Paintings and Drawings

Folk art, antiques, and outsider art Page 2 Outsider Art

Home First Time Visitor? What's new Feature sale item All Inventory

Resources Contact us Ordering Site Guide Search Register for updates

Click on photo for details. Use the 4 letter code when referring to items.

This is a portrait of an American Indian holding a gun. It is drawn in pastels and ink on heavy chipboard, with fine detail, unsigned. It is mounted under glass in a beautiful frame with deeply textured gesso in a pattern of bark, vines, and leaves, painted an old, oxidized gold. There is some very slight loss to the surface of the frame, visible in the closeup photos. The overall size of the frame is 26 1/2" high by 22 1/2" wide by 2 1/2" deep. The visible opening for the drawing is 19 1/2" by 15 1/2". The age appears to be from the first half of the 20th c., and the frame may be older. The price is $425.00. Inventory Code: COKO. Painting of American Indian ... Closeup, top half ... Closeup, lower half ... Side view ... The other side ... Two more side views ... From above and below ... Closeup of frame ... Another closeup of frame ... Back view ... With a 12" ruler for scale.

This is a portrait of a Native American man painted in oil or acrylic on heavy chipboard. There is a signature we cannot make out. The condition is excellent. It is mounted in a frame under glass. The overall size is 21 1/2" high by 17 1/2" wide by 3/4" deep, with a visible opening of 19 1/2" by 15 1/2". It is from the first half of the 20th c. The price is $325.00. Inventory Code: COKR. Painting of Native American ... Closeup, upper half ... Closeup, lower half ... Side view ... Back view ... With a soda can for scale

This is a large painting titled "Acrobat", signed with initials that appear to be "CV". It appears to be done in acrylic and pen and ink, matted and framed under plexiglass. The image area is about 28" high by 18" wide. The dimensions of the frame are 39" by 30". It is in excellent condition. We have no indication of the age, but it was probably done in the late 20th c. or early 2000's. We have a second painting by the same artist below. The price is $400.00. Inventory Code: CHPR. "Acrobat" ... Closeup ... With a soda can for scale.

This is a large abstract painting titled "reflection blue" and initialled "CV". We are not sure what type of paints were used, however the brush strokes are clearly visible. It is in excellent condition, matted and framed under plexiglass. The image area is 31" by 25", and the frame is 38" by 33". The age is unknown, but likely from the late 20th c. or early 2000's. The initials are the same as the piece above. The price is $400.00. Inventory Code: CHAS. Abstract painting ... Closeup ... With a soda can for scale.
Some much larger photos: Abstract painting ... Closeup ... With a soda can for scale.

"Nollichuckey River", by Robert E. Gilbert, is a painting in acrylic on artists board, mounted in a wood frame. It is signed and dated "REG 1963". The title is written on the back, along with an address label. It is in very good condition with some minor scuffs on the frame. The frame measures 19" high by 23" wide. The title refers to the Nolichucky River, which runs near Gilbert's home town of Jonesboro, Tennessee. REG was a Tennessee artist who worked mainly from the 1940's through the 80's, experimenting with traditional and non-traditional styles. You can read more about him and see much more of his art here. The price is $275.00. Inventory Code: REG 116. "Nollichuckey River", by Robert E. Gilbert ... Back view ... Closeup of title ... With a soda can for scale.
Some much larger photos: "Nollichuckey River", by Robert E. Gilbert ... Back view ... Closeup of title ... With a soda can for scale.

Watercolor, night landscape, painted by Virginia Love in the 1940's. It is 9" by 6", signed on the back in pencil. You can see residue on the back where it was glued to another paper. We have more art by Virginia Love. The price is $125.00. Inventory Code: VL10. With a 12" ruler for scale ... Back ... Larger image.

This is an expressive portrait. It appears to be painted in tempera. We can't make out the signature. It has been professionally framed with UV protective plexiglass. The frame measures 13" wide by 16 1/2" high by 2" deep. There are a few nicks and dents on the frame, and the backing paper is torn, but the overall condition is excellent. The price is $275.00. Inventory Code: CHPW. Painting ... Side angle ... Back ... With a soda can for scale.
Some much larger photos: Painting ... Side angle ... Back ... With a soda can for scale.

We have a selection of works by Lewis Smith, who was a reclusive, eccentric artist from Ohio. He lived alone most of his life in a house in the woods, drawing and painting on paper, cardboard, and his walls, and passed away in 1998. The two themes of most of his work are trains (his father worked for a railroad) and lady wrestlers. These pieces were done some years ago.

