Mug Shot: Van Gogh, Matisse, Turner....Paynter?

PinF is big fan of art. Currently my collection has become quite substantial; kind of funny how it just kind of grew until I noticed I had a fair amount one day. I have all kinds of art, becuase that's how I am - I have varied tastes. Some of the artists are famous either internationally or regionally, others are renonwned locally, some are family members and some are friends. Alot of my art is from my most favorite artist, Sophia Veronica Paynter, she's the 7 year-old prodigy based in Florida. As for sentimental value, the value that PinF holds much dearer than any monetary worth, well Sophia's art would rank highest. I have all sorts of paintings, drawings, and even a few illustrated books she's written, all extremely valuable to me.

My most valuable pieces in terms of monetary value would be my two Andrew Turner's; he's an African American artist from Chester, Pennsylvania whose work has become a bit more renowned since his passing a few years ago. Recently I read where several people of notoriety have works by Turner, an impressive list to be sure. Maya Angelou, Bill Cosby, Prince, and Woody Allen just to name a few. You get the picture, he's pretty famous. So I do indeed feel lucky that my mother gave me these two paintings when she left for the Peace Corps three years ago on what I thought was a loan, only to find out later was actually a gift for good. Thanks Mom.

Also adorning PinF's walls here in S. Florida are pieces of collage art from my brother Chris (Flash), unique and exhilarating works that I treasue as much as my "Turner's". My other brother Bill's wife Sally Paynter, is an accomplished and sought after local artist who resides in Swarthmore, her art also hangs in mi casita. Sally recently visited PinF for a weekend visit and busted out a poster sized watercolor of my daughter, a real treasue that I just love. Still yet another of my favorite artists and quite accomplished in her own right is a wonderful woman by the name of Mina Segal, she is a Philadelphia native and shows locally in galleries in Philadelphia.

Mina's story really makes her pieces even more interesting. She was PinF's art teacher from kinder through 4th grade. Cool huh? she became friends with my mother in 1969 and has been an intricate part of our family's fabric ever since, almost as if she was family. Each of my four brothers and mother all have "Segal's" hanging, and they too are much treasured in my collection. Aside from these "connected" artists in my life, I also own a smattering of reproductions like Matisse, Botero, and some art show poster repro's. So my collection is pretty neat and quite eclectic.

Recently PinF had the good fortune to receive an authentic - get this now -- Van Gogh! That's right, my blessed daughter Sophia recently bestowed upon me a work of art that takes the cake in my collection. I know you're asking yourself how could a seven year-old obtain an actual Van Gogh. Quite simply actually, anyone could have a real Van Gogh, provided of course you live here in Florida and have access to "Go Van Gogh", the pottery painting craft shop. Yup, that's right we spent the afternoon creating art together, and what fun it was. It's kind of a funky, laid back coffee shop/wine bar type of place where you pick out a piece of raw ceramic and then use their paints at a cost of $7.00 and hour to create your own unique piece of art. After you finish, you leave it with the friendly staff and they fire your piece and call you in a week to pick it up. My "piece" was a wonderfully large coffee mug with an "I love Dad" impression on the front. Sophia generously, (as is her style) applied funky, vibrant, and intense colors to this mug, giving it a real "one-of-a-kind" look.

Suffice to say I have received no less than 20 compliments on my mug at work, quite a feat when you consider how innocuous a coffee mug is really. Now, in review, I have to admit that this type of endeavor isn't really cheap either. When you add the price of the raw mug ($11.00), plus the price of painting (1.5 hr. at $7.00 per hr.) then factor in a few chocolate chip cookies, two hot chocolates, two Heinekens (a man's got be hydrated), well you get the picture. The $11.00 coffee mug winds up costing about $45.00. Still in my mind this mug with "Sophia Paynter 2005" emblazoned on the bottom was a steal at this price. Sure it's not as valuable as a real Van Gogh, afterall my designation of "priceless" would actually make this piece more valuable than a Van Gogh. The time spent and the memories created will offer value to both of us for years to come. (Check back for photos of the "mug")