Highwaymen Blog

New Alfred Hair forgery on eBay

2012-01-24T02:34:00.000-08:00

And the hits just keep on coming. Another fake signature pops up.

This is nothing new. As always, I emailed the seller to let him know he has a forgery on his hands. As is often the case, the response was one of denial.

This time, the painting happens to be quite beautiful, but it has absolutely no earmarks of Hair's style. The signature is an attempt to copy Hair's signature style as commonly seen scratched into wet paint.

This time it's scratched onto dry paint according to the image.

Here's my original message sent, followed by the response. I totally understand the seller's wish that the painting is "right" and I understand as well that people can be fooled by these things.

Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. Item number: 280810095239

From: 24heavy
To: barleyneckusa
Subject: Other: 24heavy sent a message about Antique Florida Highwaymen Oil Painting by A.Hair, No Reserve #280810095239
Sent Date: Jan-20-12 00:02:14 PST

Dear barleyneckusa,

FYI. This is not Hair's work. That is a forged signature. BOB
highwaymenart.blogspot.co m
______________________________________

Dear 24heavy,

i disagree and numerous people have said it is right and as you can see by the bidding everyone thinks it is right and i have numerous offers to buy it now.

- barleyneckusa

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE.

Alfred Hair Harold Newton Museum

2012-01-17T08:18:00.000-08:00

Alfred Hair, courtesy Scott Schlesinger

The finest exhibit I've seen, and I've seen most of them the last decade and a half, featuring highwaymen art, was in the Ft. Lauderdale Museum, and looking back, I'm surprised that it was five long years ago. 2006.

There should be no question that these two extremely talented deceased artists are the most important. Generally speaking, their work is more valuable on the highwaymen scale. Importance creates increased demand in the marketplace.

here's the link: http://www.artknowledgenews.com/Alfred_Hair_Harold_Newton_Highwaymen_exhibit.html

Rarities to the Harold Newton market

2012-01-03T06:37:00.000-08:00

Not one, but two important paintings have come to market.

Here they are: A drop dead gorgeous people and sailboat painting...AND...what could be the earliest known landscape, a primitive Rio Mar that looks like no other.

Call me at 727 809 1691 or email hwymnbnb@aol.com if you have interest.

Newton and Hair

2011-12-19T03:37:00.000-08:00

We have created a facebook page featuring vintage paintings by the two most important artists in the group of 26.

You can see it here:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/H-Newton-and-A-Hair-Paintings/309497962412013

highwaymen at the holidays

2011-12-17T09:13:00.000-08:00

Let this serve as my official holiday greetings.

We wish for a prosperous new year, of course, for everyone.

I'm stealing this video from the West Palm Antique Show.
They sent it to me and I'm sending it to you.

My buddy Buddy (that's right, Buddy Gaines) goes around at the show, shoots pictures, and puts these videos together for Kay and Bill. He does a great job.

Get ready with the pause button and hit it at 14 seconds in.

This, boys and girls, is the Backus-like 12x16 oil on canvas Ellis Buckner that we sold at the last show. The original owner's father bought it directly from Ellis in the early to mid 1960's.

Here you go:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5rV81nEcew&feature=player_embedded

Florida Highwaymen Art and PBS.org

2011-12-16T07:52:00.000-08:00

So I see on facebook PBS.org is offering free shipping TODAY ONLY.

Hah!

That's nuthin'.

I'll do free shipping for the REST OF THE YEAR!

Happy Holidays.

BOB

cell 727 809 1691
www.highwaymen-buy-sell-trade.com
www.highwaymenart.blogspot.com
www.highwaymenartappraisal.blogspot.com

highwaymen in Jax January 14, 2012

2011-12-13T11:35:00.000-08:00

At the AVONLEA ANTIQUE MALL

Click on the poster and it should enlarge.

Florida's highwaymen art on Thanksgiving

2011-11-21T03:38:00.000-08:00

Just to share a little whine on Thanksgiving.

Please, people, please don't call it "Turkey Day".

Nothing I love more than a roast turkey dinner, gravy, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, veggies and casseroles, gravy, rolls, more gravy and a nap. If it wasn't so messy, I'd put gravy on my pillow. Worry about dessert after the nap.

But the purpose of the day is not about what we traditionally eat.

I know we all can find SOMETHING to be thankful for.

It's Thanksgiving Day, so let's call it that.

Hope you all have a great day.

And don't forget my other blog http://highwaymenartappraisal.blogspot.com/.

Florida highwaymen in America

2011-11-08T07:33:00.000-08:00

I received this fabulous email just now, and I hope it at least gives you something to think about. So I'm demanding you read it. It's copy/pasted below my drivel.

I don't feel as though common sense is used at the holiday season, and I haven't for many years. This email, to me, for the most part, puts some important things in their proper perspective.

Get toys and clothes for the children, of course, and revel in the joy.

Beyond that, I think most Americans are sheep, and slaves to Madison Avenue's allure, financed by big business's advertising dollars, and subconsciously fed to you, not just children, on video screens ad infinitum. Just freakin stop it.

Forget Hallmark and get an oil change gift certificate from a local garage owned by an American. Something like that helps everyone, and God knows we all need help.

Anyway, here it is.

Some great ideas

Birth of a New Tradition

As the holidays approach, the giant overseas factories are kicking into high
gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -

merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This
year could/should be different. This year, Americans can give the gift of genuine
concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift
giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands.

Yes there is!

It's time to think outside the box, everyone. Who says a gift needs to fit in
a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?
Everyone gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates
from your local American hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some
health improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned
detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a
book of gift certificates.

How about a movie?

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down
big bucks on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift
receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or
driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a many owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift
certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about
a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this
isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town
Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or
motorcycle, done at a shop run by an American working guy/gal?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would love the services of a
local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I know I can find some young guy who is
struggling to keep his repair business running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local arts and crafts people spin
their own wool and knit it into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery
and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave
your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at
your hometown theatre.

Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, friends, do you really need to buy another hundred Chinese
lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of lights, about
fifty cents stays in the community. Instead, leave the mailman, trash guy

or babysitter a nice big tip.

You see, the holidays are no longer about draining American pockets so that
China can build another glittering city. It's now about caring about the
US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow
their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our
communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.
THIS is the new American holiday tradition.

This is a revolution of caring about each other,
and isn't that something we can celebrate?

I just received this email from a friend and I will be sending it to EVERYONE I know!
This is an EXCELLENT idea and indeed is what Christmas is TRULY about!
If you agree PLEASE pass this on to EVERYONE you know!

James Gibson, People Magazine

2011-10-29T05:40:00.000-07:00

When the article in People Magazine came out, I think in 2003 or 2004, I went down to Publix and bought a half a dozen copies. The highwaymen art market had been well established by then with several active dealers dealing, and was cooking right along. Sales were "brisk", as Jim Fitch would proclaim in one of his several articles in Antiques and Art Around Florida.

At the many antique shows where I set up displays of the work I considered to be the most visually exciting and worthy of investment, I would almost always have a vintage painting or two by James for sale alongside the Newtons, Hairs, and McLendons that I favored. I used the magazine as a sales tool to help prove the validity of this market to skeptics and those copies I had bought were soon gone, given to my best customers.

The opportunity to share this link has been made possible by the creative people involved in the upcoming highwayman motion picture via their excellent website.

Here's your link, gentle readers.

http://www.starsnorth.com/highwaymen/pdf/people.pdf

In true People style it's short but sweet. And you will notice, in true People style, it mentions divorce, courting of a fiancee, and celebrities, from Steven Spielberg to Jeb Bush to Geoff Cook.

Robert, Aletha and Dorene Butler.

2011-10-17T07:08:00.000-07:00

Winter Haven, Florida.

Friday, Oct 28, 2011

Polk Avenue Elementary hosts Art Awareness event

Polk Avenue Elementary will host a special Art Awareness event Oct. 28 to stress the importance of art in the community and raise awareness about world hunger.

During the event, guest artists Dorene Butler and Aletha Butler will paint an original masterpiece that will be sold to support the school's art department. Dorene and Aletha Butler are daughters of famous Florida wildlife and landscape painter Robert Butler who, in 2004, was inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame as one of 26 "Florida Highwaymen."

In addition to the original work created during the event, Robert Butler prints will be available for purchase.

The Polk Avenue Elementary event is planned for 6 to 8 p.m. and is free and open to the public, although donations for the soup supper will be accepted. Polk Avenue Elementary is located at 110 East Polk Avenue in Lake Wales.

Fifth-grade students will exhibit "empty bowls," which they designed and painted to raise awareness about world hunger. Money raised from the sale of these bowls will be donated to the Lake Wales Care Center for local hunger relief programs.

Florida Highwaymen websites (again)

2011-09-22T07:56:00.000-07:00

So here we sit and it's damn NEAR 11/11/11.

I was just looking at some old drivel that I've been posting on these sites, and decided that I might as well "Re-tweet" or "Like" it again. Here it is :

**********************************************************

So here we sit, January 2011.

Yesterday, aces were wild, 1/11/11, and coming soon in November, well ...........I don't have to tell you.

Every so often AOL (damn them, once again) sneaks into my computer overnight and scrambles up and scatters all my bookmarked favorites, some go north, others go south, there's no rhyme or reason. And they also restore some favorites that I have long ago deleted.

It's like the episode in that Larry David show, "Curb Your Enthusiasm", where, in a meeting, the brilliant Mel Brooks is sitting next to the brilliant, yet anal-retentive obsessive David, who carefully lines up all his pens, pencils and notepads in parallel lines and has them just perfect.

The instant he's distracted, or turns his head, Brooks immediately reaches over and messes with them, scattering them about. This happens several times and nothing is said, David simply fixes his stuff, lines them back up. Dueling obsessions.

Despite the money I give them every month, AOL becomes Mel Brooks every few months.
Maybe they think it's funny. I don't.

The point of all that claptrap is that I was reminded of how many highwaymen web sites have come and gone in the last decade because they have reappeared due to this AOL cyber-mischief. There have been quite a few dealers, artists, wannabes and copy-cats who have drifted into this market only to drift back out.

Speaking of wannabes, I just can't stop myself from mentioning this. If you watch eBay, you may have noticed that there's a new clown in town and he's wearing a cowboy hat. Sheesh.

Gone, but not forgotten (by me, anyway), are sites by Roy McLendon Sr, Mary Ann Carroll and the Buckner Brothers (done by Ellis Jr.).

And who could forget dealer John Phillips and his FLART ? Great name.

I was also reminded that we are still standing after a full decade of putting our main web site http://www.highwaymen-buy-sell-trade.com/ up there for the world to find.

When AOL restores sites I had marked in the past, I tend to click on them to see what's what.
All are no longer valid, their former domain names available for sale, which is, of course, why I deleted them in the first place.

So, of course, I delete them all once again.

Every morning I monitor all things "highwaymen" on the Internet, art shows, antique shows, dealers, auction houses, artists, and any news articles or new publications.

If I'm going to be ON TOP OF THE MARKET, I feel as though it's nothing less than my duty to do this. So I do it.

I do hereby officially pat myself on the back for having the perseverance to keep on keeping on, staying with this market and the art that I truly love.

highwaymen art online

2011-08-17T06:50:00.000-07:00

Except for these blogs, anything that gets done on the web site is the result of magical computer work by my brilliant administrative assistant, the fabulous and sometimes charming Ms Amy Elizabeth LeBlanc.

Florida Highwaymen movie

2011-08-11T04:47:00.000-07:00

Here it is, boys and girls.

It looks like it could be very cool.

The Highwaymen - a Stars North film

Here's a copy/paste of the email:

Thanks, Bob! Will definitely check out your site and hoping we can stay in touch. We are going to start a campaign soon to help raise funds to produce this film and would greatly appreciate it if you'd help start spreading the word!

We've got our link on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Highwaymen-a-Stars-North-film/175783589153810

And, of course, our Highwaymen-dedicated web site:
http://www.starsnorth.com/highwaymen/

Thank you so very much! Hope to talk with you again soon!

Todd Thompson
STARS NORTH Films
P.O. Box 470181
Celebration, FL 34747-0181

www.starsnorth.com

highwaymen art appraisals

2011-07-17T03:11:00.000-07:00

There's a nice exhibition going on here, thanks to Doug and Janey Ball of Clearwater.

http://www.bradenton.com/2011/07/17/3351328/highwaymen-offer-drive-back-in.html

Highwaymen on eBay

2011-06-30T06:21:00.001-07:00

Just amusing myself at someone else's expense.

That's not me. I wish I was that young again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcvjXAtzaMU

West Palm Beach Antique Show June 2

2011-05-31T08:51:00.000-07:00

Robert Lewis always visits my booth and shows appreciation for the things I've picked for inventory.

He knows a Harold Newton painting from a distance.

I only realized just now what my old grandmother used to say, "Bobby, it's impolite to point".

BIG HIGHWAYMEN DEAL

2011-05-18T06:10:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Relations Contact
Sandra Wills Hannon
240-888-9736 cell
301-839-2744 office
Shannon@thehannongroup.com

From Sharecropper’s Daughter to the White House:
Florida Highwaymen Artist to Gift Painting to First Lady

Washington, DC---May 18, 2011--- Mary Ann Carroll, the only woman in the famed group of African American artists known as the Florida Highwaymen, will proudly present one of her paintings to Michelle Obama at the First Lady’s Annual Luncheon at the Congressional Club in Washington on Wednesday, May 18. Born in Georgia in 1940 to sharecroppers, Ms. Carroll, who at 70, continues to paint, will meet the First Lady. It is a long way from the days when the mother of seven made a living loading her paintings in her 1964 Buick Electra and travelling throughout the state of Florida to sell her paintings.
The First Lady’s Luncheon is the most prestigious affair of the year by the Congressional Club. In 1912, the Club held a Breakfast, in honor of the wife of the President of the United States. The Breakfast has now become the First Lady's Luncheon and has been held almost every year since its inception.
In addition, Ms. Carroll will be a guest lecturer at Howard University this summer, when the university will host an exhibit of paintings by the Highwaymen.
The history of Florida’s Highwaymen is a story that now is told through a few of the surviving artists who pioneered an incredible and largely unknown National art movement.
The Highwaymen, a group of 26 African-Americans, broke convention to paint beautiful iconic landscapes. Originating in the mid-50s – an era marked by racism, poverty and brutality – the self-taught entrepreneurs mentored each other while they scavenged for basic materials like wallboard for canvasses, and crown molding for frames. Galleries shunned their work, so they peddled their art from car trunks along area roadways, hence their name. Their art freed them from work in citrus groves and created a body of work that has become not only a timeless collection of a natural environment, but a symbol of determination and belief in oneself.
From Sharecropper’s daughter to the White House, 1 of 2

From Sharecropper’s daughter to the White House, 2 of 2
In selling art on the road, Ms. Carroll braved the challenges that came with a Black woman travelling through a segregated south. “I went to Okeechobee,” she recalled of one instance. The guys didn’t go because there was a lot of what you call “redneck” thinking and this kind of stuff. But I was going where I was going and that was it. I traveled up and down the state of Florida by myself. I went over across ditches and canals. And I’m afraid of water.”
“It was segregation. Blacks had one water fountain, whites had another. At restaurants you had to go in the back door. Blacks were disrespected,” she said.
Though she supplemented her income as an artist with a variety of jobs including carpentry and music, the art was her main source of income. “I could not work as a maid and make enough for my family. This was the best life that any of us could live, painting and enjoying the labor. We were able to keep shelter over our heads and feed children and do some of the good things in life.”
The surviving Highwaymen, now in their 70s, are an important chapter in America’s culture and history. Their self-determination in the face of adversity remains a story of perseverance, inspiration and creativity.
Bob Beatty, in his book Florida’s Highwaymen: Legendary Landscapes, writes: “As African Americans in the Jim Crow South, [theirs] is a story of triumph in the face of opposition … [a story] of a loose collective of largely self-taught, self-supporting and self-motivated African American artists rising from obscurity to national renown [and creating] a piece of history…”
Today, Ms. Carroll is pastor of the Foundation Revival Center in Fort Pierce, Fla. She is also an accomplished musician. She still paints and exhibits her work widely.