See more of his work and life or visit his home page. Some samples of what we have are:

This is a drawing by Lewis Smith in pencil, crayon, marker, and ballpoint on white paper. It measures 11" by 17", likely from the early 1980's, and is in excellent condition with slight bends at two corners. The price is $850.00. Inventory Code: LS223. Drawing by Lewis Smith ... With a 12" ruler for scale ... Much larger image.

"Taras Tiger Temple", one of a series of diners drawn on cracker boxes. Crackers were a big part of his diet, and he then recycled the boxes into art. It is approximately 10" by 17". The edges of the box was cut unevenly, and the original crease lines of the boxes are visible. The price is $1000.00. Inventory code: LSC236. "Taras Tiger Temple" ... Reverse.
Some much larger photos: "Taras Tiger Temple" ... Reverse.

"Tough Cowgirls", by Lewis Smith. Crayon, ink, and marker on the separated top layer of corrugated cardboard, 27" by 27". This was pulled out of Smith's collapsed house - the condition is fair, with some creasing, dirt, and a few small punctures. He did very few large drawings. The price is $2900.00. Inventory Code: 67LS. Image ... Close-up ... Another close-up.

"Democrat Alley" "Let" "Us" "Fight" "City" "Hall", by Lewis Smith. The reverse has tracings of pocket knives and pennants. This is one of a series of two sided drawings of alleys. They are on brown paper bags and measure approximately 12" by 17". The price is $1100.00. Inventory code: LS204. "Democrat Alley" ... Knives and pennants.
Some much larger photos: "Democrat Alley" ... Knives and pennants.

In line with Lewis Smith's usual use of recycled materials, this was drawn on an irregularly-shaped piece of heavy card stock, probably the insert from a shirt package. One side of the cardboard is gray, and has two of his muscular women drawn in crayon and ballpoint pen, with smaller faces around the edges looking at the women. The other side of the cardboard is white, with an oddly detailed building in perspective, faces in the windows, drawn in ballpoint pen. It measures about 11" high by 16". The price is $800.00. Inventory code: LS176. Two women ... House and women, in ink.
Some much larger photos: Two women ... House and women, in ink.

Not a painting, but this incredible piece of folk art is a table top decorated with layers upon layers of finely cut and appliqued veneer woods. The effect is something like painting or inlay, but the individual pieces are glued over each other instead of being set in. All the colors are from the various shades of wood used. The design includes the words "Bless This House O Lord We Pray Amen". The surface has a clear, glossy finish with slight texture from the layers of veneer. It is 36" in diameter by 1" thick, with screw eyes on the back for hanging.

Paintings and drawings by the late Robert E. Gilbert (REG) of Jonesboro, TN. In the 1950's through the 70's REG was a prolific producer and contributor of art to science fiction fan magazines (fanzines); in addition to publishing at least one story in a SF pulp.

The work for the fanzines were pen and ink, but he also did a large number of sci-fi and outer space paintings in oil, pastels, and water color. In addition, from the 1940's through the 80's he experimented and painted in many other more traditional and non-traditional styles. He died in 1993. We have acquired the full remaining body of his work, over 400 pieces, from his estate. You can also see more of REG's work on his home page.

"First Flight, by Robert E. Gilbert. This very detailed watercolor illustrates some of his ongoing themes. 10 1/4" by 13 1/2", in a mat 18" by 24", watercolor and pencil. The price is $500.00. Inventory Code: REG7. Image.

A mountain landscape, with birds in a stormy sky, and the small figure of an old man in the lower corner, signed "REG 1968". It is painted in acrylics on hardboard and mounted in a wooden frame. The painting measures 18" by 24", in very good condition with foxing visible on the back. The frame is 21 1/2" by 27 1/2" by 1 3/4" deep, with minor surface wear. The price is $295.00. Inventory Code: REG 107. Painting by Robert E. Gilbert ... Closeup ... Side view ... Back ... With a soda can for scale.
Some much larger photos: Painting by Robert E. Gilbert ... Closeup ... Side view ... Back ... With a soda can for scale.

Next is a tower of stone silhouetted against the sky, with the small figure of a woman in red near the base. It is painted in oil on hardboard, and signed "REG 1969". It is 16" wide by 20" high, in very good condition. There are a few small blotches in the paint on the top edge, but they look to be original. There is some glare in the photos that over emphasizes the texture of the paint. The price is $325.00. Inventory Code: REG 106. Painting by Robert E. Gilbert ... Back ... With a 12" ruler for scale.
Some much larger photos: Painting by Robert E. Gilbert ... Back ... With a 12" ruler for scale.

