Gorgeous Wildlife Art by Award-Winning Artists this Holiday Season

Winter's Beauty by John Bye Original Painting Acrylic on Canvas 31.8 x 47.5

Work in progress on John's easel

Grizzly Bear by Bonnie Marris Original Oil Painting 12 x 9 miniature--Great Holiday Gift!

Canyon Creek Cougar by John Seerey-Lester Original Painting 24 x 36

Rosie the Cat by Susan von Borstel Original Painting Oil on Marble 16 x 16--Another great gift idea!

Rufous Hummingbird and Mountain Hemlock by the late Stephen Lyman Original Painting Acrylic 4.5 x 10

This Holiday season we have some wonderful paintings available including wildlife art by Bonnie Marris, John Seerey-Lester, Susan von Borstel, Stephen Lyman, and more award-winning artists.

We are also introducing "HD (high-definition) paintings by UK artist John Bye. John's amazing ability to paint with realistic detail is something to behold. Although many people ask if they are photographs, they are in fact painted by hand.

Collectors will be seeing John's work coming up in major art magazines, and J Watson Fine Art is the exclusive representative for US and Canadian collectors for this talented artist.

You can browse more great paintings on the Wildlife Art exhibit on our website. Call us at 661 476-7558 or e-mail us at info@jwatsonfineart.com to request a quote or for more information on any of these original paintings.

Happy Holidays!

Celebrating Pino Art on his Birthday, November 8th.

In the Garden, Pino Original Painting

Daydream by Pino Daeni

A Place in My Heart

Tomorrow (November 8th) is the birthday of Pino Daeni, one of my favorite artists, so I wanted to take a minute to celebrate his life and art.

I have talked to many collectors who love his paintings. Pino collectors tend to be quite passionate about his art. His beautiful scenes of mothers and children have brought smiles to countless viewers.

His paintings of sensual women remind us of the beauty of women and renew an appreciation of them in our busy lives.

Pino was a prolific painter. He was inspired to paint and said that the women came to him in his sleep to be painted. The joy and beauty Pino created continues through his art.

For Pino's birthday, we will offer a complementary copy of the hard-cover coffee table book of Pino art (retail $100) with any purchase of Pino artwork. 

You can browse more Pino art at the Pino Daeni exhibit at the J Watson Fine Art website.Contact the gallery at 661 476-7558 or e-mail info@jwatsonfineart.com for more information about Pino originals or limited edition giclees.

Morgan Weistling Master of the American West Artist

End of Harvest by Morgan Weistling--New Painting 2012

Country Schoolhouse by Morgan Weistling

Apple Girl by Morgan Weistling

Pepper  a  Morgan Weislting Original Painting  20 x 15

Morgan Weistling is one of the top Masters of the American West artists at the Autry Museum. He has won many awards including the Prix de West and the Patron's Choice Award at the Autry.

His paintings of the Old West are beautiful and show great character.

 Morgan's paintings are so popular that the smaller paintings are often sold by "draw" with many collectors submitting their names in hopes of being the one drawn to be able to purchase the painting.

At J Watson Fine Art, we are very good at finding the hard to find, and have the rare Morgan Weislting original painting, Pepper, available for a direct sale without a draw. This beautiful painting would be an excellent addition to any art collection.

Contact J Watson Fine Art for more information or to add a Morgan Weistling original painting or rare sold-out at publisher Artist Proof giclée canvas to your art collection, at 661 476-7558 or e-mail info@jwatsonfineart.com.

You can also read more about Morgan Weistling and view more of his art by visiting the Morgan Weislting exhibit on our website.

Newly Available Antoine Blanchard Paintings--J Watson Fine Art

Boulevard De La Madeleine Paris 1900 by Antoine Blanchard

Bouldevard De La Madeleine Paris 1900 Back

Certificate of Authenticity from A. Larde

Four beautiful Antoine Blanchard paintings of Paris just became available through J Watson Fine Art.

