$20,000 Goodwill Painting Bought for $10
An artist in North Carolina was amazed to find out that the painting she had purchased for $10 was actually worth more than $20,000.
Beth Feeback and her husband Steve are avid painters and participate Leanne Pizio's spring and fall art festivals in Oak Ridge every year. Feeback explained that while she was setting up her booth this spring she started getting cold and left her husband in charge of finishing the setup while she went into town to find a sweater or a jacket for them to keep warm with, according to The Charlotte-Observer.
"I had spied a Goodwill store on the way into town," Feeback said, adding, "I ran down there and foraged for a throw or afghan. We might get cooties from not washing it, but at least we'd be warm."
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As she grabbed the over-garments, her eyes caught what she thought would be a great canvas to paint over.
"Then I spied these two huge square canvases in frames…I am always on the prowl for something to paint on or paint over. It helps the environment, and better yet, my pocketbook," she said.
Beth eagerly bought both canvases, which were priced at $9.99 each, knowing a canvas that size would be much more expensive if she bought one new.
When she got back to the art festival she showed off her newly bought items and was told by an acquaintance that before she painted over the work that she should research who the artist is, as it was listed on the back of the painting.
After researching the painting, Feeback discovered that it was called "Vertiacl Diamonds" produced by Ilya Bolotowsky, an early 20th-century abstract painter.
"My imagination tells me someone took the paintings home because they liked them, and then they probably died. In reality, I don't know how they got to Goodwill," she explained.
Feeback contacted Sotheby's and showed them photos of the painting in addition to documents certifying the authenticity of the painting. The auction house notified Feeback, stating that the painting had been accepted for auction with an estimated value of $20,000.
