Howard Finster: Man of Visions

(Above) Self-portrait by Howard Finster (1916 - 2001) Click on image for larger view.

Click on image for larger view.


I JUST SPOTTED THIS NICE PORTRAIT BY THE REVEREND HOWARD FINSTER, undoubtedly the most popular, most famous folk artist of the 20th century, on eBay this evening. Here’s the seller’s description of the piece:

“This LARGE self-portrait painting (compared to Howard’s typical self portraits), is cut out of wood with all paint embellishment (NO MARKER) created by Howard Finster (from God) himself! Painting is double numbered front and back as 5000*745 (5,745 th piece of art). The color of the paint is very bright and the condition is perfect and very stable. This is a beautiful piece of art, guaranteed to be the apex of any folk art painting collection. The painting measures 13-5/8 inches wide and 21-3/8 inches in height. The board is a 1/4 inch thick piece of solid wood.

There is a lot of Howard’s verbiage on this painting, all written by hand and done with paint and brush, NO MARKER.

Under his chin the painting it says: “HOWARD IN 1944”

Bottom LEFT front of Painting has:
“ALLWAYS GREAT THINGS AHEAD. WHY NOT BE READY TO MEET GOD. TAKE WARNING OF STORMS, EARTHQUAKES, FLOODS, FIRES, MUD SLIDES, VALCANOES SENDING OUT POISION GASS THE DIESESE, INSECT PEST HEALTHY PEOPLE GETTING KILLED, EVERY DAY. WHY RUN A RISK”

Bottom RIGHT front of Painting has:
“4:44 PAST MIDNIGHT”
“BY HOWARD FINSTER
“FROM GOD. 5000 • 745”
“WORKS OF ART. VISION”
OF OTHER WORLD”

Back of Painting (in black marker) has:
“5000.745 WORKS OF ART SINCE 1976 OVER 10-YEARS WORK NIGHT AND DAY FOR YOU ALL BY HOWARD FINSTER SUMMERVILLE GA 30747 R•2 BOX 106-A PH 404) 857•2926
and in script: “God Bless You All” Howard Finster (signature) OCT•17•1986

“TIME WAITS FOR NO ONE DON.T. COUN.T. ON IT LIVE: BY FAITH IN THE LORD IT IS THE BEST WAY ON EARTH” and in script again: “Believe me i KNOW”

There is a “Buy it Now” price of $3200.