How do I find out if a painting I have is worth anything?

Factual Questions
1

hello Everyone,

I was gifted a painting from a friend who was moving. He said to sell it, it’s probably worth $500 to a $1000. I know absolutely nothing about art work. I still don’t understand why painters don’t paint more ducks and farmhouses. This painting is signed Gyory (he told me it was painted by a lady he knew) and dated '88 (I think that’s signifies the date). It’s somewhat abstract, a large naked lady on her side with what appears to be a large cow head above her.

Anyway, I’ve no hope that it’s a million dollar painting, but it just isn’t my style and I have no interest in keeping it. If it has some value how do I find out? I googled the artist and I think it’s this lady, Artist Gyory Painting Sculpture Posters Looks like she has had some success. If it has value how does one go about selling it?

2

That link lists museums that either own her work or have shown her work. You could call a few and ask if they’re interested. If they’re not, ask how to go about selling it.

3

You could do a search for paintings sold to put you in the ballpark. You also might take it to a local art gallery and obtain a educated guess. Or, market it well and see what you get. I mean, at the end of the day it’s worth what someone will pay for it.

4

For that matter, you can contact the studio and see if they’ll sell it as a consignment piece and split the money with you.

5

Here’s someone selling one in an online auction. Looks like the site wants you to register before they’ll show you a sold price.

Assuming that’s the right Gyory.

6

Thanks for the link. That appears to be the artist,signature is right and same format, ie: sig/2 digit date. Estimate is.about $300 for the one in the link. So, if I can sell it, that’s some spending money. Better sold to someone than ending up collecting dust in a closet.

7

I found a painting by a name artist at a Goodwill store. Fortunately it was signed by the artist.

It turned out that there was an art dealer whose specialties included the artist, and he was interested enough in my find to cross the state to examine it first hand.

My Google-Fu paid off!

8

I walked int Sotheby’s once to ask about a signed painting we have that if real is worth maybe gablillions and if not not.

They told me the first thing I should do is mail them as many photos as possible taken as horizontal to the plane of the canvas under strong straking light, and then someone would tell me if they wanted to look at it in person.

ETA: Is “straking” a word? I’m not sure now…

9

I would recommend contacting an art museum, preferably one associated with a college, and go from there. Even if they can’t help you, they can refer you to someone who will.

Good luck! It’s always fun to find something that’s valuable and you didn’t realize it.

10

I’m sure they’d paint farmhouses if someone paid them enough, but the ducks just won’t hold still for that kind of treatment.

11

There are a number of art price websites available:
https://www.google.com/search?q=art+prices&oq=art+prices

Some free, but most charge a subscription fee.

12

Maybe Google the artist first. And usually, a value of a painting (no matter who the artist is) goes higher after it’s had its time in museums.

13

At the least you can google art appraisal + your city and find people who can help you. Any decent sized city will have more than one.