Does anyone ever get cheap art at those art auctions? I always see the adverts for them but I never go because I assume it will always be expensive. I am on a fixed budget and when I cruise I spend most of my mad money on Bingo. Do any of the pieces of art sell for $10 or $15?

Art auctions are a great way to get an education on art and the artist by the knowledgable auctioneers.. Fortunately or unfortunately I leave $$ there.. I don't gamble, because I hate to loose and don't do well at Bingo..but I've picked up some beautiful pieces. At one time they were selling the pieces with the frame..not so now, unless it's one of the more expensive pieces of Maxx of Montreios. Almost six years ago I was looking for "something" for a wall and walked onto a ship and being displayed was just what I wanted..the price of this mans work has sky rocketed and I couldn't afford this particular piece if it went up again. Last trip even won a great lithograph which greatly impressed a very comfortable friend..she said he was very "in".. Because of 9/11 a friend on a cruise ship was able to pick up some beautiful prints for under $50.00...one is spectacular. Go and just learn...keep your hands in your pocket or sit on them...lol

ParrotMom is correct. Study and know what you are buying.<BR><BR>Paul

Yes, you can get a lot of cheap art at these auctions. You might end up paying a lot for it but most of it is really cheap - cheap copies, cheap looking, cheap quality, but rarely inexpensive cheap...

No, you cannot find any pieces that sell for $10. You can find lots of pieces that sell for under $100 but remember you have to pay a bid premium (usually 10-15%) and shipping on top of the bid price.

If you see something you like, buy it, but don't expect to find a valuable piece at a cruise ship art auction -- duh.

Bille:<BR>I would beg to differ with your comment about not finding valuable art on a cruise ship auction. <BR>Everyone will agree that ships auctions are not true art auctions like Sothebys and Christies, and the majority of artwork is by new artists that mimic popular artistic styles. However, Park West Auctions, which runs most of the cruise ship auctions(Princess manages and runs their own art auctions)does bring onto ships very valuable pieces of art. I purchased a Dali handsigned print, along with a Peter Max signed original. On the same cruise, there was a small Rembrandt etching, and also picasso.There is also animation art, which is highly collectable.

My wife has purchased a few pieces over the years and the average price has been around $100, BUT the frames are much more than that!

Anthony,<BR>I stand corrected then -- your experience has been different. I personally have seen little of value, save for overpriced, underwhelming art that isn't quite as valuable as the dealer makes it seem. Perhaps I've gone with a closed mind. I'll take a better look the next time I cruise, though I still believe that much of the art only seems valuable and isn't that good.

Billie....I've bought several lithographs (numbered) for approximately $150.00 framed..and a few for less framed.. yes, frames are expensive, but there is a new company doing auctions and they have cut back, except as I noted their high end pieces. On our last cruise one gentleman from Tennessee bought over $6,000.00 of LE Chagall prints. I've bid against a famous ex-basketballs decorator wife (name on request) who was buying to resell to her clients..she was a decorator.. The art auctioneer told me she had an excellent eye..we ended up wtih the same print..under $50.00..framed at the tme.. Many people collect cartoon cells... I did see some sports cartoons sold that were more than three times the amount in a sports collectible magazine. Yes, it is an education to learn about one artist who has an open book in each of his works..another has a miniature famous painting on the walls of his scenes..