WHY THEY’RE HOT There is a new
appreciation for art in the collecting world—
specifi cally, a demand for large oil paintings
that stamp your rooms with original personality.
“We see people fl ocking to large, unframed
paintings that are graphic and make a
statement,” says Cyndi Garofalo, owner of Goat
Hill Fair in Santa Cruz County, California. “Old
pastorals and portraits are the most popular,
and collectors don’t mind if they are cracked,
worn, and even torn.” This seasoned dealer
hangs the category’s popularity on a broader
decorating trend. “It really goes hand in hand
with the cleaner farmhouse look,” she says.
“Anything to do with farm animals or country
settings sells.”
HINT To determine a painting’s age, act like an
art appraiser: Flip over the artwork and check
out the canvas. Canvases from the 1800s are
usually dark and have an open weave; those
from the 1900s are beige with a tight weave.
Pieces post-1940s are painted on smooth,
bright white canvases.
COST Oil paintings from the 19th century
typically command between $100 and $500
depending on the quality of the work and frame.
Those painted after 1900 are a deal at less than
$100, especially if they are unframed and
showing some wear. The price will depend on
provenance and condition. But the value of
fi nding art you truly love? Priceless.