A week never passes that someone doesn’t call the gallery asking for help as to finding the value of a piece of art or wanting to know how to sell a piece of art. I am not a qualified appraiser. Nor am I in the business of selling art items by other artists outside the stable of artists that I represent. But over the years I have gained some knowledge and sense as to directing and assisting such inquiries.

Establishing the value is tricky. Most want to update their insurance or find out about art that has been acquired. I am usually talking to people over the phone, so that’s a big disadvantage right there.

For insurance purposes take photos of each piece and indicate media, image size and outside size. You are showing some sort of proof of condition. To establish a value the initial receipt should be kept with records along with any history about the artist. Do not attach records to the back of paintings. Keep separate and safe. Your art value should increase with the artist’s “staying power.” In other words, did you pick a winning horse? Find out what gallery or art dealer is handling the artist’s work and what those paintings or sculptures are selling for. That will be the base for your insurance value, or possibly a place that would consign or purchase the art.

In most cases the people who call me have little clue about the art. Often it’s been passed down, purchased in a rummage sale or secondhand store. I can’t tell you how many people read the word Charles Russell or Rockwell, and think they’ve hit the mother load. Don’t take apart the art from framing, but first get out a magnifying glass and check for little tiny dots. These dots indicate a print, which may or may not have some value — depending on an original signature — not a printed signature. If you still think you have an item of value take it to established framer for dissembling. There may be more clues within the framing.

If you’re in the market to sell I usually suggest the person look up the artist’s name on the Internet or area accessible art guides to get possible information. E-Bay is a good way to sell, especially if your art is by a recognizable artist. It’s said people are paying high prices for name recognition.

If the art has an evident theme with a specific ship, John Wayne, a city, animal or so forth, key into those hits. The newspaper is also a good way to go. State what you’re selling in the arts and antiques section of a large city paper like Seattle.

Now remember what I mentioned in last month’s column, not all art may be sellable. Like that $1,000 sofa you enjoyed for twenty years, there comes a time you might want to say “good-bye.” Give it away, donate it to a cause, and what people should start thinking about is trading art. In any case, art should be for the enjoying.

If you want your enjoyment for art to also transcend into the category of “investment,” that takes an intentional business approach, and is another column.