I have overpaid so...I would recommend setting your budget, looking at Art.com, etc. Also, if you know how to make frames you could do that part for yourself cheaply.

My aunt and uncle owned an art gallery. I found that if you have an artist that you like, there are companies that handle their reproduction/lithographs and can direct you to a local dealer. I have quite a few Sally Caldwell Fishers (from my aunt/uncle) and I know that Chalk and Vermillion in Greenwich, CT handles her work (or at least they used to) and I would occasionally go on their site to see what was new or what my pieces were going for, etc.

I don't know if that helps at all....probably not?!

Don't worry about the value of something...get what you like.
That said, I have a very hard time finding paintings (originals)I like for under a thousand (includes framing)..and that's in obscure galleries in my area. For a 36"x48" + painting, I would expect to pay at least 1500 plus, if I could find something I loved. Most of the pieces for that size cost 2000+ that I like.

have you tried etsy.com

I don't know what is the right price for artwork, but I can tell you the supplies are extremely expensive. I just bought a handfull of tubes of Golden acrylics and spent over a hundred dollars. While some paintings are clearly quickly slapped on a cheap canvas, others involve many hours of preparation, painting and expensive canvas with heavy stretchers which obviously play a role on the price.

Sky

Go to art fairs as well as art galleries--you can buy direct from the artist. As for value, well, I'd have to reiterate what whenicit said about setting your budget. Most original artwork is very subjectively priced, and the work of VERY FEW current artists will ever greatly increase in value over the long term. The artists will want you to think it will, the gallery owners will want you to think it will, but it won't. Therefore, most original artwork by most current artists won't provide any potential investment value, so buy what you like in the price range you can afford.

I second the art fair idea. My DH and I have been going to art fairs for years. It's so much fun to buy directly from the artist. The show we particularly like is in July in Ann Arbor, MI and is one of the biggest shows in the country. (if not THE biggest?) There are so many different mediums of art represented.

Here's another thought: does your local high school have an art fair where some of the student's work is for sale? Our school used to do so, with proceeds donated towards the school's art department. There were quality pieces at VERY reasonable prices. Sometimes students received their first commissions in that way, too.

I'm fortunate - I have a buddy artiste in my 20 year old. She's been commissioned to do a canvas for our dining room.

DonnaR/CA

I do think the mindset is that great art can be found for very little and there are always deals to be had, of course, but the really good artists, and I'm not talking famous or even ones whose work will increase in value, just good artists, usually are priced accordingly.

Would you spend several days of your time or longer, buy supplies and sell it for a hundred dollars? Probably not.

Please shop your local arts communities and galleries. There are some extremely good artists in every community who are buying and painting because they love it and rarely make enough money off all their paintings to pay for their paints, muchless the labor involved. Please, please, please buy locally if you have a gallery or an artist community gallery, a college gallery.

Thank you everyone for all of the tips and suggestions. Patricia43 makes a good point about checking local arts comminities and galleries which I'm making a note of. Sounds like my budget points me in that direction as well as Craigslist. I think it's wonderful those who are able to support the arts financially and I certainly hope I didn't imply an artist's time is not worth much. My home will never be museum quality, nor would I want it to be. I do have one framed watercolor my DS did and another sketch of the Eifel tower that I need to have framed. He is now in pottery class so I suppose I'll have a few more decorating additions before long.