'Buyer Beware'!

How often do you find yourself lost for huge chunks of time, wandering through art listings on eBay and other auction sites?
It's part of my job to do just that: To stay aware of what's happening in the market, and to see what's for sale.
Sometimes the exercise is SOOOooo frustrating. I'm sure much of the work for sale that is incorrectly labeled is not intentional (at least I hope that's the case.)
But we want our collectors and fans of Pat Nagel, or any artist, to know what you're buying. Whether you buy from us or not, we think the art world is done a disservice when people are taken advantage of. You should be knowledgeable and well-informed, and ask questions!
We keep lots of information on our Nagel site for this reason. You should know the difference between an original work of art
and a print. You should know the difference between a lithograph and a serigraph; and whether one is photo-mechanically produced or hand-pulled. There's a lot to know, but it can be fun learning, and putting the knowledge to use when you go to make a purchase.
The point of this mini tirade is the amount of Nagel work that I see that is not only NOT legitimate work created with Pat's or his publisher's authority, but the prints are in copyright infringement, and are ILLEGAL.
Did you know that it is copyright LAW that an image can NOT be removed from a book (or calendar, etc.) and RESOLD, or copied and resold? In the extreme, you can even be held liable for purchasing such artwork, even if you didn't know enough to question buying it to begin with!@!
CAVEAT EMPTOR -- Buyer Beware!

Purchasing a 'damaged' work of art

Wed., July 22nd
Congratulations to our collector who just purchased the magnificent 'Gray Lady' AND the 'Michelle'! I think I'm almost as excited as he is. . .! As I mentioned before, there's much less sales activity on the low end of Pat's work, but collectors in a position to buy are taking advantage of some amazing values, and buying those rare prints that they have coveted for so long. Some of you might have been following this 'Gray Lady' print. It's story is interesting, so I wanted to pass it along to you.
When we evaluated this print we saw that it had some significant foxing in dense areas on the front and back sides of the uninked paper. Foxing is a deterioration or discoloration of the paper from moisture and other environmental influences. It is not uncommon, although usually not to the extent it had progressed on this print. There is a highly skilled group of art conservators who specialize in this type of repair. And on a rare print, or original painting, the cost is often very reasonable and will return the work of art to excellent condition (and its before-damage value.) Not only will the repair arrest the existing damage; it will stop any additional foxing from progressing, since the conservator treats the entire sheet of paper, front and back.
And that's exactly what the new collector has done. He purchased this very desirable print, at a reduced price because of its condition; and we have taken it to a highly qualified conservator for the repairs. It will take about 2 weeks for the work to be completed. I will post 'before' and 'after' pictures for everyone to see the 'magic' when it's done!

Getting back to blogging

Hello Friends and Nagel fans

  It turns out that the wonderful concept of 'Blogging' was much more appealing to Todd than to me. . .  So when life, in all it's glorious ups and downs fluttered through, I completely lost touch of our nascent enterprise!  PLEASE Forgive Me.   As anyone who knows me will attest: I'm never at a shortage for words, so this could turn out to be a leaky faucet you're never able to turn off!

  We are incredibly blessed and grateful that health issues that came up for both of us have

started to settle in to a routine and lifestyle that feels manageable, and I'm a lot more relaxed, clear-headed and motivated every day.  (So don't forget to find something small every day that makes you smile, or brings a smile to someone else. . .)

  And I'm looking forward to sharing Nagel news with all of you.

  What is it about the art market?!!  It always mirrors regular market trends, so this huge

slump in buying over the past 8 to 10 months isn't a big surprise.  But what I have found

notable is that the LOW end of the market disappeared.  Sales of Nagel Commemoratives and less expensive Signed-in-Screen prints evaporated.  We started receiving inquiries about hard-to-find and HIGH end artwork, and were flooded with calls and emails from folks who wanted to sell (or needed to sell) their collections.  This has had a great impact on the artwork we

have available to you, should you be looking.  Click on the link below to magically land on our home page, and see what artwork you 'can't live without' might be waiting: 

http://www.tbfa.com/nagel/index.nagel.html  

Blessings,  Mo B

'What Should I Collect?'

