I always look through the art bins and shelves in thrift stores hoping to find that one piece that eluded everyone's eye - the Picasso or Dali, a Saul Bass or Paul Rand. I know it is a dream and not realistic, but I always hope for cool things on my hunts and do pretty well.
I'm a sucker for vintage black velvet paintings, mostly from Mexico, and I love anything with big eyes. Not a huge fan of bird art, but I recently found two pieces that just caught my eye. They were hand signed and numbered, but not paintings or drawings. They appeared to be on silk or some sort of cloth.
A quick search of the web on the iPhone and the name M.R. Bebb showed several results for pieces being sold in galleries. Could this be my first real art find worth more than just my love? I bought them, then did the research. According to jrbartgallery.com "Maurice Bebb, an accomplished color etcher, had virtually no formal art training and was self-taught as a printmaker. Following his study at the University of Illinois, Bebb moved to Muskogee, Oklahoma, where he was a florist for many years. He made his first print around 1943, relying on various printmaking technical manuals and his own study of original prints for instruction. Eventually he befriended Charles Capps and Arthur Hall, both of whom gave him advice and encouragement. Most of Bebb’s images featured birds or flowers, often those he observed in Oklahoma or in Minnesota, where he spent his summers. Memberships included Prairie Print Makers and Print Makers Society of California."
Links:
jrb art gallery
moderncraft.blogspot
spencer art exhibit
boston avenue studio fine art print