###

Highwaymen Art Movement, Washington DC

2011-05-18T03:23:00.000-07:00

May 18, 2011

Something very special for our market is going to happen today, God willing.

It will happen in our nation's capitol.

Mary Ann Carroll helps move the highwaymen art market forward.

Are you familiar with this old expression, "It's not WHAT you know, but WHO you know" ?

Stay tuned.

This is big.

MARY ANN CARROLL

2011-05-11T04:13:00.000-07:00

Mary Ann Carroll, highwaywoman, the only female member of the group, is certainly one of the more popular artists.

I was privileged to meet her way back in the early days of the highwaymen art market, soon after Jim Fitch wrote his article naming the group in 1995 and giving birth to the phenomenon.

Back in those days, until I actually met her, we used to think she was Mary Alice Carroll, her paintings signed with the initials M A Carroll.

She was invited (and introduced to me) by Dave and Sue Folds, two people who had seized upon the idea of a highly collectible market. Dave's dad, followed by Dave, began acquiring paintings in thrift shops, carrying an actual inventory of these things in their loft in a modest condo. They were extremely important in helping to create a buying and selling atmosphere at the West Palm Beach state fairgrounds antique show, which at the time was promoted by Jeff Francis and universally known as "The Piccadilly Show". Some old timers still call it by that name.

These were the days when it was difficult to convince a potential customer that a standard size painting, signed A, Hair could be worth as much as the $ 35.00 to $ 50.00 I was asking for it and probably was going to increase in value over the long term.

Recently I was fortunate enough to purchase a little gem of a poinciana painting by Mary Ann at a show I attend in Vero Beach. Some of the most beautiful paintings, certainly with the most vibrant of colors, that I have bought and sold, have been done by Mary Ann.

This poinciana portrait is an 8 x 10 on upson board, a vintage piece. It was in a nasty old frame so I contacted Sam Newton and he made a beautiful new original highwayman frame for me which, of course, is where that little gem resides.

I have posted a picture of it for your viewing pleasure.

And now, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, here is

Mary Ann Carroll, herownself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oOaLYbUXpg

Fakes and more fakes

2011-05-03T02:37:00.000-07:00

Here's another one for ya, peeps.

Be careful out there.

Don't be fooled by an attractive price.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ALBERT-ERNEST-BACKUS-1906-1991-oil-c-FLORIDA-SCENE-/250814037048?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item3a65ae7c38

UPDATE: May 4.

Someone bought it for a grand. A $20.00 yard-sale painting for a grand.

I wonder how they'll feel when they find out the truth, don't you ?

Item number: 250814037048
Item location: saugerties, NY, United States

That said, there are smiles and maybe even high-fives in Saugerties this morning.

And yet another update. May 16, 2011.
It is now re-listed. Guess the $1000.00 buyer didn't like it, eh ?
Or refused to pay ?
Wonder if P. T. Barnum is smiling.

Item number: 260785067867

http://cgi.ebay.com/Signed-E-BACKUS-oil-c-FLORIDA-COASTAL-FIGURE-/260785067867?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item3cb800575b

contemporary art

2011-04-30T06:58:00.000-07:00

Here's one for ya.

Step right up, ladies and gentlemen.

At auction in another week or so.

florida art or this ?

2011-04-30T06:34:00.000-07:00

Bonham's
Modern and Contemporary Art
May 9
New York & Los Angeles

Louise Bourgeois
Mother and Child, 2007
silkscreen on linen
Estimate: $100,000 - 150,000

I know that this is what makes the world go around, but just the same, I never could quite understand the desirability of these things as decorative in even the most modern of homes.
I just don't get it.

These crazy stupid things are gonna bring a lot of money, just check out the estimate.

Newton on eBay....Be Careful

2011-04-15T03:19:00.000-07:00

File this under ignorance is bliss. Which is ALWAYS a good excuse for deceptiveness. Looks like the signature and the writing on the verso come from the same black marker. I find that kind of interesting. Be careful out there ! http://cgi.ebay.com/NEWTON-FLORIDA-HIGHWAYMEN-PAINTING-24X30-CANVAS-MASONIT-/290556177211?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item43a67f6b3b

As long as I'm trashing eBay this morning, I mught as well throw this one up here, too.

Here's a "Southern highwaymen painting" that's not one, of course.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Florida-Highwaymen-Southern-Folk-Art-Oil-Painting-1960s-/120710465006?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item1c1ae785ee

For when it diasappears, here's a copy/paste of the description:

This auction is for a vintage 1960's Florida Highwayman Southern Folk Art cabin, truck and lake sunset landscape oil painting. It is in very good condition and measures 16" high by 20" wide unframed. There is a little bit of paper stuck around the very outside edge of the painting that I am sure can be removed. It is painted on paneling and is sign MILT in the bottom right hand corner.

Guarantee H Newton and Highwaymen Art

2011-03-19T06:47:00.000-07:00

We tell our customers these things when we sell art, but we might as well write it down in black and white. Call it a an official policy.

Your Guarantee:
We unconditionally guarantee our art to be genuine and as described at the point of sale.

We handle a variety of media, oils, watercolors, vintage hand colored prints, lithographs, etchings by listed artists and other talented artists, both vintage and contemporary. We are acknowledged experts in several of these fields.

For the last 16 years we have been buying, selling, studying and appraising Harold Newton's work, and can spot the difference between modern copies and the real ones.

5 Year Exchange Plan:
If for any reason, you are no longer happy with your art, you can return it in its original condition within five years of the purchase date and you can receive credit at the amount that you originally paid for the art (less sales tax and shipping) towards the purchase of any other item for sale in our gallery. Be sure to keep your receipt. One of the easiest ways to store your receipt is on the back of the art. Put it in an envelope and tape it to the back of the frame.

Payments Accepted:
You can purchase directly from this website or contact us by phone or email. We accept cash, check or PayPal payments, which can be sent to our email, hwymnbnb@aol.com

Lay Away:
We offer a very generous lay away plan. It is just 10% down and at least that much each month. There are no finance charges. This gives you a down payment and up to 9 months to complete payment. Of course, you can pay more so that you can enjoy your art sooner. After the last payment, you can pick up the art or it can be shipped to you.
You have 30 days from the initial payment to receive a refund of your deposit if you change your mind for any reason. After the first 30 days, you would receive a credit for any payments made if you needed to end the agreement. If three consecutive monthly payments are missed, then the art will be placed back up for sale and all monies paid will be forfeited.

Shipping:
Crating, shipping and insurance rates depend on the size, weight, value and destination. We prefer UPS and will ship by that method unless requested otherwise. US mail and FedEx are other options. International shipments are sent by US Mail unless requested otherwise. .

Highwayman artist......or not ?

2011-03-15T05:03:00.000-07:00

A little tidbit of information for everyone as copy pasted from an email yesterday.

Why is Willie Reynolds Sr.'s name not listed on the Highwaymen list? I know he painted along with some of the names on this list.

Because Gary Monroe did not see enough of his work when he did his research for the first of many highwaymen books by various writers.
His was the list of 26 used by the Florida Artists Hall of Fame, thus carving it in stone.

I happen to have seen only two of his paintings out of the many thousands of vintage highwaymen works I've seen on upson board.

His nick name was "Po' boy", according to Sam Newton (who wishes to be NOT included on the list)...... Go figure.

I imagine Willie's not the only one who drifted in and out of the group. Another is Earl Barber who was "re-discovered" by Jim Fitch several years ago. I met him at one of the Safety Harbor Museum things, came in from California if I remember correctly.

Norman Wright, Horace Foster, I've seen older upson board works by them, too. I had a painting once, years ago, by all indications a highwayman painting, signed Rader. Never saw or heard of another by him (or her). They all missed the boat as well.

Fake H Newtons on eBay

2011-03-03T04:04:00.000-08:00

Once again, for the umpteenth time, we are offered a couple of fifty cent yard sale paintings of Florida palms and water that some genius has signed and dated H Newton on the verso.

First of all, if you like these, if you'd be proud to enjoy them on the wall of your choice in your home, by all means, buy them. However, if the auction doesn't get canceled, I'd be surprised.

Secondly, if you like these, well, what can I say ?

Here they are:

http://cgi.ebay.com/FINE-PR-1964-HAROLD-NEWTON-HIGHWAYMEN-OIL-PAINTINGS-/300532514721?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item45f9223fa1

Since the link won't last, I copy/pasted their description.

WE ARE PROUD TO OFFER THIS BEAUTIFUL PAIR OF FLORIDA OIL PAINTING BY THE GODFATHER AND FOUNDER OF THE LEGENDARY FLORIDA HIGHWAYMEN ARTISTS, HAROLD NEWTON (1934-1994). THEY ARE A VERY UNIQUE SMALLER SIZE AND IN AN ALMOST NEVER SEEN RARITY, THEY ARE DATED!!! THEY FEATURE LOVELY BRIGHT COLORED PALM TREES AND GORGEOUS BLUE SKY AND WATER. THE SIZE OF THE PAINTINGS ARE ABOUT 9" X 11", THEY ARE BOTH SIGNED VERSO, "HAROLD NEWTON 1964".

This eBay seller has 100 percent positive feedback. Almost 1200 happy deals made.

Looks good, eh ? Makes you feel comfy ?

I check these things for you, constant followers, so you don't have to waste time.

Perhaps they googled H Newton images, studied a handful of his actual works, and said, "Damn, these HAVE to be legit, they are SO THE SAME. They have PALM TREES""

It's also interesting to note that the same seller recently listed an Andrew Wyeth watercolor which they successfully sold for,.................. wait for it.................. $ 129.00. Heh heh heh.

At least they had sense enough to put a question mark in that listing.

I guess they weren't sure about it ?

They seem pretty sure about these two Florida paintings, though, as you read in their description.

Once more I warn you, be careful out there.

OK, they ended it already, I checked an hour later. 9:33 am.

Apparently the seller did the right thing. I now tip my cap to them.

Harold Newton's Vehicle

2011-02-16T13:09:00.000-08:00

In case you didn't know, I get around. (cue the Beach Boys).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qcb2vIFVCLA

I didn't get involved with highwaymen art until I saw a Newton landscape bought by John Phillips in a Hood Auction and then read Fitch's article naming them "the highwaymen" in 1995, so I never had the opportunity to meet Harold Newton.

But, for the last fifteen plus years, I've been meeting people who knew and dealt with Harold Newton, speaking with them at the shows I attend around Florida, or talking with them via phone and exchanging emails. These people number in the hundreds, maybe more, a never ending procession, it seems.

Usually their story is the same. "Oh, I worked in a bank and he'd come in and put his paintings around and we'd buy one or two for $ 20 or $ 25."

Or they worked in a lawyer's office, a doctor's office, a furniture store and he'd come around, haul his paintings out of his van or the trunk of his car and spread them out. People would buy them or he'd trade them for services, groceries, dental work, whatever he could get away with.
He would show up anywhere, from Jacksonville to Miami, from Vero to Sarasota.

Obviously he was successful in doing this, as it has been speculated that he created and sold or traded 40,000 to 50,000 paintings in the four decades of his career, mid-1950's to mid-1990's.
Some of the stories, but not many, deviated from the norm.

One guy I spoke with about a year back, who is now in California, piloted a small plane and told me he would fly Harold to the islands with Backus. That surprised me, as I thought Backus allowed Hair to come along on these trips, but I didn't know that Harold would accompany him. I found the old guy to be credible, after all, he showed me two classic 1960's four footers on upson that were both drop-dead gorgeous, the only two he kept for himself having had many. He also told me Harold gave him paintings on consignment to sell for him, as his other job was as a furniture salesman who would visit stores around the state on a regular basis and show the art along with his tables and chairs. He claimed sales were good back then.

Sales have been pretty good for me, too, so his claim was believable.

Since I titled this little interlude "Harold Newton's Vehicle", I should probably get to the point. I originally talked to this lady at the fairgrounds show in West Palm Beach last year and she told a truly amusing tale. She reappeared at my recent Melbourne Auditorium show and repeated the story. This was not unusual, as I KNOW that I've patiently listened to the same people telling me their same story again and again, show after show.

I didn't remember her face, but I remembered her story, and so will you.

When she popped up this time in Melbourne, I was ready for her with this blog in mind and I flat out grilled her for details. Luckily her husband was with her and she dragged him over to my booth to fill in a few facts. I put my reporter's cap on and took notes on an amusing tale.

All for you, gentle reader, all for you. I mean, I'm already amused, now it's your turn.

Harold bought a 1969 white four door Ford from the Bev Smith automobile dealership in West Palm Beach. I imagine he put down a stack of cash, but I know he financed the balance.

The lady I spoke with is Jeanne Harris and she introduced me to her husband Charles Harris, who is known as "Bill". Now, I know some Charleses who are known as "Chuck", but this was the first time...............ah, I digress.

Bill, who worked for the finance company, Commercial Credit in West Palm, told me that Harold made his payments on a regular basis for about the first six months, then stopped. They didn't see him around, so the deal graduated to a repossession situation. Somehow they tracked him down and eventually spotted him and his vehicle across the state in St. Petersburg, of all places.

The car was a little beat up and scratched and the Repo man secured it for the finance company, but here's the good part.