We receive at least 10 phone calls or emails every week from people who want to buy or sell a Patrick Nagel.  This is one confusing topic for people, because what is available is often misrepresented or mistakenly identified.  After the end of the 10-year lawsuit, in 1995, there were a good number of Pat's images that were reprinted or newly released, by his widow. Some are good quality serigraphs (probably not hand-pulled serigraphs) that she signed (called 'estate signed', meaning someone affiliated with the artist, but NOT the artist, has signed the print). Most were inexpensive off-set lithographic posters. 

To alleviate some of the confusion with potential sellers, I have them send us digital pictures of their art, and then I can assess what they actually have. 

As for our collectors, we are committed to offering only legitimate works of art for sale. We want you to be knowledgeable and informed when you're going to buy a work of art, whether it's $100.00 or $1000.00.  

Visit our site on Pat Nagel. (Click here:)  There's lots of interesting info about his work and career, lots of images to view, and an attempt on our part to help you to clarify what you might be considering buying.  

'Michelle' is one of the most sought-after images that Pat created. She is the ultimate example of Nagel's talent to combine striking composition, design, simplicity, elegance and allure . . . all in one work of art. Those magnificent eyes had wanna-be artists trying to copy them for years. . .

'Michelle' was released in Dec. of 1982. There was no unsigned state. Just 90 signed and numbered prints. She measures a substantial 41.75" x 36". I think the eyes explain the popularity of the posthumous Commemorative no. 2, 'Palm Springs Life'. She has the same mesmerizing eyes. . . There was a smaller poster version ('poster' refers to a work of art that has letters or typography) of this image. It was titled 'Galerie Michael', created for a beautiful gallery in Los Angeles, that hosted a big Nagel exhibition at the height of his career. That was one great show. It was advertised that Pat would be in the gallery to sign the signed-in-screen (unsigned) poster version of 'Michelle' the day after the show's opening. There was a line AROUND the entire outdoor CENTER that day of collectors who wanted Pat's signature on their print. He signed well over 200 posters. The image was cropped to a vertical format that some feel is even more compelling, even though its size is 18 x 25".

We have the large 'Michelle' for sale. The owner "just wants her to go to a good home, where she will be enjoyed"! Click here to see the full image:

ABOUT NAGEL: What's the market lately?

ABOUT NAGEL: What's the market lately?

There is no single answer to this question. . . the market for art is always volatile, and changes in the economy dramatically affect activity. 

Over 18 years, since the 1995 settlement of the lawsuit between Mirage Editions (Nagel's publisher), Playboy Magazine, and Jennifer Dumas (Pat's widow), sale of Pat's work has gone from hot to pariah - and everything in between - with no apparent rhyme or reason.

We do see a new group of collectors for Pat's work today.  Many who loved his work 20 years ago were in college, and had no way to buy what they loved.  Now they are able, and want to purchase a meaningful work by an artist they have admired for so long.  But they're savvy, and want a great value. . .

What's Sold Lately?

This great poster, 'Dyansen Special Edition',  just sold to a collector in Hawaii.  He was so delighted, he had it at the framer's within a day of receiving it!  This large (30" x 42.5") 9-color serigraph had some paper damage, and I've learned all sorts of cool things about paper conservation and repair from a talented conservator who is right in our neighborhood!

The 'Dyansen' was meticulously restored, and after 'Sprucing' (what the conservator called the light cleaning she did after the repairs) the print is beautiful!  To see the full image, click here:  

There is a smaller poster version of this image, titled 'Dyansen 57', (also a serigraph) which measures 18" x 25"; created in 1983.  It was named after the Dyansen gallery that was located on 57th St in NYC.

A 's-i-s'* version of this print sold this week and is on it's way to Aberdeen, Scotland!

* Signed-in-Screen' is a term that confuses everyone.  It refers to the artist's signature being printed at the time the print is created.  It is NOT hand-signed, so it is considered unsigned.