Art News Blog

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  Happy Holidays

  Posted: 25-December-2009, 1:27am CET by Woopidoo

  Happy holidays!
  Don't eat or drink too much.
  
  Relax
  Dion
  
  
  
  The santa painting was stolen here.
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  Art Con Changes Tune - Hanks Thomas Scam

  Posted: 16-December-2009, 12:16am CET by Woopidoo

  The good thing about those pathetic art scammers has been that their story never changes. They're moving from place A to place B, they need some of your wonderful art to hang in their new home, and for some strange reason the stupid woman is always pregnant (God help the world if these people do actually breed).
  
  Well, the idiots are evolving now and are starting to change their stories up a bit. Now they're "art dealers" and "art exhibitors" looking to buy your work. Here's an example by the scammer Hanks Thomas..
  
  Hi Andrea,My name is hanks.I'm an art dealer/exhibitor based in bradford in the united kingdom.I deal in original artworks and also showcase them in exhibitions all over the world.I got to see your works via the search engine while looking for artworks of great impression and i'm willing to buy from you the artwork stated as the subject of this email.Kindly let me know if it's available for sale.If yes,quote the price and let me know the method(s) of payment that is acceptable to you.I'm looking forward to reading from you.Have a wonderful day... Regards,Hanks
  
  Lesson for today: Don't accept checks/cheques online when selling artwork. Use Paypal.com or Escrow.com.
  
  Thanks Andrea for sharing. There's more of the email exchange with Hanks Thomas posted on a previous Art Scam post.
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  Masterpieces from Paris in Canberra

  Posted: 12-December-2009, 2:37am CET by Woopidoo

  Probably the best exhibition I have seen in Australia (coming from a fan of Vincent van Gogh and Paul Cezanne). Masterpieces from Paris has 9 Paul Gauguins, 7 Van Goghs and 8 Cezannes. So it's more than one or two good paintings thrown in with a bunch of weaker paintings like the usual "blockbuster" exhibition. The Van Goghs alone are worth making the effort to see the exhibition.
  
  It has been called the "most valuable collection of art ever to be exhibited in Australia."
  
  The works come from the Musee d'Orsay in Paris and will be on display at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra until April.
  
  
  Vincent van Gogh - Starry Night Over the Rhone
  I was surprised by how fresh this painting looks. For some reason I expected it to be smaller and duller than it really is. This painting was worth the 5 hour drive.
  
  
  Vincent van Gogh - Bedroom at Arles
  I thought this painting would be bigger. The Musée d'Orsay version of Vincent's bedroom is a little smaller than the first two versions that he did. Still a great painting.
  
  
  Vincent van Gogh - Portrait of the Artist
  The man himself.
  
  
  Paul Gauguin - Tahitian Women
  I probably should like Gauguin more than I do. He did some really good paintings but I don't think he comes close to Van Gogh or Cezanne. Having said that, I really liked seeing his paintings in the flesh.
  
  I would show some more works but the NGA website was down. In short, Masterpieces from Paris is a must see if you're an Australian. They're easily the best paintings in the country at the moment.