Oil Painting

[R Littleton]

Anyone know anything about oil painting? I have one of a landscape on canvas dated 1970 signed by the late Russell May. I just want to try and find out about what it may be worth.

[KYBOY]

You could probably check with the Russel May gallary in Prestonsburg by the Gravely shop. They could probably help you.

[R Littleton]

Here is the story. When Russell May passed away the Honda shop bought the art gallary to store bikes in. I was one of the crew they got to take the inside walls out. The painting was in a cardboard roll inside one of the walls with two prints, one winter print and a print of a log cabin. I dont know how they got there. I showed them to the men that got me to do the job and he said for me to take them home so I did. The wife took the two print's but the painting has not been framed. It is in real good shape to be 37 years old.

[MsgMills]

Look down in the lower corners and see if it is signed and if it has any numbers wrote on it as well. Like maybe an example would be 3/450 or 254/1600 this info will help the People you contact to determine a somewhat close value of the painting. I have about 20 pieces of Art that I have collected and my best is a painting by Thomas Rut, a 6/50 and this is truly a real nice painting. Good Luck and hope your's is worth a lot of $$$$$ as well.....

[KYBOY]

I didnt know the honda shop bought it out:p Shows how much I pay attention. Try a search on russel may. I saw some of his prints for sale on the net befor.

[trust me]

http://www.fayette-county.com/pricelist.html

Google is your friend.

[KYBOY]

His daughter runs this site.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.russellmay.com/images/tn-washday.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.russellmay.com/gallery.html&h=172&w=260&sz=16&hl=en&start=3&tbnid=G9jTtTmZict7PM:&tbnh=74&tbnw=112&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drussel%2Bmay%2Bart%2Bkentucky%26gbv%3 D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff

[buckfever]

http://www.fayette-county.com/pricelist.html

Google is your friend.

It sounds to me as though you have an original and not a print. I don't know that artist, but it appears as though his original works might be valuable.

As MSG asked, look to see if there is a print number. If you have an original signed oil painting with no print edition numbers (45/1000, etc.), the work is significantly more valuable that a lithograph or some other type of print. You should take steps to protect this asset. Get an art gallery to at least frame it to preserve it.

p.s. I don't know how much $ you and you ex had when you split, but it may have been wise to get these painting appraised before your divorce was finalized. Your ex-wife may have known/thought they were valuable and took them for that reason.

[R Littleton]

The oil painting is an original with no print numbers on it, just signed and dated 1970. Me and my wife have the two prints hanging in our home one is Mountain Shadows and the other is Moonglow

[buckfever]

Run a seach on google for "Russell May" original paintings, and you'll find some galleries that sell originals.

I took a quick look and saw one that was selling for $4500. At a minimum, you can compare it against your painting for size and quality to get a ball park.

[R Littleton]

Thank you Trust - me for your info. It looks like the two prints are worth $375.00, but I still dont know about the original painting.