I get called all the time about the value of a piece of art.

Remember a few years back when a guy bought a little painting for a couple of bucks at a garage sale, and it turned out to be Vincent Van Gogh worth millions. Ah, that “brass ring” – everyone’s dream. That happen-stance that brings us fortune.

I remember an old Dick Van Dyke show where Rob took an art class. An art critic and dealer saw his first painting and went crazy. They offered him thousands for it. Things just don’t happen that way in real life.

Even the old adage that an artist isn’t worth anything until he or she is dead isn’t necessarily true. Sorry folks. There is some “deceased artist value.” The “big boys” who are already big – just get bigger, like DeKooning, Warhol and Picasso.

Getting back to appraising the value of art. The most common appraisal request is for family or inherited art pieces. Remember Aunt Martha always having that framed painting in the hall? She said her mother gave it to her. Now the painting has been passed down to you. Maybe it doesn’t fit your décor, you can’t stand it, or you want an insurance value. You think it might be worth a bundle and could use the cash.

Where do you begin? First realize that most framed pieces under glass are prints. Prints have less value than originals. “Original” means that there is just “one.” It is the product of the artist applying materials to a surface like paper or canvas. A “print” is a reproduction made by transferring an image from one surface to another. A print reproduction from the original can be made through the process of digital transfer or the printing lithograph method. The end product (the print) is less valuable than if the artist personally created the transfer plate such as on the computer screen or etching on a copper plate.

Upon initial examination do not take the art and framing apart. With a magnifying glass look at the image. If you see tiny dots, it is a lithograph print like a color page in a magazine. It would probably be of little value. Then take it apart if you wish. It will have value if it is artist signed separately from the printing. It will have even more value if it is signed and numbered. This means it is a limited edition. Only so many are available. It will look like this: 15/400, which means it is the fifteenth print out of a total of 400.

If you have a signed original, a signed print or a print that is very old, look up the artist’s name on the internet, library or take it to an antique dealer for information and value. You may have an antique frame worth far more than the picture.

Current art (less than 50 years old) is another story. Its value is based on decorative asset, owner appreciation, sentimental value, artist recognition, or even speculative investment.

It’s a great experience to live with an original piece of art that you really enjoy. It can be an emotional investment that is priceless.

At another time I will go into the area of investment art. When you spend over $500 for a piece of art, you’d like some kind of handle on the situation, just a little justification for buying something for your home. Spend over $5000, and you should want more than just a little justification.