3 Different Outcomes with 3 Paintings by Same Artist, Same Auction

Scottsdale Art Auction, April 2, 2011

Tom Lovell Going Home 23" X 40"

3 paintings by Tom Lovell (1909-1997)

oil paintings similar in size

paintings in the same condition

all sold within 15 minutes of each other

Tom Lovell Lewis and Clark Keep Their Journals 20" height X 36" width — Tom Lovell Lewis and Clark Keep Their Journals 20" X 36"

Going Home was estimated to sell for between $75,000 – $100,000. Bidding hovered at $45,000.00 and did not rise beyond this figure.
Lewis and Clark Keep Their Journals was estimated $100,000 – $150,000. It sold for $220,000.00 plus 15% = $253,000.00
Bad Face Strategy estimated $125,000 – $175,000, sold for $325,000 plus 15% = $373,750.00.

Preferential subject matter drove the different outcomes in addition to the fact that Bad Face Strategy had been awarded the Gold Medal Award the year it was painted at the Cowboy Artists of America show. As a result, it became the cover image for the CA catalogue that year.

The Scottsdale Art Auction tends to attract buyers of “western or cowboy art”. These same buyers applaud with their checkbooks fine illustration referencing scenes in American history.

Going Home includes a horse in tow wearing a western saddle, but the scene conveys a sweet nostalgia with husband and wife in their horse-drawn wagon. It lacks the grit, so unavoidably found in Bad Face Strategy. Lewis and Clark Keep Their Journals exceeded expectations because the narrative is entirely overt, crossing into the realm of historical illustration. During the last five to ten years we have seen a significant increase in prices for the best-known American illustrators such as Norman Rockwell and N.C. Wyeth.

Corinne Cain of SavvyCollector.com

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