Frequently Asked Questions
Q. I have a picture it was owned by a family member, does it have any value?
A. You need to know if it is a print or oil painting.
Q. How to know when you have a print, not a oil painting:
A. Prints - Years ago we sold inexpensive mostly small prints that had a clear acrylic coating with some texture. Most were small images. These can be easily identified by looking on the back, if there is a label with a printed tag with a title, this indicates this is a print.
Original oil paintings either have large handwritten title & the artist's signature or nothing. Most oils were on masonite, a brownish board with a screen like texture. Older - early originals 1950's and 1960’s, the back was brown - not painted. Most 1970's until now, oils had the back primed (painted white) & the title & my signature hand written on the back.
About Prints and their value
The inks (colours) used in the prints were not stable & the colours faded. If you have a print that is faded, it is mostly a pale soft blue colour.
Values - many older & framed prints end up at church sales & sell for about $10 to 15 dollars each.
"For me, painting is a lifelong adventure. I hope my art inspires an appreciation for my favourite places--heritage scenes from Canada and the World"
James Keirstead