Harold had painted his car not only with typical flames emerging from the engine area, but also with "Rio Mar" beach scenes on both sides as well as the hood and the trunk. He did the same on the interior, embellishing the dashboard.

Now here's the best part. On these painted beaches, running about in the sand, all around the car and on the dashboard he added a bunch of nude voluptuous young women.

It may have been his vision of heaven.

Having read all I have about Harold and his appetites, and as brother Sam says, "He never put down his paint brush or knife", I have no reason to doubt this story.

Jeanne and Bill are credible witnesses and knew Harold as personable and friendly . They would have no reason to fabricate the story, as they told me he sold them a jumbo beach scene for five dollars. Sure sounds like a friendly price for the size. 75% off, just like a jewelry store.

It still hangs in their home.

No, I didn't go see it. It might be one of the great ones.

I did ask them if there were any naked chicks in it.

God only knows what happened with the car.

Highwaymen show in Jax

2011-02-10T01:23:00.000-08:00

FEBRUARY 12, 2011

If you're in northern Florida go see it.

I'm not very good at posting images.

If you click on it it should enlarge and hopefully you can read it.

Florida highwaymen websites

2011-01-12T03:22:00.000-08:00

So here we sit, January 2011.

Yesterday, aces were wild, 1/11/11, and coming soon in November, well ...........I don't have to tell you.

Every so often AOL (damn them, once again) sneaks into my computer overnight and scrambles up and scatters all my bookmarked favorites, some go north, others go south, there's no rhyme or reason. And they also restore some favorites that I have long ago deleted.

It's like the episode in that Larry David show, "Curb Your Enthusiasm", where, in a meeting, the brilliant Mel Brooks is sitting next to the brilliant, yet anal-retentive obsessive David, who carefully lines up all his pens, pencils and notepads in parallel lines and has them just perfect.

The instant he's distracted, or turns his head, Brooks immediately reaches over and messes with them, scattering them about. This happens several times and nothing is said, David simply fixes his stuff, lines them back up. Dueling obsessions.

Despite the money I give them every month, AOL becomes Mel Brooks every few months.
Maybe they think it's funny. I don't.

The point of all that claptrap is that I was reminded of how many highwaymen web sites have come and gone in the last decade because they have reappeared due to this AOL cyber-mischief. There have been quite a few dealers, artists, wannabes and copy-cats who have drifted into this market only to drift back out.

Speaking of wannabes, I just can't stop myself from mentioning this. If you watch eBay, you may have noticed that there's a new clown in town and he's wearing a cowboy hat. Sheesh.

Gone, but not forgotten (by me, anyway), are sites by Roy McLendon Sr, Mary Ann Carroll and the Buckner Brothers (done by Ellis Jr.).

And who could forget dealer John Phillips and his FLART ? Great name.

I was also reminded that we are still standing after a full decade of putting our main web site http://www.highwaymen-buy-sell-trade.com/ up there for the world to find.

When AOL restores sites I had marked in the past, I tend to click on them to see what's what.
All are no longer valid, their former domain names available for sale, which is, of course, why I deleted them in the first place.

So, of course, I delete them all once again.

Every morning I monitor all things "highwaymen" on the Internet, art shows, antique shows, dealers, auction houses, artists, and any news articles or new publications.

If I'm going to be ON TOP OF THE MARKET, I feel as though it's nothing less than my duty to do this. So I do it.

I do hereby officially pat myself on the back for having the perseverance to keep on keeping on, staying with this market and the art that I truly love.

Florida highwayman art

2010-12-24T16:23:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone.

And happy birthday to my wife Carol.

She's old.

2010 art market

2010-12-23T06:46:00.000-08:00

Just goes to show you, once again, art is a good investment.

Here's who made money in 2010.

Auction houses and multi-millionaires.

What about us penny-ante thousandaires ?

We had to sit and watch. C'est la vie.

Here's the story.
http://www.mutualart.com/OpenArticle/2010-Auction-Summary--Which-artist-sold-/CD898D8BE76027B2?utm_source=newsletter_b&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nl_artfocus

And here's the music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDle0aVv13o

Florida's highwaymen.

2010-12-18T13:02:00.000-08:00

I don't think that this was one of our guys. They don't fool around in Pakistan, right ?

Highwayman killed by friendly fire Pakistan News Blog
Dec 16, 2010 ... Police said the highwaymen blocking the road near Dhudial were looting the passengers for two hours.

Vintage highwaymen vs. current works

2010-12-16T03:14:00.000-08:00

Maynor vs. Lewis

These are OK looking and are original highwaymen paintings.

Are prices like these watering down the market in general ?
You be the judge.

John Maynor, highwayman, current work 10 x 8 (on the left)
12/16/10
Winning bid:
US $68.00

R. L. Lewis, highwayman, current work 10 x 8 (on the right)
12/16/10
Winning bid:
US $152.50

Does this mean every Robert Lewis painting is worth twice what a John Maynor painting of the same size is worth ?

Au contraire, mon frere.

Some people think that's how this market works.

Strictly by the numbers, like Wall St.

Some of these people are highly advertised accredited appraisers who have purchased memberships in various organizations with impressive initials.

Caveat emptor, boys and girls.

Lemuel and Harold Newton Poinciana

2010-12-12T07:28:00.000-08:00

Scrounging around, looking at some old files, I came across an old communication I had with Rosetta Newton Humphries regarding her two highwaymen artist brothers. Lem and Harold Newton.

I didn't intentionally save it, I found it in some magical cyber scrap-heap of a half a dozen saved emails that AOL seems to show me at random times. Don't know why that happens.

(As you may know, the third artist brother, Sam Newton, wishes to be disassociated from the group, despite the benefits he receives from being included. I don't believe he declined the Florida Artists' Hall of Fame inclusion, but I could be wrong. )

This is a copy/paste from September 9, 2004 regarding the picture above, a 24 x 36 oil on masonite, which I think was the first one she sold for Lem after his release from prison.

Subject:
Hi, again
Date:
9/9/2004 9:30:55 A.M. Eastern Standard Time
From:
Hwymnbnb@aol.com
Reply To:
To:
rosetta7690@msn.com

Hey, good for you, Rosetta. Lem is going to make a wonderful living this way. This painting is gorgeous.
Congratulations to Lem, especially for overcoming his ordeal.
I hope this was the first painting you sold, I would be quite proud to have been the first to help him get started in his new life. I've always thought his talent was comparable to both his brothers, but Harold was the best. Period.
If you would like to, see if Lem will paint me a half dozen various poincianas (not poinsettias, by the way) with shacks, maybe a few roads, in a smaller size, say 16 x 20, as a commission deal. I'll pay a flat deal price of $ 2,000.00 for the 6 paintings. It's about $ 350 apiece.........................Regards, BOB

http://www.highwaymen-buy-sell-trade.com/

Anyway, she got him to paint the six pieces, three were great, one was average and two were marginal. I sold them for $ 450 to $ 750 each within a month or two.

Good value for the quality, those of you who got one.

Lem seemed to lose focus shortly thereafter, moved back to Florida, had some other folks sell for him, but he didn't seem to be interested in quality, more in the quantity area. You know, like Alfred Hair, a true higwayman.

Someone told me he's back in prison now for some violation, I suppose it's true, but I won't swear to it.

I had forgotten that Rosetta confused poinsettia with poinciana.

The big one that's on the website took a little longer to sell, but it brought $ 2500.00 when the right customer got around to finding it in my booth at the West Palm Beach show.

At that time, in the dinosaur ages of the highwaymen market, I had four different Harolds depicting Indian River Drive scenes, including a 48" River Rd, also shown above, all with blue skies, white clouds, nicely matched, and I would line up the horizons and hang them in my living room between shows.

Made quite a panorama. Hard to believe it was six plus years ago.

Florida highwaymen art

2010-12-10T04:09:00.000-08:00

Just like Oprah, extremely successful Jessica Simpson wants you to invest in highwaymen art.

from AOL : http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/12/08/jessica-simpsons-brand-rakes-in-750-million/?icid=main%7Chtmlws-sb-n%7Cdl2%7Csec3_lnk1%7C189150

Give her a call, I'm sure she'll recommend us.

http://www.highwaymenartappraisal.blogspot.com/
http://www.highwaymen-buy-sell-trade.com/

McLendon highwaymen

2010-12-02T06:46:00.000-08:00

Roy, Roy Jr. and Ray.
R.A., R.A. Jr.
Confused ?
Look at the Florida Artists Hall of Fame list and see how many McLendons are on it.

The story I refer to is about a talented artist who is kind to children.

It's a nice story, too.

Here: http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/nov/30/highwaymen-painter-a-guest-artist-at-saint-edwards/

Any male who uses a highway is a what ?

What if his name was Johnson ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoYsfbq3vMc&feature=related

Highwaymen art at Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T01:56:00.000-08:00

This has nothing to do with highwaymen art.

If that offends you, or you feel you've been tricked into looking at this page....well, I don't care.

Anyway, it's Thanksgiving morning, albeit EARLY Thanksgiving morning, and on this day, annually most folks gather their family for a nice meal. In many cases, such as my family, it's a lot more than just a nice meal food-wise. It's an opportunity for my inner glutton to battle my inner common sense, God, do I love stuffing and gravy. With more gravy.

But, I digress, as is my want.

Most folks, I believe, at least think about God on this day, and thank Him for what they have been "blessed" with.

Having gone to l'ecole St. Pierre, a parochial school outside of Boston, grades K-6, certain things have literally been beaten into my conciousness by several nuns. One of those things is to capitalize God, Him, His etc. That's the Catholic way of doing things. I refuse to capitalize the word "nun", but that's my choice for various reasons.

Again, I digress, Jesus, it's disconcerting, isn't it ?

None of us KNOW if there's a God or a god or several gods or higher powers or superior intelligence from planet R31378 galaxy 888040282.

Maybe you, gentle reader, KNOW, but I don't. You can file me under, maybe.

But, I'm not going to go to court to try to punish you for your beliefs if they disagree with mine.

Just read the text, which I have copied and pasted for my vast readership. Often times I'm skeptical of the veracity of whatever I read from ANY source, so if this is true, I have a new hero. I kinda doubt it.

Happy Thanksgiving, ....................enjoy.

FLORIDA COURT SETS ATHEIST HOLY DAY
In Florida, an atheist created a case against the upcoming Easter and Passover Holy days. He hired an attorney to bring a discrimination case against Christians and Jews and observances of their holy days. The argument was that it was unfair that atheist had no such recognized days.
The case was brought before a judge. After listening to the passionate presentation by the lawyer, the judge banged his gavel declaring, "Case dismissed!"

The lawyer immediately stood objecting to the ruling saying, "Your honor, How can you possibly dismiss this case? The Christians have Christmas, Easter and others. The Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah, yet my client and all other atheists have no such holidays."
The judge leaned forward in his chair saying, "But you do. Your client, counsel, is woefully ignorant."
The lawyer said, "Your Honor, we are unaware of any special observance or holiday for atheists"
The judge said, "The calendar says April 1st is April Fools Day. Psalm 14:1 states, 'The fool says in his heart, there is no God' Thus, it is the opinion of this court, that, if your client says there is no God, then he is a fool. Therefore, April 1st is his day. Court is adjourned."

Friday morning update:

And so, in the interest of accuracy, for which I am famous, here's the truth.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/atheist.asp

My cousin Leslie of Cheshire gets credit for the research.

Having exhausted herself feeding an army on Thanksgiving, she still found time and donated her services to this blog.

And remember, both Leslie and Oprah want you to invest in highwaymen art.

Oprah and highwaymen art

2010-11-22T03:18:00.000-08:00

Oprah wants you to buy highwaymen art.

She does ! She really really does !

Only she forgot to list it with this other stuff.

Poor thing, she has sooooooo many things to worry about, I don't blame her.

http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/11/19/for-small-brands-oprahs-favorite-things-can-mean-big-busines/?icid=main%7Chtmlws-sb-n%7Cdl6%7Csec1_lnk3%7C185412

And she wants you to buy it from whomever has the most experience in dealing with this particular funky little market. She suggests a dealer who works on a small margin and has the eye to pick out nothing but the best.

That would be us !

http://www.highwaymen-buy-sell-trade.com/

Now is the time to invest in undervalued fine art.

Or, she also suggests a Ralph Lauren sweater for $500.00.
When I'm cold, I just get a $20 sweatshirt. Savings R Us.
That's one reason we can work on a smaller margin.

alfred hair on ebay

2010-11-19T10:39:00.000-08:00

Here's a good one, boys and girls.

I'll copy paste what the seller claims.

Painting is in good condition, Alfred painted over a scratch in the board in the grass area.

Really ?

Oxymoron Define Oxymoron at Dictionary.com
an incongruous, seemingly self-contradictory effect,
as in “cruel kindness” or “to make haste slowly.” ...

dictionary.reference.com/browse/oxymoron -

A E Backus and highwaymen sales Results

2010-11-15T06:31:00.000-08:00

OK, I told you I couldn't wait, and I couldn't.

I called Rennick at 9am and asked how his Backuses did.

They did not sell and it's NOT because there is no demand.

Above are posted the 6 footer to the left, the 25x30 to the right.

These are high quality pieces by a listed artist, the "Dean of Florida landscape artists" as he is known. The three I'm going to discuss were painted in the 1940's, his heavy palette knife period which many consider his finest era, pre-1970. The Backus Gallery itself, has historically consistently priced his early pieces higher than the later ones.

That ought to serve as a pretty reasonable barometer.

(Interestingly as an aside, they no longer publish prices on the internet.

...................................................... Now you have to call them.)

These three.

The "Bigun", 6 foot by 10 foot north Indian River view from the hotel.

The "Little sister of the Bigun", a 25x30, Beanie's favorite size, same north Indian River view. Close to identical.

And the vertical "Gates of Heaven", Beanie's fantasy.

All three are worth buying. So where does that leave us ?

There's a very simple reason that they did not sell. It's called a reserve price.

In this case, the reserve was undoubtedly the "opening bid", which the house did not get.

The owners of these paintings have only BEGUN to negotiate the selling prices by starting these pieces at "too high" levels the market would not bear. The owners were fishing. The auction house is their publicity.

They are now "out there, available in the marketplace" if you feel like getting involved.

Now, it's the buyer market's turn to fish back at them and try to decipher what they will really take for these. They are willing to listen to offers below the published starting auction prices of $35,000.00, $35,000.00, and $150,000.00.

So, if you have the proper mix of balls, brains, and cash, you might be able to buy one or two or even three. I could even help you, you know ? I'm only missing the cash.

There is no better place, in my opinion, to invest, than in this type of product in a sluggish market which could turn around at any moment.

A E Backus and highwaymen sales

2010-11-14T05:17:00.000-08:00

Today's the day Rennick's auction in Vero gives the world a shot at a six foot by ten foot Backus.