This is a drawing in ink and watercolor, with a series of images of people with sea animals. There are whales, seals, and a large beast that looks like a combination of a lion and a seal (a sea lion?). All the images have a dreamlike quality. We cannot see a signature. It has been framed in a reddish-brown frame with a soft yellow matt. The back of the frame has the notation "14-2003". The frame measures 16 1/2" wide by 19 1/2" high by 1/2" deep. The condition is very good. The price is $325.00. Inventory Code: CHPO. Painting ... Closeup ... Side view ... Back ... With a soda can for scale.
Some much larger photos: Painting ... Closeup ... Side view ... Back ... With a soda can for scale.

Next are paintings by Alfred "Big Al" Taplet, born in 1934 in New Orleans. He was an artist who began shining shoes as a boy. One day, Big Al picked up scraps of roofing slate from a nearby construction site, thinking it'd be a good idea to advertise his and his twin brother Little Al's shoe-shining business. This took off as people bought the art, and eventually the brothers bought and opened a workshop. While one brother would man their shop, the other would work the shoeshine stand in Jackson Square. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005 they moved to Houston, TX.

Big Al is listed in the Rosenak reference book "Contemporary American Folk Art, A Collector's Guide" as well as the book "Self Taught, Outsider and Folk Art by Betty-Carol Sellen. He is also a featured artist in the award-winning documentary "Outside the Lines/Encounters with Self-Taught Artists".

This is a wonderful folk art, outsider art two sided painting on a metal trash can lid by "Big Al" Taplet. "No Runny Eggs/No Runny Grits". It is very unusual that he did this on a trash can lid - the only one we have ever seen, or seen photos of. The size is approximately 21 1/2" in diameter and 1 1/2" deep, not counting the wire hanging loop. The can lid was somewhat bent when he painted it. It is in good, old condition with some paint loss as seen in the photos. The price is $425.00. Inventory Code: CKRA. No Runny Eggs by Big Al Taplet ... The other side ... Another view ... Closeup ... Closeup of hanger ... Closeup, other side ... Side view ... Another side view ... With a soda can for scale.

Two sided painting on slate by Big Al Taplet

First is a two sided painting on roofing slate. One side says "I've Gone To The Quarter", with pictures of shoes and boots and a small self-portrait. The other side says "No Money No Egg's No Grits Donuts", with pictures of the food. The colors seem a bit more weathered on this side. It is signed and dated 2004 on both sides. The slate measures 12" wide by 8 1/2" high, with a hand made wire hanger that adds another 2 1/2" of height. Taplet used discarded slates with chips and cracks, but this one looks like one of the top corners may have been chipped after it was painted. The price is $275.00. Inventory Code: CKRT. Two sided painting on slate by "Big" Al Taplet ... The other side ... Closeup ... Another closeup ... From above ... From above, other side ... From below ... From below, other side ... With a soda can for scale.

This Al Taplet painting on roofing slate reads "No Runny No Egg's No Grits", with an egg, some grits, and maybe a salt shaker? It is signed and dated 2005. The slate measures 12" high by 16" wide, and the hand made wire hanger comes up about another 2 3/4". It is in very good condition. The price is $250.00. Inventory Code: CKRR. "No Runny" by "Big" Al Taplet ... Closeup ... Back view ... With a soda can for scale.

Here are two paintings on the theme of Bush Medicine Leaves by Gloria Tamerre Petyarre (1945 - 2021), an Australian Aboriginal painter. This is one of Gloria Petyarre's signature designs. Both are on unstretched canvas and measure 20 1/2" by 17 1/2", while the images inside the black border are 16 1/2" by 13 1/2". They are in excellent condition. Right now there are a few wrinkles in the canvas which should come out with stretching. Both are signed "Gloria" on the back, but not dated. Some biographical information is below the second piece.

