Fine Art
Selling Fine Art in Southern California
I Buy It buys signed original oils and works on paper, including Western American and Taos Society artists, California plein air and Impressionist painters, and Charleston Renaissance work. The single biggest factor in value is the artist — a clear, verified signature by a recognized name with an established auction record drives nearly everything else.
What we buy
- Signed original oil paintings by recognized artists
- Western American art, including Taos Society of Artists members
- California plein air and Impressionist paintings
- Charleston Renaissance paintings
- American works on paper and etchings
Past results include Eanger Irving Couse, Indian by Stream (oil on canvas), sold for $100,000 in 2019, and an Alfred Hutty street scene oil painting, sold for $42,000 in 2022. See recent results.
How to tell if it’s valuable
- It is a signed original oil by a recognized artist with an established secondary market. An Eanger Irving Couse oil, Indian by Stream, sold for $100,000 in 2019.
- The subject is strongly Western or Native American and the signature is clear. A clear signature and documented provenance make the work easier to evaluate.
- The reverse carries exhibition or gallery labels. Provenance supports both authenticity and marketability.
- The surface reads as an original oil on canvas, not a print or a board reproduction.
How to identify it
- Signature. Check the lower right or lower left of the canvas. Look for a form that matches known versions of the artist’s name — for example, “E.I. Couse” or “E.I. Couse N.A.”
- Reverse. Check the stretcher bars and the frame back for gallery labels, exhibition labels, inventory numbers, and stamps.
- Surface and support. Look at the paint surface and the canvas edges. Original oil with natural craquelure is preferred over board or a printed image.
- Stamps. Note any foundry or atelier stamps if present.
What usually isn’t valuable
- Unsigned decorative prints, posters, and mass-produced reproductions usually have limited resale demand. The frame may be the most marketable part.
- Paintings that have been heavily overpainted, or that carry undocumented restoration. Both reduce auction and buyer interest.
- Ordinary household decorative art is outside what we buy.
How to photograph it for an evaluation
- Full front view, square to the canvas, in even light
- Close-up of the signature
- Reverse of the canvas, including stretcher bars and construction
- Reverse of the frame, including any labels or stamps
- One overall shot with something for scale
- Close-ups of any condition issues, tears, repairs, or verso inscriptions
Common questions
How much is my signed painting worth?
It depends almost entirely on who signed it and whether the work can be supported by provenance. Send a photo of the signature along with the full front view and we’ll tell you what we see.
Do the labels on the back matter?
Yes. Exhibition and gallery labels on the reverse help establish provenance, which supports authenticity and makes a painting easier to sell.
Is a print worth anything?
Unsigned decorative prints, posters, and mass-produced reproductions usually have limited resale demand. Original etchings and American works on paper are different — we do buy those.
My painting was restored. Does that hurt it?
Heavy overpainting and undocumented restoration reduce collector and auction interest. Documented, conservative restoration is a different situation, so tell us what you know.
What kinds of art are you interested in?
We are interested in signed Western American, Taos Society, California plein air, Charleston Renaissance, and American works on paper, especially when the artist, signature, and provenance can be documented.
Related: Antiques
Send photos through the form on our site, by email, or by text. We respond within 24 hours. We serve Southern California: Orange County, Los Angeles County, San Diego County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County.
Have a painting?
Send photos of the front, the signature, and the back.