Will it bring six figures ? We'll soon find out.

I sure hope so. By the way, it's NOT this one.

The auction includes a bunch of so-so highwaymen paintings, including a BUNCH of McLendon newer canvases. Many of the paintings are nice, but nothing really walks and talks.

(which is as usual , considering how many paintings are "out there".)

The auction is only slightly tainted by the inclusion of a Norman Wright and a Tracy Newton. I have to admit, I don't know what to make of the J. E. Roberts. Unfamiliar style.

I had a Livingston Roberts once, a nice four foot sunset that was signed (scratched-in) E. Roberts, on upson, in an original whitewashed crown molding frame. I assumed Livingston painted it, but was too drunk to remember his first initial. Yup, sometimes I assume things.

There is a sleeper in the group today and I can't wait to see how it does.

Backus painted this as a commission for some church and allowed prints to be made for charitable purposes.

Personally, I've always loved this image, AEB's idea of the entry gates to Heaven. I guess Saint Peter was still in charge of them when this was painted. Maybe he still is, or maybe Mother Theresa has taken over. I'll probably never find out, but anyway..............

(listen to this while you look at it, it becomes even better)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecBc-F1ft9w&feature=fvst

I had a print of it once, found the right frame, and sold it for a few hundred several years ago.

Like I said, can't wait.

Understatement

2010-11-10T03:28:00.000-08:00

"I could have done things better" George W. Bush (quote of the day)

slashing Highwaymen prices like Walmart

2010-11-03T05:57:00.000-07:00

From AOL small business this morning.

Q> I was wondering if it might be a good idea to slash my prices right now? Business is so darn slow. The problem is that I don't know if I will be able to make up for my lower profit with more business. How do I figure that one out?

http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/10/17/how-to-cut-prices-the-right-way/?icid=main%7Chtmlws-sb-n%7Cdl2%7Csec1_lnk1%7C181926

This is a pretty interesting article from my side of the negotiating table, where supply meets demand and prices are already forced downward. yet still I have to force something to happen sales-wise in order to feed these damn cats and keep them cool in the Florida heat. Electricity ain't cheap anymore, boys and girls.

I began lowering expectations and attempts at high profit margins as sales volume began ever so relentlessly to shrink a few years ago. From my standpoint as a small business owner, it was not unusual 5 years ago in the Florida art market to expect a double your money on everything you purchased for inventory. And it was generally perceived as FAIR and justifiable. And the cash flowed, demand was strong.

Now, due to the lack of public confidence in spending, resulting in low sales volume, I no longer attempt to sell a 1000 purchase for 2000. Instead we go for 10 or 20 % profit margin, about half of an auction house's commission. Hopefully that makes my product more attractive. I think of my product as paintings by Harold Newton and Alfred Hair, Emmett Fritz and A E Backus. Anthony Thieme and Martin Johnson Heade.

This guy, Steve Strauss, Q & A guru apparently for AOL, is pretty clear about the cost to a small business of lowering prices from a psychological customer / client viewpoint. I couldn't agree with him more.

The quandry I face in dealing with my product is this : what about the hundreds of paintings I've sold to good people for much higher prices just a few years ago ? I'm helping to devalue their investments if they purchased average, run of the mill, plain, uninspiring, lack of effort Harold Newton paintings at rock bargain prices. If my customer had been savvy enough to pay a premium over perceived value at the time and acquire top of the line Harolds, they have held their value better than the former bargains.

And just for fun, there's a nice Harold and a plain Harold. Although every painting is unique, there is no question that there is a lot of repetition in Harold's work.

Apropros

2010-10-29T04:11:00.000-07:00

Found this poster by a very talented artist, googling around illustration websites.

It's ME, only younger.

H Newton vs Newton

2010-10-26T04:19:00.000-07:00

Harold Newton vs Lemuel Newton (or Sam).

Found a new website googling around this morning called Garage Sale Art.

Something to remember about the internet.
Anyone can write and post anything they want and appear to know what they are talking about. Appearances can be deceiving, as we all know.

When I see things of this nature, I understand it.

Harold's work is more valuable than the work of his two younger living brothers, so the owner of this painting would like for it to have beeen done by Harold.

I don't blame the owner. It makes perfect sense.

My opinion, it was done by Lemuel. (With an outside chance as a very early Sam).

So, I signed up and left a comment.

Here's the link:

http://www.garagesaleart.com/?p=404&cpage=1#comment-2562

Fake Livingston Roberts on eBay

2010-10-23T14:10:00.000-07:00

All the news that's fit to print is on my other blogspot website:

http://www.highwaymenartappraisal.blogspot.com/

Go read it there.

BOB

727 809 1691

http://www.highwaymen-buy-sell-trade.com/

http://www.highwaymenart.blogspot.com/

http://www.highwaymenartappraisal.blogspot.com/

Fine Florida furniture

2010-10-23T03:43:00.000-07:00

In case you forgot since I told you last month, go buy a couch, a table or at least a lamp from Jean and Ty in Micanopy. Ty makes this stuff in his barn.

And it's a nice big barn, too. Worth the trip just to see his workshop.

It's not just chairs and such, it's folk art, too. Weather resistant folk art.

And Jean might have some of her paintings around if they're not in some museum somewhere.
She'd probably sell you a couple. I bought three, but I only have one left.

Call them today. Do it now. Be the first in your neighborhood.

Print this page and present it to Ty or Jean as a coupon for a special 10 percent discount.

Tell them Bob sent you.

http://www.tysonprairiestudios.com/

A E BACKUS Moonlight Ocean

2010-10-17T03:27:00.000-07:00

We are proud to note that we helped provide the appraisal paperwork necessary for The Orange County History Center for insurance purposes on the donation of the A E Backus Moonlight River scene, a gorgeous painting which is being exhibited for the first time.

Be sure to visit the exhibition in Orlando. It's running through the first of the year.
If you schedule certain days in November, you can meet six of the highwaymen artists themselves.

Here's the link:

http://thehistorycenter.org/highwaymen

Harold Newton appraisal via Google

2010-10-14T04:38:00.000-07:00

Yup, I'm copying someone with a strong google presense.
Why not ?

Florida Highwaymen Painting. Sell Highwaymen art and paintings. Appraise Highwaymen painting and art. Buy Highwaymen paintings and art. - Florida dealer and appraiser of Florida Highwaymen paintings and art. Appraise Highwaymen - Our appraisers evaluate, appraise and value your Highwaymen painting. Appraisers of single Highwaymen paintings to complete Highwaymen art collections. We will purchase Highwaymen paintings outright or offer you the best consignment terms in the industry in the next fine art exhibition. Our marketing and West Palm Beach venue are unparalleled. Florida Highwaymen artists and works remain in strong collector demand. Contact us for appraisal consultation for your Florida Highwaymen paintings or other works of fine art. We travel Florida for fine art and collections.

Highwaymen collectors should contact us for our current offerings of Highwaymen paintings.

Harold Newton...H Newton....James Andrew (Harold) Newton....Sam Newton...Lem Newton

Just trying to keep up. It is what it is.

highwaymen S M Wells

2010-10-13T08:19:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if I shared this story before, anyway here it is.

Brother Wells, when I last saw him a couple of years ago, could hardly see.

His vintage paintings are somewhat scarce in relation to the group in general.

Here's the link : http://www.alachuacountytoday.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=640:artist-s-m-wells-keeps-legacy-alive&catid=108:around-the-heartlands&Itemid=500

Appraise Harold Newton painting

2010-10-06T09:22:00.000-07:00

Here's pretty much how I do it.

This article was published in Antique Shoppe newspaper August 2010 issue.

Here it is:

http://www.antiqueshoppefl.com/articles/sept10/newton0910.htm

Fabulous Florida Furniture

2010-09-23T04:59:00.000-07:00

This, people, is some really nice stuff.

Tell them Bob sent you. (or not).

http://www.tysonprairiestudios.com/

for dog lovers

2010-09-16T04:10:00.000-07:00

I hope it makes you smile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRaPVTetseI

D L Rust, listed Florida artist

2010-09-15T04:31:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, and as it has been reported in various antique / art publications, I buy, display and sell oil paintings of Florida wildlife by listed artist D L Rust.
Of particular interest, both to me and the public, are his gator paintings.

His paintings are so realistic that this actually happened to one of my customers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCsRpfOzqn0&NR=1

I must have sold fifty of them over the years since my first trip to visit Rust in his studio.

I love his work and I am pleased to offer 6 or 7 pieces currently in stock.
Some are posted on the main website, www.highwaymen-buy-sell-trade.com.
Look in my Other Florida Artists page.

These are offered with an asking price of $ 375.00, discounts available on multiple purchases.
The current sizes I have are all oils on stretched canvas, 20 x 24, a nice manageable size.

I dislike writing negative things of any sort, but these are not giclee prints, as one ignorant spiteful Fort Pierce "highwaymen" seller claims they are. They are original oils on stretched canvas.

D L Rust has a painting in the National Gallery in the Smithsonian. If his work is good enough for them, gentle readers, perhaps it is good enough for you ?

Especially at these reduced prices.

Just for fun and comparison purposes, here's a link to an eBay offering of similar work by another listed artist C. Ford Riley. The fact that the opening bid is posted as $ 9,995.00 is irrelevant.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Large-Florida-Gator-Watercolor-C-Ford-Riley-Signed-/120621702285?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item1c159d1c8d

Riley's listed auction record in AskArt.com is $ 650.00.

Rust's auction record in AskArt.com is $ 4,183.00.

I rest my case.

9/11

2010-09-11T05:14:00.000-07:00

This is a good day to think of how horrible it was to be attacked on our own soil.

My prayers go out to all the souls directly affected by the collapse of the towers.

Special prayers for anyone who went into the towers rather than out.

My cousin Mike was there that day, in the hotel restaurant ( it was the Vista Hotel back when I stayed there many times) between the towers when the first plane hit.

He escaped by walking to New Jersey.

highwaymen on ebay

2010-09-07T06:42:00.000-07:00

Here's just another quick hit for you.
Especially you Florida panther collectors.
Fact : Johnnie's deceased and there may be no others like it.
Each one is unique in any case.
Good value at $ 45,000 ?
You be the judge.
Might as well try to get 45 million, in my arrogant opinion.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Florida-Highwaymen-Johnny-Daniels-Oil-Painting-/180557904077?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item2a0a16f8cd

It's not that I don't WISH these were worth that kind of money, but Yeesh.

A E Bean on eBay, Good for a Laugh or two

2010-09-06T11:38:00.000-07:00

Here it is, boys and girls.

I don't think I need to discuss it.

Ridiculous.

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-OIL-LIGHTHOUSE-A-E-BEAN-BACKUS-1906-1990-/260659404649?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item3cb082df69

Well, I couldn't stop myself even though I figured it was a waste of time, and I sent her an email.

Here's that and her extremely intelligent response. copy/paste :

----- Original Message -----
From: Hwymnbnb@aol.com
To: sassie@gis.net
Sent: Monday, September 06, 2010 2:44 PM

Subject: a e bean

sassie, this should be simply embarrassing.

compare the quality of the work with easily found examples.

respectfully submitted,
BOB 727 809 1691
www.highwaymen-buy-sell-trade.com

From: sassie@gis.net
To: Hwymnbnb@aol.com
Sent: 9/6/2010 6:56:00 P.M. Eastern Daylight TimeSubj: Re: a e bean

Probably when he was losing his eyesight ??? How can you know ? I have looked at many of them

Yup, she's looked at many of them. Guess she told me.

Not a highwaymen painting

2010-08-27T03:05:00.000-07:00

Just a quickie for you this morning.

Here's another eBay seller added to the long list of people who either intentionally or unintentionally can't seem to understand the list of 26 names.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1950-Clearwater-Florida-FL-Beach-Painting-Highwaymen-/360292798530?pt=Art_Paintings

highwaymen art appraisals

2010-08-23T01:43:00.000-07:00

I started a new blog, a sister blog, so to speak.

www.highwaymenartappraisal.blogspot.com

It deals with appraisals, but I imagine that's obvious..

I'll try to get our "Official Policy" posted this week, working on it now.

Harold Newton's work

2010-08-20T07:18:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the unexpected comes out of hiding.

Here's an example of that, posted on eBay just this morning.
Usually when I write about eBay, I point out forgeries and alterations, as they do exist.

This time, I can see that this is absolutely genuine and I know, although the seller has no feedback as of yet, that he is a legitimate seller .........
............as well as an appreciative collector of Harold Newton's work.

I make it my business to know who's who and what's what in this market.
Roger is a guy you can trust, gentle readers.

Here's what I wrote to him just now:
Dear floridaartauctionsinc2010,

Roger, this is very cool. Of all the HN's I've seen, this is my first time for this scene in these colors and such brightness. Nice rare size, too.

This piece must have kicked Willie Daniels off and running. I've seen his virtually exact copy of it hundreds of times.

I'm going to post it in my blog. regards, BOB

Rare 24"x30" vertical H. Newton
Item Id: End time: Aug-29-10 19:55:16 PDT

330463346292
100.0% Positive Feedback (that's me)
Member since Nov-26-01 in United States
Location: FL, United States

Listing Status: This message was sent while the listing was active

Now I'm not going to give you advice on other people's merchandise very often.
After all, Roger and I are competing for your available dollars, but I was struck by the similarities and I just couldn't let it go unnoticed.

A E Backus

2010-08-14T07:41:00.000-07:00

The Backus Gallery and Museum is undertaking a renovation and expansion project.

This is a good thing for the kind of art that we like to fool around with.
The kind on my website www.highwaymen-buy-sell-trade.com.

You know which artists we like, all three of you who read this blog.
Newton, Hair and Backus. Along with the occasional McLendon or Buckner.

The fresh new look should draw more public interest and perhaps spawn a few new collectors. More interest will result in more demand.

Excellent. Most excellent.

read about it here: http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/may/25/fort-pierces-ae-backus-museum-about-to-start/

Highwaymen consumers.

2010-08-10T14:43:00.000-07:00

Whoever wrote this has a keen sense of the obvious.

It's kinda sorta clumsily written, but you get the idea. People won't spend.
Decorative things for the home ? Don't need em right now.

What a great time to invest in art. Demand is low for collectible art in affordable ranges.
In the non-affordable art market, Picasso still brings 100 million +.......

Here's the link from AOL.

After years of conspicuous consumption when it came to our homes and what we put in them, Americans are rethinking their priorities in the recession-induced Age of Austerity and paring down their possessions and what they spend.

A minute later, I saw this related story on AOL.

