[Image]A lot of you have experienced some of my collections but I want to introduce you my friend Crystal. Her sad eyed painting collection is beyond belief! When I was looking through her pictures and saw she had an actual Keane, I think I almost peed my pants. I'll let her tell you a little bit about her collection.
[Image]
My mom actually got me collecting these pieces.  She bought me a really cute Lee piece (that I've since lost in a move or something) gosh probably about 15 years ago or more. From there it just grew.  I would buy one every time I saw one in a thrift store which wasn't very often.  It seems they never charged very much for them back then and I've gotten several of these for $1.  I hardly find them in thrift stores anymore.  I always look but usually never find any so I really haven't added to the collection in a while.
[Image]
The last time I found one at a thrift was last year.  I found two really great Maio pieces in great looking frames and they were $5 each.  Of course they are all over ebay but the sellers want a lot for them--usually more then I'm willing to spend.  Most of my ebay purchases have been small pieces.  So if you want to start collecting them ebay's a great place to start and know your artists--Keane, Maio, France, Eden, Lee, Idylle are some of the main ones you see.  There are plenty more artists of the genre out there too--not to mention Gig who did the Pity puppies and kitties if you like sad animals.
[Image]
One of my faves by the artist Eden.  I love this because I'm an artist and I have a cat. Another great score I got was a Maio. I got it at the flea market for $4.00! It is a bit different because it shows a more adult person and not a small child. I love how beautifully it is painted.


[Image]
My absolute favorite of my collection is this Keane painting.  Margaret Keane is the grand dame of the genre.  She has a definite style and her pieces are usually filled with such emotion and are almost always sad or depressing.  I love thin one about 2 runaways.  The long alley really gives you a sense of loneliness.  
[Image]
Hanging them all together really gave me a sense of how many I actually had and I have!  I love looking at them and I love the hunt for them.  That's half the fun of collecting anything really--the hunt for them.  Because I don't see these in thrifts much anymore when I do come across one I get so excited!

Crystal's collection makes me excited! I love that I can geek out with her when it comes to these sad eyed beauties. Thank you so much for sharing your collection with us, it is amazing!