John Moran Auction - October 13, 2009
My high school friend Johnny Rodriguez and I attended the October 13, 2009 John Moran - California and American Art Auction on a cool rainy night in Pasadena, CA . The economic recession is still having quite and effect on fine art prices. Most of the lots went for below the low end estimate. I kept shaking my head, and wishing I had more than an artist's bank account to bid with.
Of note were two Maurice Brauns Lot 68 a 14x14.25 oil and Lot 113 a 20x24 oil masterpiece, which sold at $5,500 and $19,000 respectively. Prices for very nice Brauns, not seen in years. Lot 147 a very nice Jack Wilkinson Smith 16x20 High Sierra oil solf for $8500. Lot 180 a wonderful Ritchie Benson 26x36 watercolor of tidelands sold for $1,150 well below market for this fine artist. As I say I wish I had unchecked funds, as these paintings were just the tip of the iceberg, and there were bargains galore. The signature piece of the show, a 30x40 Granville Redmond masterpiece sold for $450,000 just under low estimate, but still a price which brought excitement and applause after the gavel. The John Moran three times a year California and American Painting Auction in Pasadena is always well worth the effort to attend.
John Moran Auction - June 23, 2009
Tuesday June 23rd, I attended the John Moran Auction in Pasadena, CA . Again I stayed at the Saga Motel on historic Colorado Blvd.which is a very nice place to stay. It was warm weather but I did not go in theri pool as planned. The auction itself was very nice, but the effect on art sales due to our economic recession/depression was evident. Prices have come down and the Auction offered only 157 Lots as compared to the ususal 250 or so.
Highlights of the show for me included a very nice 25x30 Sam Hyde Harris hazy southern California moutain landscape which sold $17,000 at gavel. There was also a very nice 12x16 Hanson Puthuff "Grand Canyon Vista" sold for $25,000 which was a good price. I always love looking at the wonderful art offered in the California and American Art John Moran Auctions they have in February, June and October.
John Moran Auction - February 17, 2009
I attended the John Moran California and American Art Auction in Pasadena, CA on Tuesday February 17, 2009. There were many very nice lots for sale in this auction. Look in my links section for a link to the John Moran website. Click on Fine Art to view an online catalogue.
Because of the current economic distress, there were many paintings to be bid on for very good prices. Of note were very fine paintings by California masters Guy Rose and William Wendt that sold at very reasonalbe prices in my opinion. One Anna Hills 10x14 Laguna Beach seascape sold for just a touch over $3000, very good painting for the money. An early, qualitiy, 10x14 Sam Hyde Harris painting, "Newport Beach", sold at a 'buyer's price' of $3700.
In any case, I enjoyed my overnight stay at the Saga Motor Hotel on Colorado Blvd in Pasadena very much. I am looking forward to the June 23, 2009 auction and another nice stay in Pasadena. Next time I plan to bring my swim trunks to have a dip in the Saga's pool ... it was tempting this time, but a bit chilly this time around.
This was my first stay at the Saga Motor Hotel and I highly recommend it for those visiting Pasadena, CA. The Huntington Library and Museum, the Norton Simon Art Museum, many cafes, art galleries, the playhouse district, are all nearby.
John Moran Auction - October 21, 2008 Pasadena, CA
I attended the John Moran Auction in Pasadena, CA. John Moran Auctions has a California and American Art Auction three times a year. These usually take place in the Pasadena Convention Center on Green Sreet in February, June, and October. I have been attending for several years now. I always find many pieces that nearly take my breath away. This time among my favorites were Anna A Hills "Fairy Woods" oil, Benjamin Brown's watercolor of "Hillside Eucalyptus,Poppies,and Lupine" (that sold for several times it's auction estimate ... it was exquisite). Other favorites were two Paul Lauritz paintings of Catalina Island , Birger Sandzen's lively watercolor of "River, Estes Park Colorado" , Sam Hyde Harris' oil "Newport Beach" , plus several oils by Dana Bartlett, oils by Hanson Puthuff, Edgar Payne and Paul Grimm. If you are going to be in the Los Angeles/Pasadena area check out this wonderful Auction at their website: www.johnmoran.com .