Consumers Still Not Spending
More Americans are cutting corners on the little things, according to Harris Interactive. Where are they saving?
Nearly two-thirds are buying generic brands more often.
48 percent are brown-bagging lunch.
31 percent have canceled magazine subscriptions.
24 percent are cutting back on dry cleaning.
22 percent have canceled cable television.
22 percent no longer buy coffee in the morning.
15 percent have canceled their landline phone service and changed or canceled their cell phone service.
All these figures are up slightly since the last Harris poll in February, showing that despite some signs of economic recovery, people are still reluctant to go back to their free-spending ways.
Are these changes temporary or a permanent shift in consumer behavior? Businesses may need to give their customers incentives to come back and start spending with them again.

The incentive I give you gentle readers, is lower prices.

And, I'll buy you a coffee. Promise.

Cystic Fibrosis

2010-08-09T18:12:00.000-07:00

This is about my cousin, Paul.
I have 35 cousins, but Paul is my favorite.

http://www.courant.com/sports/other/hc-jacobs-cystic-fibrosis-column-080620100806,0,4667889.column

highwaymen on ebay

2010-07-27T06:47:00.000-07:00

Nineteen more so-called works of art went up on the highwaymen page the last two days.

If anyone considers these worthy of investment, you ought to have your head examined.

The true investment market is about the vintage works by the important artists in the group.

Is that clear enough ?

Highwayman I. Knight

2010-07-20T01:47:00.000-07:00

Issac Knight is one of the good guys, one of the nicest men you will ever meet
(if you are lucky enough to meet him).

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/jul/19/highwaymen-artist-issac-knight-shares-love-of/

Highwaymen and the economy

2010-07-14T11:11:00.000-07:00

Yeah, there ain't no cure for the summertimes blues.

http://www.dailyfinance.com/article//dim-retail-sales-hurt-economy-but-offer/719129/?cid=10

Little Orphan Annie

2010-05-25T03:53:00.000-07:00

From NPR: Little Orphan Annie is retiring on June 13th after 85 years in the comics. To read the story, go to: http://tinyurl.com/34n38vw

I never read this comic strip when newspapers were in vogue, although it was always right there with all the other strips in any newspaper you could find..

I just couldn't get past her white eyes with no pupils. Too weird.

A Hair, H Newton paintings in Mayport Fishing Village

2010-05-21T03:41:00.000-07:00

As kind of a last-minute trip, we'll be exhibiting at the historic Presbyterian church in Mayport Village tomorrow in conjunction with the Capt. John Ribault Festival.

They have an annual exhibit by about thirty local artists and have kindly invited us to attend and show the Florida art that we specialize in.

I'm pretty excited about seeing a new place.

Of course, my motivation is to meet some new potential customers.

I'm pretty transparent about that, gentle readers. Without a few sales, we'll be having peanut butter sandwiches for dinner a lot this month.

And remember, this is a good time to invest, demand is down and so are prices.

Harold Newton..?....Be Careful Out There.

2010-05-14T08:24:00.000-07:00

Yup, be very very careful.

Especially if you THINK you know what you're doing. Watch out for forgeries.

My advice is stay away from this one, for sure....

*5/18/10 : Too bad, somebody didn't pay attention, now they're out $ 850.00.

http://cgi.ebay.com/HAROLD-NEWTON-HIGHWAYMEN-PAINTING-/140407117897?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item20b0ea9849

There's another eBay special, a so-called A Hair that's bogus from the word "go".
When the sellers hide their bidders, I usually figure there's a sleazy reason for it.

In this case, the most likely reason is so no one will contact the unlucky winner, who has now thrown $1000 + down his toilet.

Too late for any help on this one. Somebody's flat out screwed.

Picasso brings $ 100 million plus

2010-05-13T01:52:00.000-07:00

from Luxist

$106 Million Picasso Sale Sets New World Record for Most Expensive Work of Art

Now the results are in and the painting, Nude, Green Leaves, and Bust (above) dated 1932, from the Collection of Mrs. Sidney F. Brody, was sold for a staggering $106.5 million to an unidentified telephone bidder, breaking the previous world record for any work of art sold at auction.

Yup, and I'm having trouble selling $ 15.00 and $ 20.00 prints, along with Newtons and Hairs for a few thousand.

Alfred Hair painting

2010-05-06T03:55:00.000-07:00

Well, here we go again. I feel like Rodney Dangerfield.

I don't get no respect.

This seems to happen when I give free appraisals, as I have blogged about this same situation last year sometime with an Al Black painting.

As I did the last time, I took a liking to this guy in a fifteen minute phone conversation. He was quite proud of himself for having sold some H Newtons five years ago at the peak of the market, when the economy was on the cusp of turning, but he kept his Alfred Hair.

When he decided I must be trying to tell him lies, I responded, as I always will.
I will respect his privacy by not showing you what his painting looks like. And, of course, I changed his email address and phone number. I may have changed his name, too.

It started out with some animosity, but I think I may have shown him some kind of light by the end. Maybe he believes me now ? Did he warm up ?

We'll probably never know, and that's OK, too.

Copy/pasted from my emails this early a.m. Scroll down and read them from the bottom up.

From: Hwymnbnb@aol.comTo: ajerk@prodigy.netSent: 5/6/2010 7:47:50 A.M. Eastern Daylight TimeSubj: Re: People Listing Hairs On Ebay.

Xyzxyz, you should know what a buy sell spread is. I thought you told me you were an attorney.

Buy 500 sell 1000

It's my spread. It's not buy 500 sell 500.

And it's certainly not buy 500 sell 3500

We can be friends, I don't mind that you disagree. It keeps things interesting, does it not ?

I believe your claim that someone offered 3500 for your piece. If they were on top of the market, they probably would not have done so.

You might even enjoy my blog.

I might sprinkle it with a little bullshit from time to time to try and keep it from being too dry.

regards, BOB

In a message dated 5/6/2010 7:36:36 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, ajerk@prodigy.net writes:

Hi. I hope we remain friends in the future. I want to start a fund to collect orphaned
Hairs. From those who can't stand to keep the ones they have. How many hairs do you think you can get me for $5000.00? At least 10?

If people are that broke in Florida maybe they need a bailout. I'm not the Federal Government but I know a good investment when I see it.

From: Hwymnbnb@aol.com
To: ajerk@prodigy.net
Sent: 5/6/2010 7:21:56 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time
Subj: Re: People Listing Hairs On Ebay.

I suggest the same to anyone who will listen. Load up on Hairs. The time is right.
I agree with that and I agree that Picasso sucks, but he brings 90 million.
However eBay IS reality. Money changes hands as proof.

My back gets up when people think I'm lying.
It's interesting that you put in writing you've never been wrong, Counselor, and especially after labeling yourself as humble. That will tell my readers something, eh ?

In a message dated 5/6/2010 6:56:04 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, ajerk@prodigy.net writes:

Anyone who does this is really not too smart. My humble opinion. With the economy as it is Ebay prices do not reflect reality. People are not waiting till any appropriate time to sell.

Hairs will one day well exceed Backus in value. Not because of quality (Picasso sucks) ,
but because of what it is.

Hair was who he was and did what he did. He died at age 29. Not much better a story can be told.

Its not that I'm used to being right. But over the years I've never been wrong. My suggestion is you buy as many Hairs as you can for 500/1000 and pack em away.

From: Hwymnbnb@aol.com
To: ajerk@prodigy.net
Sent: 5/6/2010 6:49:09 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time
Subj: Re: Alfred Hair Painting

I'm not trying to buy it, I don't want it, it's too dark and dreary, AND you told me it's not for sale.
I'll post this repartee in my blog so folks can get a good laugh.
Now I can feel as though I HAVEN"T wasted my time.
If someone offered 3500, they are entitled to do so.
Your piece can be replaced at 1000 with an even better one in the current market, simple as that.

In a message dated 5/6/2010 6:40:09 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, ajerk@prodigy.net writes:

Don't WASTE my time. Find a sucker somewhere else. I've been offered $3500!
I guess that was a dream too.

--- On Thu, 5/6/10, Hwymnbnb@aol.com wrote:

From: Hwymnbnb@aol.com
Subject: Re: Alfred Hair Painting
To: ajerk@prodigy.net
Date: Thursday, May 6, 2010, 6:36 AM

Live in your dream world, Xyzxyz. No bs from here.
Believe what makes you happy.
Put it in an auction and you'll find out.
I showed you the one that brought 1005 for proof.
Waste my time no more.

In a message dated 5/6/2010 6:26:01 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, ajerk@prodigy.net writes:

Save the bs for people who don't know art.

--- On Wed, 5/5/10, Hwymnbnb@aol.com wrote:

From: Hwymnbnb@aol.com
Subject: Re: Alfred Hair Painting
To: ajerk@prodigy.net
Date: Wednesday, May 5, 2010, 9:46 PM

Hi, Xyzxyz.
Don't need the hundred.
WELL, THAT'S A LIE, BUT HERE'S YOUR FREE APPRAISAL.
It's just OK. No disrespect meant.
Current buy sell spread 500/1000.
Wish I had better news.
This one's gorgeous and only brought 1025 at auction last week.

(I attached an image of a 24 x 36 orange and purple cloudy sunset.)

regards,
BOB

In a message dated 5/5/2010 7:53:46 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, ajerk@prodigy.net writes:

Nice speaking with you, Here is a picture of the painting and one of the signature.

Take care, Xyzxyz (xyz) abc-jerk

Alfred Hair painting, could it be ?

2010-04-26T13:48:00.000-07:00

Here's another eBay trap, that's not really a trap, but it's deceptive.

First they get your attention with the small image and the following description : well, you'll see it.

Pretty funny, the seller's not sure if it's by one of the group.
That elusive list of 26 artists, eh ? Hard to find.

DAMN, it just happens to sort of resemble an early Alfred Hair, I guess that causes the confusion.

http://cgi.ebay.com/HIGHWAYMEN-HIghwayman-PAINTING-OLD-Florida-/130386326282?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item1e5ba1730a

I suppose it's hard to tell if you're not familiar with this market, and especially with Hair's work at various stages of his short career, but for many of us, the differences are plain as day between a genuine Hair and this copy.

Not braggin', just sayin'.

Be careful out there.

Vintage highwaymen paintings

2010-04-23T00:18:00.000-07:00

Current Florida Highwaymen news, the official list of the 26 artists in the group and research links can be found here.

http://www.floridahighwaymenpaintings.com/

Highwaymen books and resources can also be found at this informative site.

Highwaymen art in Jacksonville (and money)

2010-04-21T03:45:00.000-07:00

Here's a story about money. Cash, babies, cash. See it, feel it, touch it.

Researchers at the University of Minnesota apparently have been hard at work to prove what Walt Disney showed us many years ago using Scrooge McDuck, Donald's wealthy uncle.

http://www.gnn.com/article/handling-money-can-allieviate-pain/989212

Much more importantly :

Time is growing short, come to Avonlea mall near Jax this Saturday April 24.

Along with Catherine Enns, who will be signing her most excellent book about the highwaymen and Backus, we will have some great examples of investment quality vintage Florida art available for study and / or purchase.

I'm talking Backus, Newton, Hair, McLendon. Rare pieces. All sizes and shapes.

If you want brand new R L Lewises, he'll be in Cedar Key. Go west, young man.

If you want brand new Willies, Maynors, Wheelers, that kind of highwaymen art, just back up your truck to eBay and buy all hundred and fifty of them that were listed in the last couple of days. Weed out all the Tracy Newtons, he's a relative, not a highwayman.

If you want hand-picked superb quality vintage works by deceased artists, come see us in Jax.

Here's the link with a map. http://www.avonleamall.com/

In addition, I will be giving free appraisals on whatever you bring for inspection.

This applies to Florida art.
In Gulfport a few months ago, some clown brought a Stradivarius for appraisal. (sigh)

You might win A BRAND NEW CADILLAC ! (scroll down for details)................

Just kidding, no free Cadillacs.

Hope to see you there.

Alfred Hair (1941-1970)

2010-04-14T03:43:00.000-07:00

I always use Google to look for stuff, but just for grins and giggles this morning I tried Yahoo to search for Alfred Hair.

That's exactly what I got, too, grins and giggles.

Here are the dominant links on Yahoo search. They might amuse you, too.

http://www.alfredshair.com/

http://local.yahoo.com/info-11791778-alfred-hair-tanning-center-alfred

And here is just a wonderful youtube that has nothing to do with Alfred Hair or highwaymen or the economy.

The first scene absolutely knocked me out.
I HAVE to share it with my millions of readers.
( A special thanks to John Taylor who sent it to me today. )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkGzqpGx1KU

Highwaymen art market economy

2010-04-11T09:32:00.000-07:00

Oh, I don't really know why, but I just felt like posting this.

It's not brand new, and it's country, but it's still apropos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_exPnlC3wpY&feature=related

Here are the lyrics so you can sing along.

my daddy taught me in this country everyones the same
you work hard for your dollar and you never pass the blame
when it don't go your way
now i see all these big shots whining on my evenin' news
about how they're losin' billions and its up to me and you
to come runnin' to..
the rescue
well pardon me if i don't shed a tear
cause they"re sellin' make believe
and we don't buy that here

(chorus)
cause in the real world they're shuttin' detroit down
while the boss man takes his bonus pay and jets on out of town
and DC's bailin' out them bankers as the farmers auction ground
yeah while they're livin' it up on wall street in that new york city town
here in the real world they're shuttin' detroit down
here in the real world they're shuttin' detroit down

well that old man's been workin' in that plant most all his life
now his pension plan's been cut in half and he can't afford to die
and its a cryin' shame
'cause he ain't the one to blame
and when i look down and see his callused hands
well let me tell yah friend it gets me fightin' mad

(chorus)
yeah while they're livin' it up on wall street in that newyork city town
here in the real world they're shuttin' detroit down
here in the real world they're shuttin' detroit down
in the real world they're shuttin' detroit down
they're shuttin' detroit down..

But, then again, I may be a city boy, but I can relate to this song.
I know, more country, but Hank Jr. knows we'll get through this, eh ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4s0nzsU1Wg&feature=related

Cycles. We're in one always.
Good times followed by bad times followed by good times and on and on...
on and on, on and on.............

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W680FpMB78Y

Got the sun on my shoulders.............

www.highwaymen-buy-sell-trade.com

2010-04-08T04:10:00.000-07:00

Just go there.

Infomative historical links, if you scroll down.

Spend some time. Read some stuff.

Look at Harold Newton paintings for sale and comparison. Most of them are pretty nice, although we have bought and sold our fair share of rather plain uninspiring ones, too.

Lately we've been doing a lot of appraisals and certificates of authenticity.

No, it's not a free service, but it's an accurate one.

"If it's free, it's for me", you say ?

I say, "Hah, free appraisals are worth exactly what you pay for them."

You'e heard of the Low Country in South Carolina ?

A free appraisal is your portal to Low-BALL Country.