Inspired by Edouard Cortes, who also influenced American impressionist G. Harvey, Antoine Blanchard was one of the most famous  School of Paris painters.

Boulevard De La Madeleine Paris 1900 has great color, movement and light

All of these paintings are of excellent quality and all of them have Certificates of Authenticity from A. Larde. They are signed front and back.

It is important to have good authentication when acquiring an Antoine Blanchard painting for your art collection, as there are many copies on the market.

Antoine Blacnhard's original paintings are beautiful and classic and would make an excellent addition to an art collection. 

To view more photos of Blanchard artwork visit the Antoine Blanchard exhibit at J Watson Fine Art.

Serge Marshennikov Beautiful Realist Figure Paintings

New Painting 31 x 31 by Serge Marshennikov

Russian Artist Serge Marshennikov has a true gift. His paintings of beautiful women have amazing realism, yet he maintains a painterly style.

His paintings have the feel of the old-world masters with a classic elegance and tone, along with contemporary aspects to the models and features.

Not surprisingly, collectors have been avidly acquiring his new paintings, and they have been selling very quickly,

We have been fortunate to be able to help collectors add original paintings by Serge Marshennikov to their art collections.

Serge was born in the USSR in 1971 and graduated from the  Repin Academy of Fine Art in St. Petersberg, Russia.

Read more about Serge Marshennikov at the J Watson Fine Art website.

Contact J Watson Fine Art for more information about Serge Marshennikov art at 661 476-7558 or e-mail info@jwatsonfineart.com.

Highlights and Sales Results--Couer d' Alene Western Art Auction 2012

Shirt Worn by Chief Joseph Sold for 877,500 at Auction

Scout's Report by Howard Terpning Sold for 977,000 at Auction

A Life of Cultivation by Scott Tallman Powers--Winner of the Collector's Choice Award

The 2012 Couer d'Alene auction realized total sales of over 17.4 Million  up from last year's 16.9 Million.

Top sales prices included Howard Terpning's "Scout's Report" which sold for 977,000, Frank Tenney-Johnson's "Cowboys Roping the Bear" which sold for 921,000, and a shirt worn by Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce tribe (and documented in the earliest known photo of him and a painting that hangs in the Smithsonian and was used for a U.S. postage stamp), which sold for 877,500.

Although there were many sales (90% of all lots sold),  and overall sales were up over last year, we didn't see the way over estimates sales on Terpning paintings that we did at the last big auction in Scottsdale. Can't complain about the almost 1 Million hammer price on "Scout's Report", though.

There were many wonderful paintings, and some very good buys to be had. One of my collectors walked away with a painting well below what he was prepared to pay for it.

Auctions are a funny thing.--sometimes there are two or more collectors who want the same painting and prices can go wild, other times if collectors intent on buying paintings by a particular artist don't attend, or buy something else during the auction, and use up their art budget, you may find a treasure for less than you would expect.
 
The Collector's Choice Award for the 2012 event went to Scott Tallman Powers for his new painting "A Life of Cultivation", which sold for 22,230..

Pino Daeni Original Painting Maternal Instincts (Version 2)--Famous Paintings with Multiple Versions

Maternal Instincts Original Painting by Pino Daeni

Artist Pino Daeni originals are prized by collectors, and Maternal Instincts is one of his more iconic paintings.. A version of the Pino original painting Maternal Instincts just became available. It has the mother in a lavender dress and the daughter in a teal dress. Another version of Maternal Instincts by Pino (which was also made into a limited edition art print) has the mother in a deep purple dress and the daughter in a burgundy wine dress, and has a deeper background as well.

Many famous artists throughout history have painted multiple version of paintings, including DaVinci, Monet, Van Gogh, and Munch.

A version of Edvard Munch's The Scream made the news this year when it sold at Sotheby's auction house for just under 120 Million, breaking auction records. There are four versions of The Scream. The other three are in museums in Norway.

