Can someone identify the artist?

[ryuurui]

yup, better pictures will probably solve the mystery, and you're welcome.

i am looking at the second picture and the unnatural ink blur (ink blurs differently on the paper) would suggest that actually someone wrote on silk, still it does look like a print to me, but maybe its the low quality pic. causing this.

[JohnBraden]

[devil's advocate] Where in Japan did your wealthy friend get those pieces? If he doesn't know who did them, how does he believe them to be quite valuable? [/devil's advocate]

We had someone here in the past trying to pass off prints as the real deal and it didn't sit well. Some forum members took time to research and help out that other time and I was annoyed all their time was wasted on crap someone wanted to sell on eBay....

[ryuurui]

i can tell you already that if that first work does not have a second seal it's worthless in my opinion. It points at two things:

1. If a piece of calligraphy written by the greatest master of them all has no seal on it, it has no value (money wise, as it is still priceless for us, calligraphers). And in this case, there should be two seals (name seal cannot be pressed by itself, as intaglio seal is too heavy to exist on its own)

2. The artist does not really know the art of calligraphy if he does not know the most basic rules of pressing seals, which in calligraphy are equally important as the work itself, the sig, and the framing.

[xchampion91]

Originally Posted by JohnBraden

[devil's advocate] Where in Japan did your wealthy friend get those pieces? If he doesn't know who did them, how does he believe them to be quite valuable? [/devil's advocate]

We had someone here in the past trying to pass off prints as the real deal and it didn't sit well. Some forum members took time to research and help out that other time and I was annoyed all their time was wasted on crap someone wanted to sell on eBay....

I understand the skepticism but my friend (actually my wife's friend) was a Regional VP for Motorola in the 90's. I do not know where he got them but I assure everyone that I am above board and not selling these on ebay. I am open to sell some to a good buyer though.

I can also assure everyone that these do not look like prints at all. They seem to be actual watercolors (aside from the silk piece) and not reproductions.

If I recall correctly he was given most of these as a gift for his wedding. unfortunately I have no contact info for him since he moved to California and lives on his boat. Sucks but there it is.

My main interest in this is to get a value for them so I can insure them.

[xchampion91]

I took a few more pics of the paintings. Hope these are better.

Again thanks for the help.

[ryuurui]

As I said before, i need clear pictures of the seals to be able to read them.