Happy Easter everyone

2010-04-04T06:24:00.000-07:00

News of the morning.

It's not a pretty story, it's brutal and it's racial, but it made me feel like justice has been served. I don't mind at all that this happened.

from AOL

JOHANNESBURG (April 3) -- South Africa's white supremacist leader Eugene Terreblanche was bludgeoned to death by two of his farm workers Saturday in an apparent dispute over wages, police said, amid growing racial tensions in the once white-led country.

Terreblanche, 69, was leader of the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging movement, better known as the AWB, that wanted to create three all-white republics within South Africa in which blacks would be allowed only as guest workers.

I'm whining, I'm just another damn whiner

2010-04-03T04:23:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I was just lying when I started this blog and said I wouldn't whine.

Well, no, that statement is a lie.

Let's just say I've changed my mind over the course of the last couple of years since I started writing this blog. Now I can whine in good conscience.

So, here you go (always remembering that it's not required reading.)

this from part of an email I sent to a customer:

Also, since you asked and I forgot, no, the "young man" you spoke with in my booth at WPB who had 2 HN's never got back to me. They usually don't, they just want quick free appraisals.

I get several inquiries a week like that. Had three emails in a row the other day, Harolds and Willies and more, oh my. When they find out there's a fee, that's usually the end of it. It was for those three.

I have to use my knowledge and experience to put bread on my table, right ?

I'm not completely heartless, though, I try to help and educate complete strangers sometimes.

For example, a guy from up north, seller "a", put a listing on eBay a couple of weeks ago with a buy-it-now of $10,000.00. I emailed him politely that he might not want to waste fees because he had a one hundred dollar item. We emailed back and forth several times, as I explained in detail what exactly he had as compared to what he thought he had. Told him how he could tell the difference and did what I could to explain my experience in studying handling so many these items in the course of the last 15 years.

So, as a concession, he revised his listing to have a buy-it-now of $ 1,000.00.
Again, it's worth $ 100.00 not $ 1000.00.

So, as further proof, I sent him a link showing another eBay seller "b", who had a similar item with a buy-it-now of $ 75.00 with no bidders or any interest for several weeks. Listed and re-listed a couple or three times. Along with everybody else, I didn't want seller "b"s item, either.

At that point, I offered seller "a" $ 50.00 for his hundred dollar item. I thought that was fair.

So what does he do ? Turns down my 50 and re-lists it again, starting at 75.

I guess he likes giving eBay their fees.

And I felt like I gave him a pretty nice education, worth more than the extra 25 he hoped to squeeze from the public. Maybe someone will buy it, but it won't be me. I'm even out at 50 now, too.
I have completely lost interest in the item.

Is that wrong, you think ?

I ask you, gentle readers, is seller "a" a good businessman "with his own money and paintings" like Mr. anonymous who sent me hate mail last month or two calling me an "irrelevant know it all" ?

((Anonymous said...
What year was it that you were last relevant?Also when was it that you actually owned one of these with your own money,and didnt have to beg paintings from others that are actually good business people with their own money and paintings?
Dinosaurs come to mind.....))

Or is seller "a" a jerk ?

Or am I the jerk for wasting so much time ?

Or for whining ?

Florida economy, no bullshit...........

2010-04-02T08:30:00.000-07:00

.........Nope, it's dog shit.

Surprising (well....to me, duh ) information is hidden in this story about dogshit and the trials and tribulations of dealing with it.

As you know, I like to copy and paste stuff from AOL.

Here you go:

When the housing market finally improves in this country, is all we really have to look forward to is a lot more poo in the streets?

That particular reward came along with a booming housing market in downtown Tampa, Florida. Buyers have snatched up condos and rental units in recent months, after prices were pummeled by the housing market collapse. The area's population has zipped from almost zero to some 3,000 residents, Paul Ayres, the director of marketing for the Tampa Downtown Partnership, tells a local website.

It turns out that a lot of these new downtown residents have brought their pets with them -- along with a pretty inconsiderate attitude toward their new neighbors. Now, Tampa is grappling with a virtual explosion of dog poo.

It's a nuisance for residents who mush dodge errant dog poo like landmines. But it's also a health issue, since the feces can end up being washed down storm sewers and into water systems without being treated.

To combat the problem, new Pooch Stations are being set up in downtown Tampa, plastic bag dispensers and bins where pet owners can dispose of the package. Postcards are also being handed out to remind folks to pick up after their animals. "When your pet has finished its business, do yours by cleaning it up! It's the law!" scold the cards.

Of course, there are fines of $150 for not cleaning up after your pet, but they are rarely enforced.

In some cases, downtown property managers have started issuing fines to to tenants in the their buildings who refuse to pick up their dog's droppings, according to a recent Tampa Tribune article.

Lynda Remund, director of district operations at the Tampa Downtown Partnership, told the paper, "We've have guides who have witnessed this happening and told the owner to clean it up, only to be told that, 'It's your job to clean it up!'"

"Well," replies Remund, "guess what? It's not!"

Somehow, as the nation struggles to heal its housing markets, I find it difficult to think that the folks at Treasury or FHA or the too-big-to-fail banks are giving much thought to the potential poo problem that has arisen in downtown Tampa. Maybe they should. Who better than our government officials and esteemed CEOs to deal with poo?

Charles Feldman is a journalist, media consultant and co-author of the book, "No Time To Think-The Menace of Media Speed and the 24-hour News Cycle." He has written about real -estate related issues for several years. This is his very first post about poo!

Livingston Roberts painting

2010-03-31T08:43:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I'm moved to give a quick and easy free appraisal on things. I don't know why, but I do.

Here's an example, one of the trials and tribulations faced by dealers and collectors in general. People think we are all liars.

I'll just post the 3 or 4 emails from XYZ this morning.

In a message dated 3/30/2010 5:18:11 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, XYZ.com writes:
Hello,

I have, in my home, a pair of Livingston Roberts paintings. I am looking to
sell them to the right home. Can you give me some advice on doing so?

Thank You,

XYZ

On Mar 31, 2010, at 7:51 AM, Hwymnbnb@aol.com wrote:

Hi. The right home is very hard to find right now due to the economy.

I need advice myself, and I work this market 24/7 !

If you can find an auction house, or use eBay, they should bring 200-300 each.

I, too, wish it were more. You should wait to sell them.

BOB

www.highwaymen-buy-sell-trade.com
www.highwaymenart.blogspot.com

In a message dated 3/31/2010 10:09:34 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, XYZ.com writes:

Oh my! Thank you for the info.
Things must be really bad right now, since less than 2 months ago Al Black told us we were looking at 5K per painting! I guess Things change fast. Thanks again for your time.
XYZ

No, XYZ, nothing has changed.

I could just say "Most of the market knows he's a "scoundrel", and leave it at that.

Instead you get this:

Al Black went to prison for several years for some kind of financial deceit.
Now he's out and he's putting out a public image as an angel. Facts.

You get straight plain English from here. Some people call me a know-it-all.

Al was using the theory of "strategic prevarication", a course they teach at Harvard Law School. Or maybe someone misinformed him. Period.

I have nothing against Al Black. I find him to be a likable aggressive businessman.

He didn't know his work was printed in full color in the NY Times until I personally showed it to him last February in The Safety Harbor Museum. No one had thought to inform him for eight years. So, I too, have met and spoken with Al Black.

It theoretically psychologically makes his paintings worth more to whomever may be listening if he embellishes market values.

At the absolute peak of the market 4-5 years ago, your two were worth about 1250.00 apiece, closer to 1000, but never even close to 5000.
I have bought and sold several pairs just like them, and seen maybe a hundred similar, so I know peak market results for a fact.

Al Black wasn't there at that time, he was busy.

Al would like you to believe that his own paintings are certainly worth many thousands as well, his old ones, but especially the ones he painted yesterday. Any amateur who knows how to spell Google can find auction records for any of these paintings with very little trouble, by any of the highwaymen.

The truth lies there, in public records, as well as in what I'm telling you.

I don't really blame Al for it, in a way, because it makes good greedy business sense to try to sell high. File that under sales approach in your business file. Embellishing would be a legal term for it.

Don't hold it against me for telling you the truth. Your paintings are very nice, obviously original, and they appeal to my eye. We couldn't call them masterpieces by Livingston Roberts, however.
I only wish (harder than even you, maybe) that your beloved paintings were worth closer to 5000 apiece.

And things are really bad right now, you're right about that.

I appreciate your thanks, and I have given you even more personal free time out of that appreciation.

I'll make you famous, too.
I am going to post a form of our emails in my blog, but I won't use your name or address.

You can be XYZ.

I try to stay away from the negative parts of this market when I post stuff, but I'm not afraid to call a silver-tongued devil a silver-tongued devil.

And, as you found out, sometimes I give free appraisals.

BOB

FOLLOWING UP

XYZ was very respectful and sent the following response the next day.
I appreciate that and thank her publicly. Here it is:

Bob,
I love getting the truth even if it hurts (since hubby has been out of
work for one year this very day). Integrity is very important to me so
I apprecate your information. My husband has a computer repair
business that we are trying to grow in these hard times. So I
understand fully and apprecate your giving me a free appraisal. We are
inexperinced with this stuff so your help was takin with open ears. ;-)
I will keep on plugging and you have a blessed rest of the week.
Thanks again for your time.
XYZ

Harold Newton's work

2010-03-30T08:35:00.000-07:00

Ah, gentle readers, here's a pretty one. You know how almost everybody loves "them red trees, them Poinsettias, that what you call 'em ? "

Well, almost.......

Gaze upon a classic Harold masonite Indian River Flamboyant while I think about how to arrange my arrogant classic know-it-all comments.

Stay tuned, Smitty..........

http://cgi.ebay.com/Real-Highwaymen-Painting-Harold-Newton-Poinciana-Tree_W0QQitemZ120549033698QQcmdZViewItemQQptZArt_Paintings?hash=item1c114846e2

Highwaymen art in West Palm

2010-03-25T05:41:00.000-07:00

Yup, heading over there today for set-up.

There's a map on my website for the Fairgrounds on Southern.

click on show schedule.

ALSO

APRIL IS ALMOST HERE.
IF YOU'RE IN NORTH FLORIDA CHECK THIS OUT.
Bring me stuff, too, if you're coming.

Avonlea Antique Mall
Apr. 24 - Highwaymen Art Show
Apr. 24 - Highwaymen Art Show
Join us Saturday, April 24 from 11 am to 5:00 pm for the First Annual Avonlea Antique Mall Highwaymen and Florida Art Show. Admission is FREE.
The show will feature Bob LeBlanc, Florida Art Connoisseur & Specialist, who will provide us with FREE oral evaluations on Florida Art.
Also, Catherine Enns, author of the book "The Journey of the Highwaymen" will join us for a book signing from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm.
In addition, we will have an extensive variety of Florida Art and Memorabilia on display and for sale throughout the mall.
This event is a MUST for all collectors. See you there!!!

Joe Biden speaks in real terms.

2010-03-23T16:59:00.000-07:00

He showed the proper respect by calling him Mr. President.
He could have called him something else, eh ?
After all, they're buddies.

Someone on TV just said he's in hot water. Grow up, America.
He didn't mean for it to go public.

There is not a more powerful adjective in the English language. It gets your attention.

From AOL (because that's the easiest to cut/paste).

Biden Drops F-Bomb at Health Care Bill Signing

(March 23) -- Few Americans would argue that today's signing of health care reform legislation into law wasn't a big deal. The choice of adjectives used to describe the passage of the new law, however, is a matter of fierce dispute.Unfortunately for Joe Biden, an open mic at the White House signing ceremony captured the vice president's chosen adjective loud and clear. In an aside to President Barack Obama after introducing him to the cheering audience assembled in the East Room, Biden let fly with a characteristic, off-the-cuff assessment of the moment:"Mr. President, this is a big f---ing deal," Biden said.

I'll leave it at that in case it offends some of you more sensitive folks, silly as that seems to me.

Davy Crockett had to deal with highwaymen, didn't he ?

2010-03-22T06:40:00.000-07:00

So, rest in peace, Fess Parker.

You younger folks don't even know what I'm talking about, but when I was seven years old, the brightest stars in the sky came diectly from Walt Disney and his new television program. Can you even imagine TV in black and white ?

Didn't matter, our imaginations made all the fireworks at the beginning of the show seem like they were in living color.

"When you wish upon a star,
makes no difference who you are,
when you wish upon a star,
your dreams come true."

Followed by, (after the inevitable commercial),

" Born on a mountain top in Tennessee,
greenest state in the land of the free,
raised in the woods so's he knew every tree,
kilt him a b'ar,
when he was only three.
Davy....
Davy Crockett,
king of the wild frontier."

Stupid Tennessee people calling a bear a bar, but I got past that.

And I knew a three year old couldn't kill a puppy, let alone a bear.

Lies, but whatever. Disney showing us what we better get used to here in good old America..

From Wikipedia:
“The Ballad of Davy Crockett” was introduced on the very first episode of “Disneyland” on Oct. 27, 1954, and was dashed together in about 20 minutes by Tom Blackburn, the script writer for the series, who had never written a song before, and George Bruns, the head staff composer for the Disney organization. Mr. Disney himself suggested that the words of the song be used to move the plot along. “The lyrics will pick it up for the kids,” he said. “It’s what I call a comic-book approach.”

The greatest program of all time was the Legend of Davy Crockett, presented by Disney, and starring Fess Parker as Davy Crockett and Buddy Ebson as his sidekick, Georgie Russell and premiered the day before my seventh birthday.
It was probably sponsored by Chevrolet.

"See the U S A,
in your Chev-ro-lay,
America's the greatest land of all.."

I wanted a coon-skin cap, but my folks wouldn't allow it. At least they let me spend the earnings that I got bicycling around Waltham picking up and redeeming two cent bottles and cans on Davy Crockett bubblegum cards. See, I've always been an entrepreneur. Looking back, and tying this dribble into business, that was when I learned about diversification in a collectible market. Before that I only collected baseball cards. But I digress.

Anyway, Davy could kick anyone's ass, and Georgie had his back. Sweet relationship. Man love. Yeah, I went for that at the age of seven. There were no stinky girls in this program.

Only truth, justice, and the American way........... Wait.. .....That was Superman.

I loved these two characters as though they were real. I lived outside of Boston, but these guys made me want to move to Tennessee, but back a hundred years, and be their third sidekick. Just give me a knife and a long rifle, I could live in the woods.

Maybe I should do just that right now, eat squirrels and birds and stop worrying about sales and money.

Again I digress. Call it stream of consciousness. Whatever, no one reads this anyway.

It was truly a great show, Sunday nights, and I was nothing less than ecstatic when I lay down on the floor in front of the TV to see it every week.