Rouen Cathedral by Claude Monet

 Between 1892 and 1894, impressionist Claude Monet painted a series of 31 paintings of the Rouen Cathedral with different light and atmospheric occurrences, such as clouds and fog, and from different perspectives. The paintings were well received, and a commercial success at the time. One of the Cathedral paintings was sold at auction in 2000 for over 24 Million. Two of the paintings are in the National Gallery of Art in Washington  DC, there are others in museums throughout the world.

Without Borders by Peter Max

Of course, there are famous examples  in modern or "pop art" as well, with Andy Warhol and Peter Max. Sometimes multiple versions of a painting would be displayed together as one montage, but there are also versions of paintings that stand alone.

With multiple versions of original paintings, each painting is a unique one of a kind painted by the artist's hand, and not a reproduction like a limited edition print or giclee canvas.

For more information on Pino Daeni art or to request a quote on Maternal Instincts,  visit the Pino art exhibit. or contact us at 661 476-7558 or info@jwatsonfineart.com.

Moms in Art--5 Great Paintings of Mothers and Children

Mother Berthe Holding her Baby by Mary Stevenson Cassatt (1864-1914)

Moms have been portrayed in art through history. In addition to paintings by earlier masters like Mary Stevenson Cassatt, there are some great paintings of mothers by contemporary master artists like Pino, Steve Hanks, Morgan Weistling, and I thought I would share some great art that honors Mom with you.

A Place in My Heart by Pino Daeni

Italian artist, Pino Daeni (1939-2010) was raised by women alone during the war, and his appreciation for mothers shows in many of his paintings.

A Place in My Heart reminds us of the joy of being a mom at the end of a long day.

Pino started his career as a book cover illustrator for many of the top publishing companies and then moved into fine art. His beautiful paintings and limited edition prints on canvas are highly collectible.

Maternal Instincts by Pino Daeni

In Maternal Instincts, Pino portrays the fierce protective nature of moms, like a mother lion for her cub.

The emotion comes through in this painting, which was also made into a limited edition.

Another great painting of a mom in art is "A Mother's Warmth" by
watercolor artist Steve Hanks.

Steve was an oil painter for many years and then developed an allergy to the paints, but he didn't let that stop him in pursuing his passion for art. He developed techniques of layering watercolor to produce realistic skin tones and objects that rival those in oil paintings.

A Mother's Warmth by Steve Hanks

The scenes in Steve's paintings often have a relaxed and "laid back" feel about them.

He paints nudes, but also fully clothed people and often shows them by the water.

Artist Morgan Weistling pays tribute to a mom's patience in his painting" A Helping Hand".

A Helping Hand by Morgan Weistling

This mom in the Old West works on her project with her helper close by her side.

Morgan is one of the Masters of the American West at the Autry Museum, and his new paintings are in great demand. Many of them are of women or children.

A Helping Hand was made into a limited edition print on canvas as well.

I hope you have enjoyed this celebration of mothers in art. 

J Watson Fine Art offers beautiful original paintings and select limited editions by award-winning artists in Western Art, Romantic Art and Impressionist landscapes and street scenes. Contact us at 661 476-7558 or e-mail info@jwatsonfienart.com or visit www.jwatsonfineart.com for assistance with your art collection.

Western Art at the Couer d'Alene Art Auction 2012

The Sutter Creek Stage (1932) by Frank Tenney Johnson (1874-1939)

The Couer d'Alene Art Auction is coming up Saturday July 21st, with an artwork preview and party on Friday, July 20th at the Silver Legacy Resort  in Reno, Nevada.

Heralded as the biggest Western art auction by the Wall Street Journal, the Couer d'Alene auction offers some wonderful art treasures for Western art collectors and dealers.

This year some of the highlights include art by deceased artists such as Albert Bierstadt,  Frank Tenney Johnson, Charles M. Russell and Frederic Remington, as well as living masters Howard Terpning, G. Harvey, Morgan Wiestling, and Mian Situ, just to name a few.

Most of the artwork comes to auction from museum or private collections, but there are also some new paintings created just for the auction by some of today's top Western and wildlife artists.by invitation only.

