Letterman Painting

[shanley]

I have a very retro painting, oil on canvas, beige, orange, brown swirl. It is signed Letterman, can anybody help me find out who he is & if he has done anymore paintings? I can send a jpg of it to you if you would like to see.

[zach8882003]

I too have purchased a letterman painting approximately 60'x40" of mallard ducks flying near a watered area of leave free trees (like winter) with a moon in the background. I bought it at a moving sale and it still had the original price tag of $369.00 from a local well known furnitue store. Since one other gentleman described the ame painting it makes me know there was a mass production of sorts.

[fergie59]

I have the beautiful cat. I've had it since 1986 and bought it at JC Penney for $400. I had it on "layaway" forever, back then! Oh, and JC Penney is still very much in business (reference to a former comment). I would like to sell this pretty girl simply because I'm moving and no longer have space for her. If anyone is interested please contact me at [email protected] It is in mint condition.

[petertobler]

I also have a LETTERMAN painting! Actually it is in two pieces and shows the sailboats in the moonlight with the silhouette of the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge in the back. Each piece is 48"H x 38"W in size, the frame is black with gold color. Both pieces are in very good condition! Although I love these paintings like everyone else who ones a letterman, I�m willing to sell for a reasonable offer. I�m located 1 hour east of San Francisco. Please contact me at [email protected] I can send pictures! Thanks, Peter

[ImagineerNE]

FYI: These are NOT "paintings". They are "prints".. painted or created using a silk-screen type machine/process.. at a factory.

They are "signed" Letterman in BLOCKED letters to purposely indicate such. They were mass-produced in Indonesia, [noted by the low to mid-grade hardwood
used in the frames and the plastic-coated molding.

They were imported to the US, and sold in mass quantities during the 70s/80s in the Penney's, Sears, Wards the furniture departments.. as decorative wall pieces. NOT works of art.

Their value is considered only as a collector's piece, not as a piece of art created by an artist.

[hiimtddy]

I have a Letterman very large 5' 4" It is of flowers in front of a sunset, and its in mauve and light green and peach colors. I really love it, but I'm moving and need to sell it. Is anyone interested? email me at [email protected]

[intlsinner]

Some of these may be by David Letterman the talk show host in the U.S.A. He is a painter on the side and in fact I have a Letterman that was appraised out at around $18,000 U.S.

[83retire]

I have a Letterman. It's about 3' X 3' and is reds, black, and tans, squares within each other and each rotated about 10 degrees. I don't remember when I bought it or for how much. My wife was cleaning out my son's room (he married and left about five years ago) and she wanted some information on this painting. I've read the other comments about Letterman and haven't seen anything about this Letterman. Others seem to be duplicated, flowers, sailboats, etc. It would be nice to get some background on Letterman but it seems he has done a good job of hiding.

[83retire]

Found this response:

Posted by David on December 31, 2007, 12:47 am, in reply to "LETTERMAN PAINTING"
75.138.183.189

Blocked Letterman paintings were produced using a process similiar to silkscreening. They were supplied to retailers in the US like JCPenney and Sears by countries in the far east.

The Letterman "signature" indicates the art was created by professional artists hired by companies to work in a factory setting to produce works of art. The painters were known as "Lettermen". The best artwork was selected and mass-produced on canvas [usually in several different color schemes] and can be identified by the small wooden frames usually trimmed in chromed plastic.

These paintings sold anywhere from $75 to $375 in the '80s depending on the frame size etc.

They may be valued as collector items, but there really is absolutely no intrinsic art value in these pieces. They are not Unique works of Art. They are more like "prints" created with paint.

[Peasncarrots]

Hello...I too have a
Letterman painting. My mother bought it at a gallery, I subsequently inherited it...it still hangs on the wall and I still love it. Its a beach scene with sea gulls along the ocean shore.

[PeteL]

I really love these Letterman prints. I have been colelcting them for a while and have 12 or 13 different ones. If you have any photos f yours i'd love to see them. My email is: [email protected]. Ta

[ayamore]

I too own a Letterman Hymalayan cat that was purchased in a New York Art Gallery for over $7,500.00 back in the 70's. Screen prints or not these prints are valuable today because they look and feel like real oil paintings and are no longer produced. This cat is beautiful on any wall!

[thoughtful1]

Hello from New Zealand!
I agree-screen prints or not these prints are valuable today because they look and feel like real oil paintings and are no longer produced.
My Letterman was purchased one year ago off the New Zealand 'TradeMe' website for $150.00(NZ), from a secondhand dealer called 'Classy Clutter'.
My Letterman is of 14 yachts on a tidal ocean and is so alive in its detail,texture, and atmosphere. I just love the print and get so much pleasure from looking at it.

[T.A.J.A]

I have a 6ft by 4ft oil on canvas signed by Letterman, the image is of several ballet dancers and is in various shades of brown and cream. I recieved the painting as a gift in 1983 and know very little about the painting or the artist and if anybody has any information on either I would be very appreciative if they could please email me at: [email protected]
I am interested to know the approximate value of the painting before I speak to an art dealer as I do not want to be taken advantage of, nor do I want someone to underestimate this beautiful painting.
If you would like to see a picture of it, please email me and I will be happy to send you one.

[shmurray]

I have a pair of Letterman paintings that is of san fransisco bay with the sailboats and moon. I have read that it could be a rendition of fleet week in october. Also, if you look at the back on the frames...mine says Artmaster 1986. I believe that Artmaster created work for retail so that families could afford to have "nice art" in thier homes. My husband thinks that his uncle perchaced these pieces when he perchaced his entire living room set at a furniture store.

[ANDYGB54303]

MARTIN LETTERMAN: Born in Limburg, Holland, 1910, the child of farmers, his schoolteachers discovered the talent of the boy. After graduation he received a scholarship at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, in Amsterdam. Probably influenced by the impression of his childhood days he showed his predilection for scenes depicting the rural life of his native country. His paintings found much recognition. He took part in many exhibitions and lives in Amsterdam, Holland now."

It has not been confirmed, but we are pretty certain that Mr. Letterman is deceased

[ImagineerNE]

The paintings/prints referred to in my postings are "signed" in block letters rather than a signature.

The base of the L in Letterman extends to below the r in the name. Using blocked letters and the label Letterman at the silkscreen factory was their way of showing it was done by one of their Lettermen and not an artist.

[TimCampi]

Hello...I believe the artist is Antoinette Letterman...Very prolific 1960's/1970's factory POP ART paintings...My definition of Factory Art is : Art to match your sofa...Other examples of factory art from the sixties and seventies are CARLO OF HOLLYWOOD and LEE REYNOLDS amongst others...Although these paintings can always be more than meet the eye...I see LETTERMAN paintings on Ebay [of course]from time to time and always think they are great...I would love to see the painting ..I wish this site let you post images...My e-mail is [email protected] ...Hope that helps cause it's all I have...Best, Tim

[rlslmt]

Just tonight a friend gave us a huge signed Letterman painting. It is browns and oranges. A sunset with running horses. I have not seen a description of this one here. I would love to know about this artist as well.

[hoopy1111]

I have one of those 3x4's with the 3-d strips. I love it but I had someone walk by one day and make a comment saying it that was an orginal I wouldn't have to work another day in my life? So I suppose maybe the artist is worth something if anyone can find anything about him?