Those damn bloodthirsty Indians (they were evil in the 1950's, not nice like today when we need them for legal gambling) couldn't beat Davy and his crew. Mike Fink and his semi-amusing, but cut throat river pirate guys couldn't beat them in a fight or a race, even when the bad guys cheated, like we all knew they would. I drew endless pictures of those crazy looking boats and their crews poling it down the river.

Alas, finally Davy was overrun by Mexicans, but it took thousands of them, attacking the Alamo.
He had his chance to escape, but, by God, he stuck it out and fought for what was RIGHT.

Anyone see any parallels there to life on our southwest borders today ?

Fess Parker re-appeared a few years later as Daniel Boone in a new TV series, but I totally rejected it, refused to watch. How could Davy Crockett also be Dan'l Boone ? Ridiculous.

So, rest in peace, Fess Parker, my earliest childhood hero,

and say hello to my adult hero, George Carlin for me.

Breaking news.....the rich get richer.

2010-03-11T03:19:00.000-08:00

Copy/paste from AOL this morning.

Sometimes I just can't help it, posting this kind of stuff, as I struggle along, trying to keep up with monthly bills.

I am writing this for the regular people, the non-millionaires, a group in which I am solidly ensconced. I am one of you.

Here's a real shocker (he sarcastically wrote). The rich have gotten richer.

(March 10) -- As America's economy starts to recover, membership in the millionaires' club is also rising again. After taking a dive in 2008, the number of U.S. households with a net worth of at least $1 million (not including the primary residence) grew 16 percent last year to 7.8 million, according to Spectrem Group. That number peaked in 2007 at 9.2 million, then fell to 6.7 million the next year as stock prices and real estate values tumbled.The super-rich got richer last year too. The number of households worth $5 million or more increased 17 percent to 980,000.Spectrem Group President George H. Walper Jr. called the growth in America's population of millionaires "welcome news for an economy still working to recover."Wall Street's rebound was a key to driving the ranks of millionaires higher, said Tom Taulli on Blogging Stocks. He predicted that wealthy investors will eventually get more aggressive and spur greater economic growth.However, a rising tide might not lift all boats equally. In his analysis of the Spectrem report, The Atlantic's Daniel Indiviglio noted that "the recovery thus far has been better for wealthier than poorer Americans." Spectrem, a Chicago-based financial consulting firm, bases its report on its annual survey of 3,000 households, which has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.

I hope it doesn't seem like I'm whining. I know everybody prefers a winner, that's just the way it is. The "Image is Everything" theory truly works for an entrepreneur.
I have done everything I can afford to do to put up a great image by dealing with the truth and nothing but the truth, (so help me God.)

Maybe I should explain just what it is that I actually do. Bare my soul, so to speak.
If it backfires, so be it. I mean, how much worse can it get than to invest (they are not free) in three consecutive shows in February and have a total of $ 250.00 in gross sales ?

I am a one man band. I pick the shows to do and the hotels to stay in. I load the van, drive it, unload it, set up the display, do the buying, the selling, the trading, load the van back up and drive home again. I'm not getting any younger and this hurts. I live on ibuprofin.

OK, that's whining. Cut me a little slack this one time.

First of all, every penny of income for me is derived from sales of the product or services I offer. My opportunity to sell comes from exposure on the internet and at these weekend shows around Florida where I display my inventory. I've been doing this since 1995. Prior to this, since 1973, I was involved in the rare coin market, where I did the same thing, with a slightly different collectible product, while flying to coin shows around the country.

We all know, or should know, that collectible markets are ruled by the basic tenets of supply and demand. The better items I deal in mostly have a fixed supply (deceased artists) and a variable demand. When demand increases, prices, or values increase. Likewise, when demand is down, values follow. Negative news, yes, and I've been begged to pretend otherwise, but I deal only in the truth. Demand is down for the type of art that formerly was in demand by "everyman", the more affordable works. With few exceptions, values are down for both better and affordable works of art.

Define "affordable". It's only my opinion, but for a point of reference, I'm saying that these are items I offer for sale priced at less than $ 3,000.00. These include decorative framed prints and original paintings from $ 15.00 and up. They simply are not selling in today's economy. At a recent show in Tampa, a customer was attracted to an unsigned oil painting I had on display with a sticker price on it of $ 125.00. I mean, it's a NICE one, too. This customer was mesmerized, I quietly watched as she stared at it for 2 or 3 minutes, then I approached her. I initiated the conversation with something innocuous like, "Isn't that a pretty one ?" "Oh, yes", she said, "it matches my decor perfectly, I know just where I would put it." Putting on my "closer's cap", looking for another "yes", I said, "Well, never mind the sticker price, I would really love for you to have it to enjoy in your home, so if you'll agree to purchase it, I'll let you have it for
$ 75.00."

"I'll have to think about it," she said, and off she ran, never to return. She was "everyman". These are the items which we successfully sold 10 or 15 pieces at every show a few years ago.

This, gentle reader, is not exactly evidence of the economy starting to improve, eh ?

We are stuck in the doldrums, and until everyman begins to loosen up a bit, we're gonna stay there.

Again I say, demand is down, prices have followed, it's time to buy.

The opportunity is staring you in the face. The economy will improve when everyman begins to spend again. Prices will follow upwards and everyman will be rewarded along with the wealthy folks who ARE NOW buying art.

Meanwhile, unless there is a change in the general malaise, the rich will continue to get richer, and our blood will flow.

H Newton paintings for sale

2010-03-09T08:10:00.000-08:00

First two on my website's Harold Newton page are still available, colorful masonites, nice small sizes.

Click on this: www.highwaymen-buy-sell-trade.com .

or copy and paste this :

http://www.highwaymen-buy-sell-trade.com/Harold%20Newton.htm

Highwaymen Money

2010-02-17T07:35:00.000-08:00

The headline story on The Onion today.

It should be self explanatory.

U.S. Economy Grinds To Halt As Nation Realizes Money Just A Symbolic,
Mutually Shared Illusion 02.16.10

WASHINGTON—"I've spent the last 24 years in this room yelling 'Buy, buy! Sell, sell!' but what have I actually accomplished? All I've done is move arbitrary designations of wealth from one column to another," said longtime stock trader Michael Palermo.

I've spent the last forty years doing the same damn thing, just not with stocks, but rather with hard assets........

Highwaymen information 2010 update

2010-02-16T08:12:00.000-08:00

Here's a you tube by a fairly credible appraiser, on TV in Palm Beach County. Looks like he knows what he's talking about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpE_t7FX7wM

HOWEVAH...........................................

As confident, credible and as knowledgeable as he seems, he has made some statements that need to be corrected if you're interested in accurate information.

There are sprinklings of MISINFORMATION in the video, although Mr. Lukes did get some things correct. Even though he comes across as an expert on highwaymen paintings, it's pretty sloppy over-all work at best.

Oh, God, I'm so judgmental.

These things he tells us :

1. "Most are signed on the front or on the back".
..................well...yeah, this is fairly accurate, most are signed on the front, though rarely on the back. Many unsigned ones, and there are many, have the artist's rubber stamp inked on the back. Hair, Baker, Carroll immediately come to mind as examples I've seen of this practice.

Exception : Lately, the last several years in particular, many of the artists have made themselves available at shows and "highwayman celebrations" around the state. A along with the craze for collecting highwayman autographs in some of the several books about this art, collectors have brought vintage signed pieces for the artists to sign AGAIN and they usually will sign on the back (the verso in art speak). Mary Ann Carroll will usually add a "God bless U" to her signature. I brought her one of her early unsigned ones to sign several years ago, when the Grant Mall was owned and operated honorably by the "Dynamic Duo" of Chris and Terry. She "God Blessed" me on the back. I liked it. We can all use a little blessing now and then, eh, gentle readers ?

2. " The highwaymen began in the forties and are still painting today."
......................well. ...........Most of the LIVING highwaymen are still painting today. But that's nit-picking, so I won't hammer him for that.. BUT how many articles and books have been written stating that they began in 1954 or 55 with Harold Newton and Alfred Hair meeting up with A E Backus ? A hundred ? Sloppy, sloppy research Mr Lukes. Unforgivable.

3. All are painted on board, and the board he uses for his example is a Gibson on upson board ( I assume judging from the front. )
..............well..............Most vintage pieces from the 60's to the early 80's were on upson, and most are found in crown molding frames, however early pieces by Hair and Newton were often on artists' canvasboard, or even stretched canvases. When the Upson Manufacturing Co. in NY discontinued the manufacture of their board, most of the artists switched to masonite.

Harold Newton, in particular, painted on anything. He would buy thrift store frames and paint his own painting right on top of whatever painting or print was already in that frame. I have bought, sold, and seen many of these, perhaps a dozen. Last year I sold one by Harold that was painted directly on the GLASS of a thrift store frame. The H Newton I sold to Geoff Cook in 2002 that graces the cover of the first highwaymen video documentary was painted on a thin piece of cardboard.

I met a woman at one of my shows whose husband was a used car dealer. He bartered with Harold for a car or a pick up truck, I forget which. He was allowed to make his payments with paintings. When the day came that he was several payments late, the dealer began to look for him with the idea of re-possessing the vehicle, and eventually found him. The vehicle had been painted with beach scenes filled with naked girls running around in the sand. "Girls Gone Wild" decades ahead of its time. The lady seemed credible to me, there would be no reason for her to make that up, but I always forget to ask Harold's contemporaries if they remember that.

4. Mr.Lukes appraised the painting shown at about $ 750.00 and he is amazingly accurate. I don't know what year this video was shot, but in the year 2010, he is right on the money, which is all anyone cares about anyway, right ? What is my painting worth TODAY ?

Update 02/18/10

Be sure to click on the comments. I got hate-mail.

I absolutely LOVE hate-mail. It seems to come from people who....
1. can't handle the truth.
2. can't construct a proper sentence.
3. don't realize that they are exposing their own inadequacies.
4. rely on spell check to spell anonymous.

Please, sir, may I have another ?
.......................................sincerely, Scruffy LeBlog.

Highwaymen videos, found while surfing you tube

2010-02-12T04:13:00.000-08:00

While the reason I have a blog, or even a website
( http://www.highwaymen-buy-sell-trade.com/ )
is to generate purchases or sales of vintage highwaymen art, I try to continue educating the public with links to informative highwaymen stuff.

This morning, before I head up to Inverness to set up the show this weekend, I found a story about the opening reception of the exhibition I attended last Thursday at Nova University in Davie. There was a little song, a little dance, but not a lttle seltzer down your pants. Remember the eulogy at the funeral for the clown on the Mary Tyler Moore show, anyone ?

The reception was well attended, standing room only, by over a hundred new faces.

I loved that part. New faces.

I didn't mind a couple of glasses of red wine, either. Made me feel sophisticated.

So here's a brief write-up in the Sun Sentinal which also has a link to the President of Nova getting some face time.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/davie/fl-cn-highwaymen-0214-20100211,0,7637732.story

If you go see the exhibition, the first painting on the left is an early canvasboard Harold Newton that I bought and sold last year. So many Harolds I sold that I wish I could have afforded to keep, this is one of them.

Then, surfing around you-tube, I found a nice little interview with Mary Ann Carroll.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oOaLYbUXpg&feature=related

And a pretty cool one featuring Robert Butler.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ob8nXTI7st8&feature=related

Then a longer one ( 7 minutes ) with both of them featured.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEYei_GeMs8&feature=PlayList&p=F1DE1B462E8E5DE1&index=0

Enjoy them, gentle readers, I did.

Highwaymen, NOT.....Just learned this today.......

2010-02-11T03:22:00.000-08:00

.......and it relates to my opinion stated on Dec 3, which follows :

Tiger's in Florida, right ? And in the news, right?
And I imagine most everyone has been inundated with the story of the Thanksgiving evening car crash, on private property, in Windmere Florida. If you follow sports news, as I do, you can't escape it. Personally, I'm mostly disgusted by the "enquiring minds want to know" atmosphere that seems to be permeating our society. I don't watch Inside Edition, or TMZ, or any of that other crap that glorifies celebrity gossip and scandal. I'm big on personal privacy. Real big.

Here's what I learned this morning, I imagine it's true, I didn't check :

Did you know that Tiger made the front page of the New York Post for 20 consecutive days after Thanksgiving? The previous record was 19 consecutive days dedicated to the 9/11 attacks.

The Big Rotten Apple. High society, eh ?

Hey, wait, ..................am I glorifying celebrity gossip and scandal ?

Nah...I'm just sayin', it ain't right.

highwaymen repro listed H Newton eBay

2010-02-09T08:36:00.000-08:00

Just so you know, here's the newest misleading eBay listing. We'll see how long this lasts.

Here's the link.:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Florida-Highwaymen-painting-H-Newton-repro_W0QQitemZ280462129014QQcmdZViewItemQQptZArt_Paintings?hash=item414cd87776

It is what it is, depending on what your definition of "is" is.

With apologies to President Clinton. (and we know what he's getting probably right about now, don't we, gentle readers ?)

Highwaymen paintings info.....

2010-02-02T08:36:00.000-08:00

I spend a lot of Internet time surfing around for highwaymen news. I figure I should know everything that's going on, after all, I work this market 24/7 and have since 1995.

I came upon this on Monroe's Gray Brewer website the other day. I'm sure you're aware that Monroe wrote the first book about the highwaymen, published in 2001, almost 10 years ago. Where does the time go ?

Here's a copy/paste for you :
Gary Monroe literally wrote the book on the Highwaymen (more than one book actually), and has become recognized as the leading expert on Highwaymen history and interpretation. His site has an excellent viewing gallery of Highwaymen paintings, information about his books on the Highwaymen and other South Florida subjects, as well as collections of his critically acclaimed photography.

History and interpretation of the highwaymen, I'll give him that.
As long as we know, gentle readers, who is recognized as the the leading expert on evaluation and interpretation of the highwaymen art MARKET. We DO know who that is, do we not ?

Here's another from Monroe's other website:
Gary Monroe has given 200 public and private lectures about the Highwaymen and self-taught Floridian art throughout the state and beyond, having earned the decisive voice in interpreting these interesting and often challenging artworks.

