iconic image was born.

The Chihuahua art “Blue Dog” would make its way back into several of Rodrigue’s prints including 1998’s “Hawaiian Blues” and “Sometimes I feel like a dog.

Rodrigue has painted several presidents including Ronald Reagan and George Bush Sr. He painted an Inagural portrait of Bill Clinton and Al Gore in 1997 called “Walking into the 21st Century” that featured the Chihuahua art icon Blue Dog.

Most recently, Rodrigue has been commissioned to paint Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and his wife Supiriya.

The Chihuahua art of George Rodrigue has spawned other political terms. For instance “Blue Dogs” are conservative Democrats, mostly from the Southern states where Rodrigue grew up.

After the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, Rodrigue stayed up all night to paint “God Bless America.” In this case, the familiar blue dog was white with red eyes and placed against the American flag. The normal “Blue Dog” features a blue dog with yellow eyes in a variety of settings. The painting raised half a million dollars for the Red Cross in the weeks after the attack.

He has also been involved in the relief effort after Hurricane Katrina destroyed his home city of New Orleans. The sale of specified Blue Dog prints raised $2.5 million for relief efforts.

The Blue Dog never shifts his expression. Rodrigue has never painted him with a smile. He is never complacent and never asleep. It is as if he is still looking for the answers in a complicated world. He reminds us of the things we cannot know but still search out.

Rodrigue is now a multi-millionaire because of the popular Blue Dog series. The original portraits often sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Limited series lithographs can command 5 figures. And, more ordinary folks can get the pictures in table books and calendars.

The 65 year old artist has also become the artist laureate of the state of Louisiana.

Rodrigue has encountered much success in his life as an artist, much of it due to the portrait of the Blue dog, true Chihuahua art.

Art Glass Paperweights

I have a shop that sells art glass. My favorite art glass is paperweights. I have a lot of fun attending art auctions and buying art glass. I try to pay attention to what my friends and clients like and dislike.

I usually give people art glass paperweights that I find at art auctions for milestone birthdays and anniversaries. My grandmother turned eighty last October and I found a wonderful art glass paperweight for her.

The art glass paperweight that I found for my grandmother was made by Baccarat. I was extremely lucky that this was one of the last things auctioned. A lot of people had already left the art auction when this item went on the block. My grandmother appreciated the pansy design because the pansy is her favorite flower.

My cousin loves frogs. She has managed to decorate her home tastefully with her favorite item. I have been on the lookout for an art glass paperweight for her for years. I finally found one at an art auction I was at last year. The art glass paperweight featured a frog sitting on a lily pad and the frog was surrounded by blue water. It was really pretty and my cousin started using it on her desk immediately.

My aunt collects art glass paperweights. I have been asked by her on numerous occasions to find pretty art glass paperweights for her while I’m attending art auctions. Of all of the pieces I’ve won for her over the years, one memory sticks out in my memory more than any other.

By far the prettiest art glass paperweight I’ve ever won at an art auction has to be one that features a blue and gold Macaw. Rick Ayotte was the artist that created it and it was even featured in a book of his work. He has created many lovely art glass paperweights.

I have an art glass paperweight in my shop that just won’t sell. It has been in the store the longest and I think I may have it priced too high. I won the paperweight at an art auction several years ago for one thousand dollars. The paperweight was created by Paul Stankard and it should have easily sold for twice what I paid for it.

I have no trouble at all selling art glass paperweights that were made by Rick Ayotte. His work seems to draw the most interest. I try to win any auction I find for art glass paperweights he made. I won one not long ago that was pink roses. They looked so delicate and sweet. I know that this art glass paperweight will sell quickly.

There have been some inquiries at my shop for art glass paperweights by Richard Marquis. I haven’t found any in any of the art auctions I’ve attended recently. I looked at some of the pieces he’s made and I’m not especially impressed.

I will keep looking for the art glass paperweights at the art auctions I attend, but I will not be going way out of my way to track them down. I will just remember that Marquis is an artist that some of my clients are really interested in. I’m sure that I will find an art auction with one of his pieces in it at some point.

There were some inquiries about nautical themed art glass paperweights a couple of years ago and I found a fantastic artist that made them. I buy every art glass paperweight I can find that was made by Rick Satava. My favorite has to be the coral orange jellyfish that I found at an art auction an hour from my home. It was really pretty.

The coral orange jellyfish art glass paperweight was just the first Rick Satava piece that I’ve found at various art auctions. I’ve also found jellyfish in ruby and blue. They are beautiful by themselves or when they are put onto a black light stand that has been built especially for them.

NOT Savvy Collecting

Original paintings by Renoir, Chagall, Picasso, Rembrandt and Mary Cassatt at a discount buying club??? Embarking more than 25 miles each way to experience possibly original prints by these artists, I figured the press release was probably only slightly errant. Almost no Rembrandt paintings in private hands are available for sale anywhere in the world, much less as part of a 3 day art trunk show at a discount buying club.
The named art dealer was from a seemingly swank Southern California locale. Some degree of suspicion results, as mention of this location is designed to trigger a certain poshness. There are reputable art businesses in this locale alongside those who consciously prey on the uninformed spontaneous art buyers. Other potential victim zones in the U.S. are Carmel, California; Honolulu, Hawaii and Scottsdale, Arizona. Travelers far away from the pressures of work, often in the company of a favorite companion, spend dollars with relative abandon. In short, they don’t comparison shop or do their homework.
There were paintings by an artist with a French last name, a relative no-name artist. The omission of this individual’s last name caused me to wonder. Didn’t the seller know his/her first name? Was the viewer to think “If I ask, he’ll think I don’t know who the really famous French artists are?”
The remaining golden opportunities consisted of original lithographs by Marc Chagall, unsigned meaning they were originally tipped into books. These have some value but are generally not rabidly pursued or priced so aggressively. The Rembrandt etchings were 19th century impressions. As Rembrandt lived and worked during the 17th century, his etching plates were frequently re-etched over the next two centuries, seriously altering the appearance of the resulting etchings. Practiced art buyers do not knock themselves out to acquire the later impressions, especially for the prices presented.
The Mary Cassatt etchings were replica etchings made in France from the original plates long after Mary died. The Louvre has a division that creates and sells posthumous prints from plates residing there. These typically sell for a few hundred dollars, not thousands as they were priced in the discount buying club.
In short, these opportunities were fool’s gold. Here are some tips that will help you avoid getting hurt:
If unsure about a purchase, ask for a photograph and description then hire a Fine Art appraiser to carry out research pronto!
To find a designated Fine Art appraiser, American Society of Appraisers’ website is www.appraisers.org.
No self control? Ask about their return policy and make sure your receipt includes artist’s name, title of work, date of work, medium, condition of art and frame and the price plus all the dealer’s contact information.
Remember, if it looks too good to be true it probably is.