At the recent Scottsdale Art Auction in March of 2012,  many Howard Terpning paintings exceeded auction estimates dramatically. Captured Ponies had an estimate of 400-600K and ended up selling for over 1.9 Million, and Mystic Power of the War Shield had an estimate of 600-900K and sold for over 1.7 Million, which were the two top lots in the auction. It will be interesting to see what happens with the Terpning paintings at the Couer d' Alene this year.

The Autry Museum just hosted an exhibition about Howard, who is now in his 80's with more than 80 of his original paintings on display. A new book of his art,  Terpning: Tribute to the Plains People ,was recently released.

Not all of the art is at the seven figure range at the Couer d'Alene auction, however. There are lots with low estimates starting from a few thousand up to the strong six figures.

You can  preview the art that will be at the Couer d'Alene Auction here. If you can't attend you can place a proxy bid, or if you would prefer to have an art dealer take care of the process, J Watson Fine Art offers bidding assistance for our collectors. You may contact us at 661 476-7558 or e-mail us at info@jwatsonfineart.com  for more information.

G. Harvey Art--Celebrating America this 4th of July 2012

Dreams of a Nation by G. Harvey

Cowhands of the West by G. harvey

An Evening with the President

G. Harvey art celebrates the spirit of America--what we have accomplished, and the challenges we have faced. So, it is a fitting tribute for this 4th of July to present some wonderful works of art by this beloved painter of America.

The 4th of July reminds us of the freedoms we enjoy and how lucky we are here and gives us a new appreciation of those who have paved the way for us.

Wishing all the Fine Art Collector blog visitors a Happy 4th of July this year!

View more G. Harvey art.

Steve Hanks Art--Watercolor Paintings with Amazing Detail

Canadian Beauty by Steve Hanks

A Mother's Warmth by Steve Hanks

Summer Rain by Steve Hanks

Steve Hanks paintings make collectors stop and ask--How does he do it?

His watercolor paintings have the detail and realism normally reserved for oil paintings or acrylics. His skill was born out of necessity. Steve was an oil painter for 15 years and then developed allergies to the paint in the 1980's. With practice (and OK--a true gift), Steve perfected his use of watercolor paints to be able to create the beautiful paintings he is famous for.

His subjects are varied, but  most often sensual women, or children. He strives to show the emotion and thoughtfulness of his subjects and the innocence of children through his work. I find that many of his paintings capture the relaxing times and moments we can all appreciate.

Steve has won many awards for his artwork, and was an invited participant in the 2012 Prix de West show at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.

Enjoy this video of Steve being interviewed on Alberta's CTV:

J Watson Fine Art is pleased to offer Steve Hanks original paintings as well as select Steve Hanks Artist Proof limited editions from the artist's personal collection. Contact us at 661 476-7558 or e-mail info@jwatsonfineart.com or visit the Steve Hanks Art exhibit on our website for more information.

Commission a Painting by a Famous Artist--Advantages and Disadvantages

A commissioned painting by a famous artist is an option you may want to explore. If you have the means to do so, and an art dealer with the right connections, a commissioned painting can provide an opportunity of a lifetime.

Some of the benefits of commissioning a painting are:

* Interaction with the artist
Your art dealer can forward e-mail communication back and forth between the artist and you,
or in some cases the artist will speak with you on the phone.

*An insight into the creative process
With a commissioned painting, you may get a behind the scenes look at original sketch work, photos of the
painting in progress, and thoughts about the painting from the artist.

*Getting the composition and size painting you have in mind made to order
If you are looking for a particular subject matter in a particular size, rather than searching for that piece, you can simply specify your desires and presto--that is what you will receive.

It is important to realize however, that you will have to defer to the creative vision of the artist, and allow them to paint their interpretation of the subject. If there are factors that are very important to you, make sure your art dealer communicates them clearly to the artist on your behalf, or better yet, write them out and have the dealer forward your thoughts to the artist so everyone is on the same page at the start of the project.

