Billy Schenck buys back one of his own works
In 1972, Billy Schenck painted the 72-by-84-inch Incident Near Cedar Creek.The work was important for him, so when it hit the auction block earlier this year he made moves to get the work back. “It was significant to me as we had shot half a roll of black-and-white film in the making of the painting,” Schenck says. “It was the first time I had anyone help in painting the second coats to attain the signature look of my work, and we had documented all of that.”
Billy Schenck, Incident Near Cedar Creek, 1972, oil on canvas, 72¼ x 83½ in.
After registering online to bid on the piece, Schenck watched the bidding live on his screen. All was going well until he could no longer bid on the piece, possibly due to an error within the bidding platform. He watched in horror as the piece sold at $10,000 to someone else, even as he was trying to place more bids. The situation turned into an unpleasant experience over the next week as the artist and the auction house tried to figure out what happened. It all ended on the eighth day, when a message arrived in the mail.
“We received a letter stating the winning bidder did not pay for the painting and asked if we would like to purchase the painting at $10,000 plus the commission for a total of $12,800,” he says. “We wired the money immediately.”
The artist with the work in his studio in 1972.
Schenck, who has been bidding at auctions for 52 years, had never had that experience and doesn’t wish it on others. Luckily, though, Incident Near Cedar Creek is now back in his possession after 43 years. —
Send us your Sold! stories by emailing Michael Clawson at mclawson@westernartcollector.com
Powered by Froala Editor
