Fine art~just how do you move it?

In our first unit, my husband and I found a painting.  I asked if he thought it was an original and he chuckled.  I planned on selling it for $20 at a yard sale.  I later brought in more items from the unit and discovered another painting from the same artist.  There was no way this one was reproduction, as it is an 'earth' painting that is very similar to a sand painting.

Hours of research and it appears that this artist had very few reproductions done.  I found one website that had a link for anybody wanting to sell art by this artist.  I filled out the query and within 2 minutes my phone rang.  I spoke with the grandson-in-law of the artist (she died in '06) and explained what I had.  He said "That's like finding a Stradivarius at a garage sale".  My heart skipped a beat.

Fast forward to today (3 months later) and I'm still sitting on the one painting (the other is too damaged to be worth much).  The main gallery I've been in contact with only wants it on consignment.  I want the cash.  On consignment it would go for approximately $15K gallery price (60/40 split), but I'd have to invest in reframing and shipping and blah....blah....blah.....

I did research locally and our market would only go about $3500 with a 50/50 split.  We had one broker show interest, but he insulted us with a $750 offer.

I've remained in contact with the gallery in Santa Fe (where the artist is from).  I've been told that if I craigslist it, it would be the kiss of death as far as galleries are concerned.  Auctions will not get me what I want out of it.

I hate the thought of driving to Santa Fe only to find it will need to be reframed and put on consignment and I'm out all that money (times are very tight right now for us) and have to wait however long to recoup.......

I've been mulling this one over for a while now and thought I'd see how others would handle it.
I'd love the 60% of 15K, but to be honest......I'd rather have $3500 now~
Anybody ever deal fine art on craigslist?

This is a good thread and I hope you find the answers you seek.

Art is always a tough sell for myself/area. Every piece I have ever had, I havent gotten anywhere close to true value.

I have never done so or re-searched how paintings do on there, but have you thought about ebay?

If you want $3500 and the gallery thinks they can make $15k, have you offered to sell it to them for, say, $4k with the as is frame?

The extra $500 would cover cost of packing/shipping/insuring and time.

If they honestly believe they can sell it for $15k, I don't see them refusing that unless they ONLY do consignments. You get the cash right away and they have enough margin to pay for a new frame and still make plenty on it.

Never hurts to make the offer.

Tried that.  He said "at this time" they only deal in consignment.  I have emailed so many galleries and there are very few willing to 'talk' with you.  It's been so frustrating and yet a very learning experience.  I told my husband when this first started that it would be like one of my favorite movie lines (from Eddie and the Cruisers)
"Guys like us......they strike oil in our garden and all we end up with is dead tomatoes"

I even tried the "well there is one gallery in Santa Fe that has shown interest....." to which I received a reply of "I assume you're talking about ****  *****.  Yeah he was here discussing it"   arghhhh!!!  They're all in it together! 

If you know anybody interested in an original Pablita Velarde.....let me know......

I'm hoping that my next unit or two allows me the luxury of simply hanging the painting here and telling all the galleries 'sorry, but she's mine.  All mine!'

Thanks for the replies. 

So I'm going out on a limb and guessing the gallery in question is Adobe Gallery??

I'm also guessing you've tried Golden Dawn?? They feature the family's work (3 generations) and I'd be shocked if they weren't interested.

If neither of these places will work with you, you may also try Santa Fe area auction houses and see what they have to say.

I really want to help you with this, cause I can only imagine how frustrating it must be to have something with that kind of value and not be able to liquidate it.

Oh boy.....just reversed.  You're not one of those that I've spoken with are you?  There may be more to this conspiracy thing than I thought~

Golden Dawn is the one that initially told me the 'value' of the painting and keeps insisting it would do best there.  Adobe Gallery 'might' be interested in an outright purchase, but I have to get it there and frankly.....I don't want to let it outta my sight.  I also asked Adobe for a 'street value' on the painting.  With much chagrin he said around $4000. 

I'm in Tucson and have always wanted to see the Santa Fe area, but finding the time (and babysitter) is another issue altogether.

Now on the off chance that you are Dan or Al....yes I still have her and yes I still want cash!

 

Let's just say it's amazing what you can find in 10 minutes on google. My name is Patrick, I'm in Texas and I've never had anything to do with the art world.

I just searched the artist's name and had all that info pretty quick.

I'll keep looking around and see if I can find more potential outlets.

I apologize if I start throwing out ideas you've already tried, but here are four galleries, all in Arizona and all specializing in western-themed fine art.

Hope this can get you somewhere. But beware... they might be part of the conspiracy, too   

trailsidegalleries.com
settlerswest.com/index.html
agalleryofdreams.com/index.html]
bighorngalleries.com/index.html

Hey Patrick~whew....glad to know you're not part of that group!

I've tried gallery after gallery after dealer after broker after.......
I really do believe I'm gonna have to make the trek to Santa Fe.  My husband chuckles as I sit here typing humming Do you know the way to Santa Fe......yes.....I know it's San Jose.....

I don't know why I'm worried about alienating galleries as they are not giving me what I want anyway.....just hate the idea of burning a bridge~

Thanks again for the help.  Gotta go now......I swear I just saw another black helicopter~

Well, as I can say is, GOOD LUCK!!!

And apparently tin-foil hats will block the brainscans from those choppers. 

update~just sent an ultimatum email to both the galleries involved stating that if either wants it we are willing to sell it outright for $3500.  If not, we'd be making it available to the public.  Within 5 minutes the phone rang and Golden Dawn says they want it, contingent on it's being as we represented.  It is.

Said they can't do anything until the first week in Dec., so we'll see......but it looks like playing hardball may have paid off!

Perhaps I should make a habit outta being the tough girl~

Well played, my friend... well played.

If they start jerking you around on the timeframe, just maintain the tough stance.

Congrats!!

Keep us updated

Well played, my friend... well played.

If they start jerking you around on the timeframe, just maintain the tough stance.

Congrats!!

Thanks!  I told my husband that if they offer him one cent less  to tell them he would call me and I'd put it on Santa Fe Craigslist titled "I am here with a Pablita Velarde TODAY only!"......that should nix any shenanigans~

I'll let ya know~

I feel kinda like Daryl......'I like the new me'...... 

" I feel kinda like Daryl "

and his comic books.... are you selling the painting for the frame or the pic? seems fishy to me its worth that much only in one state.
Also that it would be only worth the most in that states capitol. When the art that the capitol boast is centered to the north in the pueblo.

 If its a true piece of art it's value is what it is. not so much based on the town its in. If that were the case then please check big money overpriced the peoples republic of Cal. It should be worth 30k there in an L.A. gallery.

I understand the market and its customer base but the fact that it only holds value in one place is False if it is a true piece of value. seems to me the value lies in those who want to sell you a high priced frame only to let your million dollar paint by number set unsold intill you pick it up. if you are getting my drift.
and yes my grandmas's stuff is worth millions to me. and if you have it your are lucky. cause I wont talk bad about Family like that.
yea your in for a ride Enjoy intill you get an expert onboard your sure to come home with your pants on backwards. There are many upscale magazines that deal in this that would be my advise as to the best place to start and e-mail would only be to send a pic after a phone call.

There is a reason florida has 90% of the people that show up on criminal minds. N.M. well your about to get a lesson on it.