*A Way to "Catch the one that got away" (almost)
If there was a painting you loved that already sold, you can ask the artist to do a variation on the same theme. While each painting will be a unique one-of-a-kind (and should be), the artist may be willing to do a painting with a similar setting, subject or color scheme for you.

*The ability to memorialize yourself or a loved one
It is much more involved to create a commissioned painting of a particular person or pet,  and not all artists will do them, but some famous artists will. For example,  Pino Daeni was kind enough to do this while he was alive, and he was a master artist. Several of our other artists will do this as well. A painting of a loved one or pet can hold great sentimental value in addition to being a beautiful work of art.

On the "down side", you won't see the painting first before committing to the project, so you should know the artist's work well enough to know that if the painting meets that artist's standards you will most likely be happy with the outcome.

Generally a deposit of 1/2 the cost of the painting is required for the artist to begin a commissioned painting, and the other half is due upon completion, which protects all parties involved.

Another "down side" is you will have to wait for the painting, and the time frame can vary, depending on the artist's schedule and the amount of time it takes them to create your painting, so it is not instant gratification, but being part of the process, and the other advantages mentioned can make up for this.

There may also be a premium over the cost of the artist's finished works of the same size, depending on the artist and art dealer. There is a lot more work involved for the artist and the art dealer in creating and arranging a commissioned painting, rather than the sale of a finished piece of art, but it can be a way to help a collector acquire the right "fit" for their art collection that they will enjoy for many years.

J Watson Fine Art can arrange commissioned paintings by several famous and award-winning artists. Contact us at 661 476-7558 or e-mail info@jwatsonfineart.com or contact us through our website to discuss commissioning a painting, or for assistance with adding other beautiful art to your art collection.
.

Pino Original Paintings--2 Newly Available, 7 Just Sold

Lazy Afternoon by Pino Daeni (AKA Pino Dangelico)

Alone II by Pino Daeni (AKA Pino Dangelico)

Two Pino originals are newly available, but seven of his originals including some I posted about recently just sold. Pino Art is loved by collectors world-wide, and these went very quickly.

It is rare to find a classic Pino woman reclining composition in a smaller painting,  but we are fortunate to have one. Lazy Afternoon is a Pino original 12 x 18 with beautiful deep colors.

The other Pino original, Alone II, is unusual in that the model he chose for this painting has red hair.  Alone II is a 40 x 30. Both paintings are part of a prominent collection and have strong history.

Contact J Watson Fine Art if you would like assistance with adding Pino Art to your art collection. We are authorized Pino art dealers and love Pino art, too! We are also accepting consignments of Pino original paintings, so let us know if you have a Pino original you would like to sell.

We can be reached at 661 476-7558 or you can e-mail us at 661 476-7558. You can view more Pino art on our website, although there are some paintings that are not on the website and we can e-mail photos if you are interested. Be sure to sign up for our mailing list if you want to be among the first to know about newly available art.

Mian Situ Art--Master of the American West Artist

Lakota Spirit 20 x 16 Mian Situ Original Painting 

Lakota Girl 16 x 12 Mian Situ Original Painting

Point Alones Fishing Village, Monterey California 1875 by Mian Situ

 Golden Spike Ceremony by Mian Situ

These two Mian Situ paintings, Lakota Girl and Lakota Spirit, offer the opportunity to acquire original art by this talented artist whose art is part of the permanent collection of the Autry Museum.

Mian Situ was born in Southern China, and lived in Canada for ten years before immigrating to the United States. He is one of the top contemporary artists in Western Art.

Mian has won many awards including the Masters of the American West Purchase Award for Convergence of Cultures, (this painting was added to the Autry National Center’s permanent collection), at the 2009 Masters of the American West Fine Art Exhibition and Sale. He also won the Gene Autry Memorial Award at the 2008, 2009, and 2010 Masters Show.

He has been featured in many art magazines including Art of the West, Southwest Art, and Western Art Collector among others.