Biography and Exhibitions: The following information is taken from the from the Australian National Portrait Gallery and Kate Owen Gallery:
Gloria Tamerre Petyarre (b. 1945), an Anmatyerre woman from Aknangkere Country, near Alice Springs, is one of Australia's most acclaimed Aboriginal painters. She is probably the best-known Utopia artist after her late aunt, Emily Kame Kngwarreye. Petyarre first gained recognition for her batiks, exhibiting from 1977 with the Utopia Women's Silk Batik Group. Although she only began painting in acrylics on canvas in the late 1980s, since her first solo exhibition in 1991 she has had a dedicated following of public and private collectors in Australia and internationally. Using layers of tapering dots, dashes and swirling lines, her many paintings portray Awelye (women's ceremonies and body paint designs) and various Dreamings, including the Mountain Devil Lizard and her signature, Bush Medicine Leaves. Petyarre was awarded the Wynne Prize at the Art Gallery of NSW in 1999 for one of her Leaves works, the first Aboriginal artist to receive this coveted award for landscape painting.

Apart from her Wynne Prize success, Gloria went on to be a finalist another four times. The most prestigious Indigenous art competition in this country, the 'Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award' has featured her artworks on many occasions, and her works are widely collected and commonly held in the finest Aboriginal Art Collections and Museums worldwide. You can read more about her biography and exhibitions by searching on Wikipedia. There you will also find pictures of the artist and links to others sites showing more about her.

This is an Australian Aboriginal painting titled My Father's Tjukurrpa, by Cecily Wintiragu Yates. It was painted in 2006, in acrylic on unstretched canvas. The overall size is 36" by 46 1/2"; the image is 32" by 42". There are creases around the edges where it was previously mounted, otherwise it is in very good condition. This will ship rolled, without the wood and clips visible in the photos. The price is $900.00. Inventory Code: CKOK. Image ... Full canvas, with edges ... Closeup, upper ... Closeup, lower ... Back ... Closeup of back ... With a yardstick for scale.

Australian aboriginal painting by Suzy Watson Nangala

This is a fine dot painting by the Australian Aboriginal artist Susy Watson Nangala. It is on unstretched canvas and is dated 2015. The overall size of the canvas is approximately 16" by 16", while the image is about 12" by 12". It is in excellent condition and will ship rolled. Susy Watson Nangala has been painting since 2000, and her mother is a well-known artist. You can read more about her life and work here. The price is $325.00. Inventory Code: CRHO. Painting by Suzy Watson Nangala ... Closeup of the image ... Closer view, one half ... Closer view, other half ... Back view ... With a 12" ruler for scale.

This is an Australian Aboriginal painting by Molly Martin. It is acrylic on unstretched canvas, painted right to the edges of the canvas. The size is 18 1/4" by 24". It is in good condition with some slight paint cracking in the upper right, visible in the first closeup. It will ship rolled. The price is $375.00. Inventory Code: CRWP. Australian Aboriginal painting by Molly Martin ... Closeup ... Another closeup ... Back ... With a 12" ruler for scale.

Aboriginal dot painting by Sally Butler Napurrula

This is a dot painting by the Australian Aboriginal artist Sally Butler Napurrula. It is painted in acrylic on unstretched linen. The back is dated 2015 and inscribed "Fine Dot Art Alice Springs". The overall size of the canvas is 11 1/2" by 24", and the image is about 8" by 20". It is in excellent condition with creases on the edges where it was formerly mounted, and will ship rolled. The price is $250.00. Inventory Code: CRHK. Aboriginal dot painting by Sally Butler Napurrula ... Back view ... With a 12" ruler for scale.

Register to receive updates when we add new items.
Your information is confidential. We never release it to others. Privacy policy.

Required Fields

If there is any problem with registering, please

Portrait of an American Indian	Abstract painting initialled CV	Drawing by Lewis Smith	"Nollichuckey River", by Robert E. Gilbert
Ink and watercolor drawing of people with sea animals	Expressive portrait painting	"First Flight" by Robert E. Gilbert	Two sided drawing on cardboard shirt insert by Lewis Smith
	Mountain scene by Robert E. Gilbert	"Taras Tiger Temple" by Lewis Smith	Pen and ink seascape by Robert E. Gilbert
"Acrobat" painting	Painting by Robert E. Gilbert	"Tough Cowgirls" by Lewis Smith	Night landscape, by Virginia Love
Painting of an American Indian	Intricate veneer decorated table top	Paintings on roofing slate and a trash can lid by "Big Al" Taplet
"Democrat Alley" by Lewis Smith	Australian Aboriginal painting by Cecily Wintiragu Yates	1 of 2 Australian Aboriginal paintings by Gloria Petyarre	Second painting by Gloria Petyarre
Australian Aboriginal painting by Molly Martin	Aboriginal dot painting by Sally Butler Napurrula	Australian aboriginal painting by Suzy Watson Nangala
Page 2 of Paintings Outsider Art