My $12 thrift store painting turned out to be a signed print worth $200

I grabbed a dusty landscape at Goodwill because the frame was solid. Took it to a local framer for new glass and he pointed out the artist signature in the corner. Had no idea I was staring at accidental art that actually paid off.

2 comments

2 Comments

emma6841mo ago

It's a nice story but honestly flipping things like this is a total crapshoot and usually a waste of time lol. Most people who run out to thrift stores after reading this are just going to grab random junk that has zero value. The framer probably just saw a name he recognized but that doesn't mean every print with a scribble is worth anything. $200 is barely a drop in the bucket compared to the gas money and hours people will burn chasing this kind of "luck." Frame might be solid but the actual art is still a dusty landscape nobody wanted for $12.

jones.grace1mo agoOG Member

Oh for sure, I've been down that road more times than I'd like to admit. It's a total gamble unless you actually know what you're looking for. I've pulled prints out of goodwill that looked promising and ended up being worth maybe $10 on a good day. The real trick is not just grabbing anything with a frame, you gotta check the back for gallery stickers or limited edition numbers, stuff like that. Even then, you're probably just gonna end up with a pile of frames in your garage. That $12 landscape could be a nice piece for your own wall, but expecting it to pay off like this is setting yourself up for disappointment.