His large painting at the 2011 Master's show, Point Alones Fishing Village, Monterey, California, 1875, oil on canvas, 48 x 72 in. sold for $171,000.

The two smaller paintings are affordable treasures that would make a great addition to any Western art collection. Mian's paintings are often only available by draw for the winning collector whose name is selected from all the entries in the draw, so this is a great opportunity for an outright acquisition, without having to wait for a winning draw.

Both wonderful portraits showcase the artist's skill and the quality artwork of this Master of the American West artist.

Contact J Watson Fine Art at 661 476-7559 or e-mail info@jwatsonfineart.com, or visit the Mian Situ exhibit on our website for more information about Mian Situ art.

Have You Run Out of Wall Space for Your Art?

Pino Art at Manya Jewelers from J Watson Fine Art

Many enthusiastic art collectors have told me they have "run out of wall space" and are considering adding on to their homes just for their art. There are a few alternatives.

One alternative is to consider displaying part of your art collection at your place of business. Beautiful artwork can inspire creativity, and it can also help to attract customers and great employees.

I recently put a Pino painting in a jewelry store that had a white, orange and purple color scheme. The Pino Art complemented the color scheme beautifully, and it will bring attention (and customers) to the store. Many people have commented on the painting already. Manya Jewelers has beautiful custom jewelry by the way. Check them out if you are ever in Valencia, California.

 Another option is to temporarily donate some of your artwork to your favorite charity to exhibit. They can use it to decorate their regular space, or they might want to set up a special event for the exhibit and use it to help with a fundraiser.

A permanent gift of art to your favorite charity or to a museum is another philanthropic activity that can help you make room in your home for artwork, and that would provide a tax benefit for you as well.

There is also art storage. If you decide to put some of your artwork in storage, make sure that it is protected well, and that you have climate-controlled storage. If you are going to put your artwork in storage outside of your home, research art storage. There are places that specialize in fine art storage, so Google for one closest to you. Personally, I would prefer that fine art is on display somewhere being enjoyed, rather than in storage.

If there are paintings you really want to add to your art collection, and you don't have available wall space, you might also consider selling some of your previous art acquisitions to make room for the new ones. Contact a reputable dealer and get an estimate of value and discuss the possibility of a resale. We accept original fine art on consignment from select artists, such as G. Harvey, Pino, Antoine Blanchard, Morgan Weistling, Carl Brenders, and others, and help collectors market their artwork and broker the sale discreetly.

Of course, if you want to add on to your home, go right ahead. An "Art wing" would be lovely. Give us a call--we would be happy to help you find the artwork you want for the new addition. We have happy collectors throughout the US and Internationally, and can ship art to you crated and insured. J Watson Fine Art can be reached at 661 476-7558 or e-mail info@jwatsonfineart.com or visit our website at www.jwatsonfineart.com

G. Harvey Original Paintings & Rare Sold-Out Limited Editions in Mint Condition Now Available

Discussing the Fare by G. Harvey

Flower Market by G. Harvey

Cowboy's Payday by G. Harvey

Saturday Night Contract by G. Harvey

G. Harvey original paintings and rare sold-out at publisher limited editions can be hard to come by. We are fortunate to be able to offer several G. Harvey original paintings, and  now some G. Harvey limited edition art that was put away for posterity and sold out at the publisher years ago, has just become available to us.  

Flower Market serigraph is one of those rare G. Harvey pieces that collectors love. We have one in mint condition stored in the original folder with certificate for many years.

G Harvey is a brilliant American Impressionist who is known for his charming and nostalgic turn-of-the century street scenes and his wonderful Western paintings depicting cowboy life. He was honored with a one-man show at the Smithsonian, and his art is collected by Presidents, captains of industry, and art collectors world-wide.

View more G. Harvey art on the G. Harvey exhibit on our website, or call us at 661 476-7558 or e-mail info@jwatsonfineart.com for more information or to request a quote on any G. Harvey original painting or G. Harvey limited edition.