student selling paintings door to door, Bellenden

[Mrs TP]

Anyone else encounter this chap selling final year paintings door to door? I liked some of the stuff and thought he quite genuine but didn't have any cash in the house to purchase - the one I asked about was ?65. What did others think and did anyone buy?

[maxxi]

Okay I could be totally wrong, and I apologise to said art student in advance if I am, but there used to be a scam - back in the early 1980s - where a van would take a handful of young people to a different area every night/weekend, armed with convincing looking prints etc. that cost only a couple of quid, and claiming to be art students trying to 'get by'. These 'students' would charge a lot more and were usually paid a comission on what they sold.

As I say I could be wrong but I would advise a close look at the 'work' anyway.

[Huggers]

he visited us too -he was very polite and as soon as I said I wasnt interested he thanked me and left.

[mynamehere]

It sounds like a young man I spoke with some weeks back on Upland Rd and then met again on Dunstans where he sold several pictures: Part of a start-up Gallery with other mixed European students? Does landscapes? shows work from the group as well as himeself?

[genwilliams]

I think you should be able to tell from looking at a painting, though, whether it's an original or a print.

maxxi Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Okay I could be totally wrong, and I apologise to

> said art student in advance if I am, but there

> used to be a scam - back in the early 1980s -

> where a van would take a handful of young people

> to a different area every night/weekend, armed

> with convincing looking prints etc. that cost only

> a couple of quid, and claiming to be art students

> trying to 'get by'. These 'students' would charge

> a lot more and were usually paid a comission on

> what they sold.

>

> As I say I could be wrong but I would advise a

> close look at the 'work' anyway.

[Sue]

maxxi Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Okay I could be totally wrong, and I apologise to

> said art student in advance if I am, but there

> used to be a scam - back in the early 1980s -

> where a van would take a handful of young people

> to a different area every night/weekend, armed

> with convincing looking prints etc. that cost only

> a couple of quid, and claiming to be art students

> trying to 'get by'. These 'students' would charge

> a lot more and were usually paid a comission on

> what they sold.

>

> As I say I could be wrong but I would advise a

> close look at the 'work' anyway.

xxxxxxx

I remember this in the eighties around this area, but I don't think they were prints, I think they were truly awful original paintings :))

[tiddles]

Yes I have had them round - no complaints - proper paintings of all kinds of styles - some were really good and very resonably priced.

I think they were just being enterprising.

[Mrs TP]

Thanks for the feedback all. It is difficult to judge when someone doing door to door. We were initially suspicious but then did think it quite enterprising and we did like several pictures. Still couldn't help being cynical as all paintings same size, which struck me as a bit odd and also do students really sell their lovingly, crafted final year work? Would like to think it genuine but????

[Link]

He knocked on my door as well about two weeks ago and the poor guy looked sad when I told him I was not interested. I guess the numbers of door to door crime that are out there has left everyone to be more cautious regarding any uninvited guests.

[Huggers]

Mrs TP the paintings prob all the same size because he consistently used same size canvas to work on.

[marc.k1]

Oddly enough, there was a young male also selling his art work in the West Norwood area some weeks back. I wonder how many paintings he has to sell? To be fair they did not look like prints but perhaps sweat shops have changed their field towards the arts.

[kpc]

Sounds quite cheap for "final year paintings" (I'm basing this on my niece's work from last year where her work was around ?300). Also, graduate exhibitions are taking place around now.

[DaveR]

If the paintings are oils of generic type scenes (landscapes and still life) on identical size canvasses then they are almost certainly mass produced in China. Nothing to stop you buying one if you like it, but it won't be a bargain and you won't be supporting struggling art students

[murphy]

DaveR Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> If the paintings are oils of generic type scenes

> (landscapes and still life) on identical size

> canvasses then they are almost certainly mass

> produced in China. Nothing to stop you buying one

> if you like it, but it won't be a bargain and you

> won't be supporting struggling art students

90% sure exactly as you say. If you like the paintings the better bet is to buy several but only pay what you want (just compare the cost with commercial art) you are likely to get the paintings for half the price they are offering it at. The kids will all be on commission only, the artist story is just that I'm afraid, a story, to make the sales patter more interesting, usually kids from overseas trying to earn a few quid. Just tell the seller you know the real story, are happy to buy at a certain price if they want to come back to you at the end of the week, if it's worth it for them they will come back to you.

[bonniebird]

Sounds like the same young man who visited us about 5/6 weeks ago, I said thanks but no thanks in a nice way, he was very polite and went on his way.

[ianr]

If you google 'wholesale oil painting china' you can get an idea of how extensive it is. Found a price list at http://www.oil-painting-wholesaler.com/en/prices.asp.