Finding Hidden Masterpieces Episode 8: Hunting for Hidden Art at The Mart Antique Mall in San Diego Can a mass-produced decorative painting hide a much bigger story? In Episode 8 of Finding Hidden Masterpieces, artist, author, former art dealer, and appraiser John Sumner returns to The Mart Antique Mall in San Diego, one of Southern California's largest antique malls, to continue the search for overlooked works of art. Walking through more than 20,000 square feet of antiques

Behind Every Great Painting Is the Perfect Frame When most people admire a great painting, they rarely think about the frame surrounding it. Yet the right frame can transform an artwork from simply beautiful into truly extraordinary. In Episode 7 of Finding Hidden Masterpieces, John Sumner revisits the Marian Pike painting featured in an earlier episode after deciding its aging frame no longer does the artwork justice. That decision leads him behind the scenes at San Diego Fr

Finding Hidden Masterpieces in Los Angeles Can a forgotten painting hanging in an antique mall be a genuine work of art? In this episode of Finding Hidden Masterpieces, John Sumner explores the aisles of Vintage Junktion LA, one of Southern California's largest antique warehouses, where hundreds of paintings compete for attention. Drawing on more than forty years of experience as an artist, gallery owner, publisher, and art dealer, John explains how professionals evaluate pai

The Best Painting I Found in Las Vegas Was the One I Didn't Buy When people watch Finding Hidden Masterpieces, they probably expect every episode to end the same way. I find an overlooked painting. I buy it. Then I reveal that it's worth far more than I paid. The truth is, that's not how collecting works. Sometimes the smartest purchase is no purchase at all. That's exactly what happened in Las Vegas. Las Vegas is built on optimism There's something fascinating about Las Vega

A Piece of Parisian History: The Painting I Almost Walked Past There are days when you visit an antique mall and immediately know nothing extraordinary is waiting for you. Then there are days like this. When I walked into the Pasadena Antique Center, I wasn't looking for a particular artist. I wasn't looking for a Parisian painting. I was simply doing what every serious art hunter does—slowing down and really looking. One booth after another was filled with paintings. Hundred

What if the most valuable artwork in the room is the one everyone walks past? In this episode of Finding Hidden Masterpieces , John Sumner heads into the Escondido Antique Mall on the hunt for overlooked art—and uncovers a surprising comparison that challenges how value is perceived. Along the way, two paintings emerge as standouts, prompting a deeper investigation into technique, composition, and artistic merit. One is a contemporary work discovered on-site. The other? A pie

What if the most valuable painting in the room is the one everyone walks past? In this episode of Finding Hidden Masterpieces , painter and art world insider John Sumner searches the Old Barn Antique Mall in San Juan Capistrano, California looking for overlooked works of art. Surrounded by prints, amateur paintings, posters, and decorative pieces, the challenge is separating ordinary objects from artwork created with true mastery. Along the way John explains how experienced

A fast introduction to the tone, access, and returnable potential of Finding Hidden Masterpieces . What if the most valuable artwork in the room is the one everyone walks past?

We’re pleased to share the 22-minute pilot episode of Finding Hidden Masterpieces , now available to watch. The film follows painter/sculptor John Sumner as he uncovers hidden value and forgotten stories behind overlooked works of art. View the pilot under the Documentary Series tab. What if the most valuable artwork is the one everyone walk past?

If you are interested in art collecting and finding undervalued art in antique malls, thrift stores or estate sales, then check out John's series "Finding Hidden Masterpieces". New episodes posted weekly. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoe20XcpA4FoLT52yaT_IIw Ebook available here https://www.johnsumner.com/pages/ebook-update

If you’ve ever wandered through galleries, browsed art online, or stood in front of a painting wondering “Is this worth it?” — you know how confusing the art world can feel. Between clever marketing, hype, inflated prices, and mixed signals on what “good art” really means, it’s easy to make a purchase you regret. That’s exactly why the newly released e-book A No‑Nonsense Guide to Buying Art from John Sumner is such a game-changer. With 40+ years of hands-on experience as a f

In this video, John walks us through how to identify a painting’s artist and estimate its real market value. You’ll learn his art research techniques, how to read signatures, and how to estimate what a piece is worth. This is a follow-up video to our first video filmed at King Richard's Antique Vintage Center. John reveals how he identified the artist behind the painting — and what the artwork is actually worth. This video walks you step-by-step through the exact research pro

Our latest episode of "Finding Hidden Masterpieces". Today we went to King Richard's Antique Center located in Whittier, California and found this 19th century painting to add to our collection. We will be filming a follow-up video to this as John did some research and was able to determine the real value of this painting....let's just say it was an exciting find! $$$ 19th Century Painting by a Flemish artist

On October 16, 2025, John was invited by the Riverside Art Alliance to deliver a guest presentation. The organization featured him on their website, where they posted the following: John Sumner, Artist/Author Our speaker for October is artist John Sumner who hails from Lake Elsinore. John was born in England and raised in Canada. He studied and worked in hotel and restaurant management before moving onto the business end of artwork: production, distribution and publishing.

In this episode John discusses finding a painting at an antique store by the late 19th century/early 20th century renowned artist William...

John is working on a new series of paintings titled " A Day at the Beach". Click on this link for a preview: ...

Have you ever dreamed of discovering a lost art treasure in a thrift store or antique mall? In this second episode of Finding Hidden...

In this engaging short film (9:52), John takes viewers on a journey through the overlooked corners of antique malls, thrift shops, and...

John is in the process of painting a new series titled "Northland". You can view the other pieces on the portfolio tab. Afternoon Shadows

Here is an updated version of the trailer for "Rock Doctor". Please check it out on youtube and like and subscribe to the channel!...