We have been busy at work getting ready for our first “Art for Everyone” fundraiser in New Hampshire! The show will feature drawings, oils, pastels, posters, prints, and watercolors donated to Goodwill stores.  And!  All artwork will be affordably priced.

Come see the incredible pieces of art community members donate on a regular basis and learn about Goodwill’s job training and support services in New Hampshire.

What: Goodwill’s Art for Everyone: A Collection of Donated Art

Where: Kimball Jenkins School of Art, 266 N. Main Street, Concord, NH

When: Friday, June 18, 4 to 8 pm

Why: A fundraiser for Goodwill!

Here is a sneak preview of some of the pieces for sale:

(See more pictures on our Facebook page)

Happy Monday!  There’s nothing like diving into things after a long holiday weekend.  We are busy getting ready for our third bi-annual “Art for Everyone” fundraiser, which is being held this Friday, December 4, from 5 to 8 pm at Goodwill’s Headquarters in Portland, Maine.

The show is part of Portland’s First Friday Art Walk.  We will be featuring over 200 drawings, oils, posters, prints, and watercolors that were donated to Goodwill stores.  We have quite a collection this time around and plenty of affordable pieces that would make great holiday gifts.  From seascapes to florals, from oriental prints to Victorian ladies, there is a diversity of art that is sure to please everyone on your list – enjoy the preview below!

We have busy at work the last few weeks preparing for our second bi-annual Art for Everyone sale (this Friday, June 5!).  As we were picking out pieces and hanging them, I noticed that many of the paintings have really beautiful frames – some are in perfect condition, some need a little work, and in some cases, the frame is worth more than the painting!  This reminded me of a post on the How Can I Recycle This? blog I read awhile ago.  Someone asked how to repair picture frames when the glass is broken – they pointed out that it is perfect for displaying 3-D art or to even use as a revolving art display!

I also found some other sites that have great suggestions on how to transform broken frames into useful and decorative items.  Seven Things you can do with a Broken Picture Frame points out you can make an earring holder, mini-shelf, or shadow box.  Why not take an old frame and make a memo or chalkboard out it (like the one pictured to right featured on Etsy)?  Do you need to repair a frame?  Check out this site for some great step-by-step instructions.

Framing a favorite painting or print can be an expensive commitment–why not look for used frames at Goodwill, salvage shops, or yard sales?  With a little clean-up and repair, vintage frames can give your favorite piece of art the perfect border.

Do you have other sites you can recommend for DIY picture frame repair?  Have you repaired an old frame?  Share you story with us!

To get everyone in the artistic frame of mind for our upcoming show, we will be featuring articles on how to to identify and make sense of all the pieces of art found out there.  How many times have you found a piece of pottery or an old painting you really like, but don’t know too much about? (or how many times have you shouted out your guess while watching Antiques Roadshow?).  Many of these pieces are valuable in the collector’s world and with a few tips, it can be easy to identify these pieces.

Many thanks to Bob Parker, Goodwill’s Special Events Coordinator and Antiques Appraiser, for contributing these pieces. Today we are featuring his article on…

American Art Pottery

Art Pottery originated in Europe and was first shown in this country at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia.  “Art Pottery” is defined as earthenware, stoneware, or porcelain made with artistic decorative intent. Most Art Pottery is ornamental rather than utilitarian. For example, you are more apt to find a vase than a cup and saucer. The manufacture of Art Pottery came to a virtual standstill during the Great Depression and did not experience a rebirth for many years.

There are many manufacturers of Art Pottery. Following are some of the important names in the field:

Roseville, Van Briggle, Weller, McCoy, Grueby, Hull, Red Wing, Zanesville.

When evaluating pieces of American Art pottery, there are some conditions you should look for that can affect value:

Crazing: Fine crackling of the glaze that occurs when the pottery and the glaze cool at different times.
Firing lines: These occur during the firing of the pot and not after it is finished.
Kiln Flaw: These are also known as “kiln kisses” and occur when two pieces touch each other in the firing.

Hairline crack: This is a crack that goes into or through the body and can be felt by a fingernail.

These conditions do not necessarily reduce the value of the piece, because they occurred during the manufacture. The more damaging chips and cracks occur after the piece has been purchased. These damages seriously reduce the value.

Do you have paintings or other pieces of art found at Goodwill?  Take a picture and pass it along to us!  We will feature it here on our blog.

We are excited to announce the second installment of our bi-annual art sale at Goodwill!

Art for Everyone: A Collection of Donated Art will be held Friday, June 5, from 5:30 to 8:30 pm as part of Portland’s First Friday Art Walk.  The sale will be at Goodwill’s headquarters, 353 Cumberland Avenue.

You won’t want to miss this!  Our last sale was a great success and raised more than $10,000 for our job training programs and support services.  All art is priced affordably and there is a range of oils, watercolors, prints, pastels, posters, and much more for a range of artistic tastes.

Be sure to check out the blog in the next few weeks for a sneak preview of some of the pieces, as well as featured articles on how to be your own DIY art appraiser!