Wednesday, May 5, 2010

I ain't Dead Yet

It's pretty sobering to realize that my time on earth won't be forever. There is so much that i still want to do and so many more pictures to paint!

I feel great and am not checking out yet, but there is a time and age when you realize that you are not invincible.

Part of my melancholy was sparked by a Google alert that came to me a couple of days ago. It heralded a Buck Paulson painting for sale on E-bay. I went to the site as often someone decides to check the value of their art and lists it for sale there. However this one was different..........It is a rather nice landscape with a well dressed gal carrying an parasol, strolling near a peaceful lake. Nice greenery at her sides, and a sailboat on the lake. Across the way we view more spring foliage, and some well conceived cottages.

I was wondering why it appeared on my Google alert, then I spied the signature: B. Paulson. Someone had put my signature upon the canvas and had it listed for sale at $4995. My goodness I was a bit surprised.

Two things caused me some perplexing moments. First, who in the world signed my name to the canvas, and second, did someone think that I was dead, and they could pass off this painting as a Buck Paulson original?

Years ago (I may have mentioned fact in a previous blog) I would sign my painting with a signature, indicating: Good, Better, and Best. Paulson, B. Paulson, or Buck Paulson would be the indicator. Since then I was counselled to sign all of my paintings: Buck Paulson, meaning that I did my very best with whatever time frame I had (TV presentation, public demonstration, or my studio work). So apparently the FAKE signature was put on by someone who was unaware of my "OLD PRACTICES."

After George Inness (my great landscape artist-idol) died, some unscrupulous dealers came to his relatives and asked them to authenticate his signature on their fakes..........for a fee. As a result their are a few spurious Inness' paintings around today.

So, if any of my relatives are collecting money on "MY" paintings, I would suggest the Buck fans to be careful what you buy.

P.S. You still have 21 days to go to E-Bay, type in Buck Paulson paintings and watch it come up. I did notify E-bay.......