9 Signs that Your Painting May be Worth Over $1,000
Do you have an old painting hanging on the wall? Does someone in your family have a painting they may think is valuable?
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While the odds of having a lost Van Gogh or Jackson Pollack painting are incredibly slim (although not impossible), you might still have a painting hanging around somewhere that could be worth some real money.
Previously, we talked about which items may be worth something in your home and paintings can be some of the most valuable because they are unique, one-of-a-kind.
Even though you may not be an art expert or a valuation specialist, you can still look for a few signs to see if that painting is worth something.
You can also transform your interior with new artwork. Explore our inspiring collection of fine art in one of our upcoming auctions.
1. A Notable Artist
Even though you love your kids, their first-grade drawing of the family isn’t worth anything at auction just yet. Not because the drawing was bad, but because they aren’t a renowned artist.
When you find out who the artist is, do some digging. The more notable the artist, the more likely your painting will be worth more money.
2. The Condition of the Painting
As with any antique or collector’s item, you have to start by looking at the condition. When it comes to paintings, their condition is incredibly important to their overall value.
Carefully inspect your painting for any cracking, tears, surface stains, or damage. Wear gloves in case it requires close inspection. Nothing could be worse than damaging your painting while inspecting!
Check out upcoming auctions to see other pieces similar to yours.
3. The Subject
Subject matter plays a big role in the value of the painting. Think about some of the most well-known paintings in the world, Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks, Georgia O’ Keeffe’s Flower paintings.
Does your painting have people in it or is it abstract? Perhaps it is a landscape painting or a seascape. Or is it a portrait of a famous person?
If the artist is well known for painting similar paintings to yours that could be a sign that the painting has value.
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Recently sold paintings that sold for over $1,000.
4. The Medium Used
While it’s not a blanket rule and depends on the artist, paintings typically painted with oils on canvas or board are going to have more value than those on paper.
How complex is the artwork? Depending on the artist, a fully completed painting is usually more valuable than a drawing or sketch.
Stay informed about the exciting and everchanging world of art and auctions.
5. The Painting’s Frame
We talked about the condition of the painting itself and now we need to talk about the frame. Some paintings are framed with a richly carved and gilded frame, while others look like something you might pick up at your local craft store. The frame could’ve been hand-made by the artist, if so then that will also contribute to the value of the artwork.
The rule of thumb is for the frame to match the time period of the painting. An original frame can go a long way in driving up the value.
6. The Size of the Painting
“Bigger is always better” might be true when it comes to a hamburger and has some truth in the art world. Size contributes to something people in the industry refer to as “wall power”.
Basically, does the painting surprise you? Does it draw you in? Do people stop and look at it when they enter the room?
Size can play a big role in this “wall power”.
7. The Colors Used
Colors have a way of playing with how we perceive things, and their use in paintings is no different. Red is the most emotive color in art. We've often seen that paintings with red in them have performed better at auction than other works. Generally speaking, paintings that have more red tend to sell higher.
Take a sneak peek at our upcoming auctions to see how much paintings can sell for.
8. Previous Owners
Has the painting been in your family for a long time? If not where did you get it from? It might be hard to find out who previously owned the painting but that can give you a good hint as to how much it might be worth.
If the painting has been in the same family for many generations, or if the painting was owned by an influential person or institution, you might be sitting on a nest egg.
9. Authenticity
The last thing we have on our list is the authenticity of the painting itself. Can you prove that the painting was done by the artist? Do you have any receipts? Look on the back of the painting, are there any labels or stickers from a gallery, or museum.
The real thing is always much more valuable than an imitation, no matter how great the imitation is.
If it turns out your painting might have a higher value than you thought... What next?
If your eyes grew wide when you inspected your painting and if a lot of these signs are true for your piece, you can find out the value (for free) online. We offer free virtual valuations and we will let you know the estimated value of the artwork at auction. From there, it’s your choice whether or not you’d like to sell it at one of our upcoming online auctions. If you’re lucky, you might even make more than the estimated value!
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HAROLD NEWTON, (AMERICAN, 1934-1994) - BEACH SCENE
Estimate: $20,000 - 40,000
SOLD $20,000
CORNEILLE , GUILLAUME CORNELIS VAN BEVERLOO, (DUTCH, 1922-2010) - ECLOSION I 1957
Estimate: $20,000 - 30,000
SOLD $28,000
JOHANNES REEKERS,JUN, (NETHERLANDS, 1824-1895) - STILL LIFE, 1852
Estimate: $1,500 - 2,500
SOLD $1,000
SCOTT MILLER, (AMERICAN, 1955-2008) - SELF PORTRAIT, 1986
Estimate: $1,500 - $2,000
SOLD $3,400
CONSTANTIN KLUGE, (CZECH, 1912-2003) - A BRIDGE OVER THE RIVER SEINE IN PARIS
Estimate: $2,000 - $4,000
SOLD $5,500
ELIZABETH NOURSE, (AMERICAN, 1859-1938) - FLORAL STILL LIFE
Estimate: $1,500 - $2,500
SOLD $3,000