Impressive, however..............................
Yours truly had given literally hundreds upon hundreds of public and private lectures about the highwaymen from 1995 to 2001. In those six years, before the publication of that first book, I estimate my antique show presence at 216 shows, 3 different shows a month times 6 years. Did almost every monthly Piccadilly, Mt. Dora, Scott's in Atlanta and many more throughout Florida. At those 216 shows, most of them 3 days long, showing newspaper and magazine clippings written by Fitch and Klinkenberg stapled on a cork-board as proof, I have told the highwaymen story, as we knew it at the time, at least five times per day. Over a thousand mini seminars, informing the public of the history, the interpretation, and the fair market value of whatever I had for sale in inventory at the time.
The motive was (and still is) an attempt at actual commerce. Buy or sell one of these interesting paintings, right ? Try to create commerce.
In the last ten years, the mini seminar count is easily in the thousands. I've averaged the same approximately 3 shows a month for a total of 360 more shows.
Add them all up, we got about 600 shows. Reality could be higher. I'm too lazy to go through all my stuff and actually count them, so I estimate. 600 shows, 5 lectures a show, YOU do the math. That's a lot of lectures.
And still, I meet 2 or 3 people each show who have never heard of the highwaymen. Not surprising when one considers the size of the population, but it shows you how we still have a long way to go to reach the public with the story.
Even with the publication currently standing at 3 Backus books (Peterson, Firestone, Peterson), 3 highwaymen books (Monroe, Beatty, Enns), 2 Harold Newton books (Monroe, Humphries), the Buckner brothers book (Ellis Jr.), and the Al Black Prison Pictures (Monroe).
Even with three video documentaries sold to National Public Broadcasting, which, by the way, should be airing on local PBS stations this month for Black History Month.
Even with color articles in the NY Times, LA Times, Boston Globe and even People Magazine (2003) this market has only scratched the surface.

Investment potential in these vintage paintings that can be so beautiful in your home while we out-wait this pathetic economy ?
One word. PHENOMENAL.

Here's a copy/paste from some self-help wise man at AOL aimed at entrepreneurs. I think of myself as an entrepreneur, so I read things like this. It couldn't hurt.

Find ways to charge a premium

Get the vision

Use long-term thinking

Invest. In the recession, there has been too much emphasis on saving money, which can often be short-sighted. Instead, you need to make investments to make your offering standout. True, this is far from easy in a tough economy. However, if done right, the payoff can be huge.

I have damn near forty years as an entrepreneur in a buy and sell market. Supply and demand, basic economics, learned and earned on the street dealing with the public. I agree with all that insight.

The better works by the deceased artists are certainly worth a premium.

The vision is finding new customers to replace those with no wall space.

Long term means believing the values will improve when the economy cycles upward.

The investment (for me) is time, money and effort.

The investment for you, gentle reader, should be clear.
Demand is down, now is a great buying opportunity.

highwaymen appraisals

2010-01-27T02:08:00.001-08:00

IF YOU ARE OVER ON THE WEST COAST SATURDAY, JAN 30, BE SURE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FREE OFFER FOR VERBAL APPRAISALS.

THE FLORIDIANA SHOW IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY YEAR.

THE MAP IS ON MY WEBSITE.
WWW.HIGHWAYMEN-BUY-SELL-TRADE.COM
CLICK ON "SHOW SCHEDULE".

HERE'S THE LINK TO THE ST PETE TIMES

http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/floridiana-festival-offers-oceans-of-kitsch-memorabilia-and-highwaymen-art/1068284

THE TAMPA TRIBUNE IS SCHEDULED TO RUN ITS STORY TODAY, WEDNESDAY.
WHEN I SEE IT, I'LL POST IT HERE.

UPDATE 01/27/10 : The Tampa Tribune just emailed regarding their article on the January 30th show, which discusses the Florida Highwaymen artists and vintage Florida memorabilia. Although the piece had been scheduled to appear in today's paper, it would have had to be cut down, so they are holding it to run in the January 29th "Friday Extra" weekend pull-out entertainment section.

KEEP ME BUSY, PEOPLE. BRING STUFF.

I HOPE TO GIVE YOU A VERY PLEASANT SURPRISE.

Highwaymen art sales at Venice show................

2010-01-18T14:00:00.000-08:00

Good sales, good news, economy must be improving.

Speaking of the economy (he shrewdly segued)...........

I can't help but share this forwarded email I got last week.

It would certainly help my own personal economy, but I don't really have a job suitable for many others.

The Fix

There recently was an article in the St. Petersburg, Fl. Times. The Business Section asked readers for ideas on: "How Would You Fix the Economy?" I think this guy nailed it!

Dear Mr. President, Please find below my suggestion for fixing America 's economy. Instead of giving billions of dollars to companies that will squander the money on lavish parties and unearned bonuses, use the following plan. You can call it the "Patriotic Retirement Plan":

There are about 40 million people over 50 in the work force.

Pay them $1 million apiece severance for early retirement with the following stipulations:

1) They MUST retire. Forty million job openings - Unemployment fixed..

2) They MUST buy a new American CAR. Forty million cars ordered – Auto Industry fixed.

3) They MUST either buy a house or pay off their mortgage – Housing Crisis fixed.

It can't get any easier than that!!

P.S. If more money is needed, have all members in Congress pay their taxes...

Mr. President, while you're at it, make Congress retire on Social Security and Medicare. I'll bet both programs would be fixed pronto! If you think this would work, please forward to everyone you know. If not, please disregard.

Snapshot of 1995 Highwaymen art market history

2010-01-12T13:47:00.000-08:00

I sent an email to a couple of friends who have consigned a Jane Peterson watercolor to me to offer at the shows I do around the state. They had inquired about any results from the last few shows since they gave it to me. They also sent a link to a new highwaymen website.

My response became such a long rambling thing that I figured it was perfect for my blog, which as you know, gentle reader, is filled with long boring rambling stuff.

If it seems a little personal, that's because it was meant for a couple of friends and then, due to a combination of laziness and the new popularity of "reality" things, I decided to just copy and paste the whole damn email.

Here you go.

Hi, guys.

The Peterson is getting its share of compliments. One jerk could only talk about how many fakes there are before I started ignoring him so he'd go away. He wouldn't listen, only wanted to talk, so I faked a phone call.

I spent 1000 in expenses to do WPB and had 2 sales, 150.00 and 400.00.
Another 1000 for Sanibel, 1 sale, 100.00.
Deland cost about 800.00, ended up with zero sales. I don't count the 15.00 book because I tried to give it to you, not sell it. I accepted your money because I didn't feel like arguing with a hard ass guinea from Jersey over fifteen bucks.
I'm not whining or complaining, I'm just reporting these results.

I found Gray Brewer's new site last week, too. Looks like Monroe got to his sons. Gray Brewer was the first real hoarder of highwaymen paintings. Back in the infancy of the market, 1995 or 96, John Phillips went to meet him in Vero or wherever he was on US 1 somewhere. He got a stack of slides and we looked at them together to pick out the best ones. There were over a hundred and most were Harolds. Some of the best were all spotty from mildew or whatever, stored in some barn / warehouse up there.

This was long before we knew people pictures were the good ones, but I don't think Brewer had any, anyway.

After reviewing them, and much discussion, John drove back up and convinced him, overwhelmed him, actually, by offering 500.00 apiece to let him pick out and buy 10 Harolds. He didn't want to sell any of them, but John persuaded him to let go of ten, because 500 each and five grand in cash was WAY WAY WAY too much at the time. You could buy Harolds for 25 to 150 everywhere back then.

As always, Phillips got the best of the deal and came away with 7 or 8 magnificent jumbos and some absolute killers to finish off the 10 picks. I bought 2 of the smaller ones from John, but couldn't get jumbos to fit in my 1990 Buick Regal(we called it the "Silver Bullet", God, I loved that little jet), so I stayed away from them. These paintings were special then and they are still special now. There was also a 24x36 stretched canvas blue and orange seascape in a rope frame that was simply unbelievable. It currently resides in Captiva in a great collection.

Sam Vickers himself got a pair of jumbos, a seascape and a back country, first shot, out of that group of 10. John became friends with Sam and Robbie through that 1st transaction. I was supposed to go with him up to Jax that first trip, but something came up and I couldn't go. Sam drank Scotch with John and Robbie drank Coors Light, no glass, right out of the can like I do. We would have hit it off pretty good, I think. Real people with no pretensions, lots of money but down to earth. Too bad I missed the trip. I regret it to this day.

I certainly heard about Sam's house and his collection, though, in detail and at length from John. The Vickers book by Libby was already out, so I kinda got to see the art that way.

I also knew, because of that sale to Vickers, that the highwaymen market had amazing potential, that Harold's work was solid, desirable, investment quality art, because Sam paid, if I remember, $ 2500.00 each. Buy at 5, sell at 25, gotta like that.

That one deal made me decide to be all in. I saw the light.

This might have been the TRUE birth of the market, shortly after Fitch's first article. John and I grabbed the market by the collar and dragged it along until finally a book got written by someone about the highwaymen in 2001. The author likes to take credit for the "market phenomenon". He has a semi-valid point, but a lot of time, energy and money was spent working this market long before he stumbled in.

If that sounds arrogant, I don't care. I'll be arrogant again tomorrow.

The Vickers-Phillips friendship opened the gates for the easy sale of the orange grove Backus now on the dust jacket cover of Gentle Breezes. John, through luck, bought it and a back country pine from an attorney for whom a high school friend's wife worked. She had seen them in his office. Sam already had a Backus, but wanted the orange grove. He had his brother come over and he bought the back country scene. I remember thinking it was the nicer picture of the two, not appreciating the importance and rarity of the orange grove at the time.

Some of those other Harold jumbos ended up eventually in Otto's collection, including "moondance" for sure, and "swamp monster", I think.

Next show is Venice followed by Melbourne (we'll have ribs again at Smoky Bones) followed by Memorabilia in Gulfport. The Tampa Tribune is supposed to interview me about the Floridiana memorabilia thing this week or next. If it happens, you'll see a positive spin on things regarding Florida art and VINTAGE highwaymen art.

I might post some of this stuff (the story got long, eh) on my blog when I can get in again. Can't right yet.

We had a worm and I lost everything including half a book I had written on the Harold market.
Discouraging to say the least.
When it rains, it pours, but I will never, ever give up.

I'm like a Boston Terrier. Once they bite on something, they just don't let go.

later, BOB

Merry Christmas everyone

2009-12-24T13:14:00.000-08:00

and a happy and prosperous New Year .

Florida Highwaymen Art

2009-12-23T09:02:00.000-08:00

Finally got around to joining "LinkedIn".

Figured I ought to share it with the three or four of you who actually read this blog. Might get some insight as to why I am the way I am.

"I yam what I yam, and that's all that I yam".

If you're young, you probably never heard of Popeye the sailor man, toot, toot

Starts here.

Summary
My experience and knowledge are reflected in the loyalty of my retail customers. My integrity and ethics are reflected in my repeat business within the trade.My goal has always been to professionally provide a quality product or service at a fair price and to make a fair profit in the process.. This has been true since 1973

Specialties:
There exists no dealer or collector with more experience in researching and trading within Florida's highwaymen art market.

owner at highwaymen-buy-sell-trade.com
Fine Art industry
1995 – Present (15 years)

As a private dealer our works are shown by appointment and displayed at numerous antique and fine art shows throughout the state of Florida.
Sales and marketing is directed to both retail and trade audiences.
We offer fine art appraisal, certificates of authenticity, attribution and appraisal for Florida highwaymen and related art.
Consultation, brokerage, collection counsel and representation for private, corporate and institutional clientele.

owner at leblanc numismatics
Investment Management rare coin industry
1975 – 1995 (20 years)

Established and operated simultaneously two retail coin shop storefronts in downtown Boston located at 36 Province St. and 50 Bromfield St.Professional numismatist specializing in high grade United States gold, silver and copper coins pre-1965.
Wrote a study of Indian cents establishing rarity and market value for CDN (the Grey Sheet) Sept. 1980.
Traveled US attending numismatic conventions and auctions to buy, sell and trade on a full time basis.
Graded coins for both NGC and PCGS in their formative years on a part time basis.
With all my national numismatic contacts still in place, I can currently offer expert consultation on appraisal and liquidation of rare coins for Attorneys handling estates. Having operated a retail storefront in downtown Boston for over a decade, my range of knowledge includes coins, medals, paper money and exonumia of the world from any era. My specialty within US gold coins is focused on the St. Gaudens twenty dollar gold series, 1907 to 1933.

Vice President and Manager at John Dean Coin Co. 31 Bromfield St Boston
Luxury Goods (rare coins) & Jewelry industry
1973 – 1975 (2 years)

Opened and operated a storefront retail and wholesale rare coin shop in the financial district of downtown Boston. Oversaw satellite shops in Watertown, MA and Providence, RI.

Education

Boston University - School of Management
BS, Behavioral Science
1967 – 1971

Cornell University
Hotel Administration
1966 – 1967
Loved the experience of Ithaca but found that HA was the wrong field for me.
Plus it was wicked hard. Wicked hard.
Activities and Societies: Student Agencies, Chi Psi fraternity, Alpha Psi.

Additional Information

Websites:
My Website
My Blog

Groups and Associations:
Life member # 2418 American Numismatic Association.
Founder : Mass Association of Coin Dealers

Personal Information
Phone:
727 809 1691 (Mobile)

Interested In:

consulting offers
expertise requests
business deals

BOB LEBLANC
http://www.highwaymen-buy-sell-trade.com/

Make up your own highwaymen list, Part 2.

2009-12-17T04:15:00.000-08:00

As I surf around, seeing what Highwaymen news might be out there.......
........this from http://www.tc.yourhub.com/ a little old, but it's out here for the world to see.

Make up your own list, part 2. ...or.............
Muddy the waters of the market and cause confusion for the sake of self-promotion.

New additions to the list by a few of the self-proclaimed highwaymen, including the first time I've heard of AJ Brown.

Here it is:

"The original paintings are on display at the Official and Legendary Highwaymen Art Galleries in the Arcade Building in Fort Pierce.
Paintings by Florida Highwaymen AJ Brown, Mary Ann Carroll, Isaac Knight, RA McLendon Sr., RA McLendon Jr., Willie Reagan, Jimmy Stovall, Johnny Stovall and Norman Wright will be available at the live auction. Highwaymen paintings are prized by collectors and art aficionados. The works generate both excitement and high prices at auctions and the artists have a loyal following as their popularity continues to rise. Excitement continues to build as the new collection specifically created for the 2009 event, "Opening our Doors to your Loved Ones," is now featured on-line."

Now..........why would anyone not believe the word "OFFICIAL" ?

It's a good, solid, trust inducing word, "official".

I mean, Billy Yeager claims to be the "official highwaymen curator".

Google him for an exercise in mindless rambling rhetoric and blatant self promotion via riding the highwaymen art bandwagon. (In addition to this blatant self promotion and mindless rambling, of course).
He claims to be the ONLY PERSON IN THE WORLD who knows a genuine highwayman painting from a copy. Everyone else who deals in these things, everyone else, is screwing the public. Better check with him.

" Jesus of Malibu", no arrogance emerges there, right ? A good healthy ego.

Oh, does he have a highwaymen film for sale ?
And it's only $ 30,000.00 ?

I wonder why it hasn't been sold after all these years of offering it on the internet.