About Ben Mahmoud Expertise Questions regarding "the business of the arts (ie.artist/dealer relations).
Questions regarding the collecting of contemporary art.
Please keep in mind that I am not a professional appraiser, however, I can direct interested parties to sources of information.
Experience 40 years as professor of art, Northern Illinois University
Curator of University Art Collection (responsible for purchase and care).
Member of the board of directors, Illinois Arts Council.
Juror of many competitions.
See vitae: http://benmahmoud.com/resume.html
Publications Many conference proceedings.
"Advice to Young Artists in a Postmodern Era" with William Dunning, Syracuse University Press, 2000.
Education/Credentials MFA, Ohio University, 1960
Awards and Honors See vitae: http://http://benmahmoud.com/resume.html
Question i have a oil painting signed P. MURPHY of some old sail boats on a harbor any info would be greatly appreciated
Answer You have given very little information to work with. At this point I could not be of any assistance to you. However, it is possible that we can find something if I have more information.
I would like to know the size of the painting. Is the painting on canvas? Oil paint? Any date?
Looking at the back of the work, if painted on canvas what do the canvas stretchers look like. Do they seem hand-made? Maybe they were purchased, and there is a company name stamped on the stretchers.
And, above all, I would need an image to proceed. I don't think you can upload an image in this context, but surely can send me an e-mail with an image as an attachment. My e-mail address is bmahmoud@niu.edu
If you photograph the work, do not use a flash. Put the painting in shadow on a very bright day. A shot of the back of the work might give a clue.
