by Roberta Velyn

Created on: March 02, 2008

My favorite piece of art came from a friend's garage sale. She was determined to rid her garage and basement of accumulated clutter, and I admired an unframed canvas - an impressionistic landscape (at least that's what I see when I look at it), done in heavily textured acrylics (or oils - that's how much I know) suggestive of what I consider to be "Group of Seven" style.

"Take it," she said, and I did. The owner of our local framing gallery advised me as to the best frame for the piece, and for that I paid $95. The resulting artwork, which has taken the place of honor over the couch in our living room, may be the only possession that my children will fight over when I die.

I don't know what it's worth. To my friend it was worth nothing. To me it was worth framing. It's the only new piece of art that's been introduced to our home since my husband and I married, and the more I look at it, the better I like it. It's a bit small for the space it occupies, but the vibrancy of the colors makes it impressive.

At flea market prices, pretty much anything that appeals to you will likely qualify as a bargain. According to TheArtWeb .net, "Trust your judgment, trust your emotions, take a chance, have fun." If the work "speaks to you" and gives you pleasure, it's valuable to you.

The Western Art Collector's Guide lists a number of attributes, all of which are very subjective, to be rated in determining the value of a piece of art. It all comes back to "Does it work for you?"

Often the way in which a piece is displayed can take it from flea market kitsch to art gallery treasure. Picture the item in a specific setting - hanging over a particular piece of furniture or on a shelf next to your crystal vase. If you love the item, it will tell you where it wants to be in your home, and chances are, it will complement other things that you already own.

Ultimately, if a work of art "arouse(s) an emotional spark of some kind" (one of the Western Art Collector's Guide attributes to be evaluated) it's worthy of further investigation. The next consideration is the condition of the piece. If it's damaged, can the damage be repaired, or does the damage contribute to its appeal? If it needs cleaning, is there a way to clean it without destroying it?

If you think you want the work in your home, or can visualize it as a gift, there's only one attribute left to evaluate: is the price right? If not, see if you can negotiate a better price, perhaps by purchasing the item in conjunction with a second one. Keep in mind that if you make enough flea market purchasing mistakes, you can set up your own table next week and sell them off to other treasure hunters.

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