Looking For LERT (the artist) updated July 2014

Can You Help Unravel the Mystery of who this Artist is?

• Do you know who LERT is/was?
• Do you also have a painting by LERT on your wall?
• Can you share any details about your painting: size, where you purchased it from (country, estate, gallery, etc)?
• Please send me a photo so it can be added here and shared with the rest of the world! 
• Contact me at kristaborart@gmail.com with photos or comments to help unravel where and when LERT lived/lives.

With gratitude, Kris.

Update January 2016:

PROGRESS! An email from Harlis states that he bought his Lert in 1975 at an open air market. It is also of two owls on a bed of leaves. The market was in Thailand on U-tapao RTAFB (Royal Thai Air Force Base). And Mike claims to have had his Lert since 1966 but left no other info. Debra S. shared her Lert’s were found in the Philippines 1975-1977 at Clark AFB. At the time of purchase she was told they were from an artist in Thailand.

Light bulb moment! It makes perfect sense to me now. As people from all over the world passed in and out of the hub at the Royal Thai Air Force Base they took home a memento in the form of paintings by Lert!!!! I would have also been drawn to the open air market and absolutely would have carted home as many as I could have afforded. I wrote back and have asked Harlis if the vendor was the artist and if so, was Lert male or female, but I haven’t heard back. I’ll be sure to update you when I do.

So if this is in fact how Lert paintings arrived all around the world, perhaps the story ends here . . . or perhaps someone new will eventually come forward like a family member or neighbor.

A new comment January 17, 2016 shares info about the leaves used in Lert paintings. I have long felt tobacco leaves weren’t correct but had no other contributing thoughts until now. Today’s correspondence says, “I have many of these paintings. The leaves are either betel or bodhi. Bodhi leaf has pointed tip. Betel leaf has rounded tip.”  Here’s a link to read more about both leaves. http://www.buddhamind.info/leftside/arty/bod-leaf.htm  I am hoping the writer will contact us again imparting more info about how the paintings came to him/her, where in the world they may have been for so long, and as always please send a jpeg so we can revel in the variety of Lert art.

Updated July 2014:

I finally have come across a painting similar to some of Lert’s work. However, the artist GRIS seems just as unknown. Don’t you think the artists must have known of each other? I wonder who created this style of painting first?

I also just found a photo on my computer from 2013. John in Lebanon Kentucky shared these Lert birds. No back story to share but glad John sent us this painting.

Another batch of new clues! So far I conclude Lert was a Thai artist.

Updated June 2014:

Debra S. recently confirmed she purchased 2 Lert paintings while they were stationed in the Philippines 1975-1977 at Clark AFB. At the time of purchase she was told they were from an artist in Thailand. Debra sent me their Lert owl paintings but I must have deleted it by accident. Debra, please forward me that email again!

Mary from Southern California found her wonderful Lert painting at an estate sale:

Dustin wrote me last June 2013 and I just realized I never uploaded his lovely Lert. I recall asking where Justin resides and never heard back, but he shared that his painting came from a local thrift store, measuring 8.5″x10.5″

Updated February 2014:

Tamei from Canyon Lake, Texas USA took time to send in photos of a Lert pen and ink.  Here’s what Tamei had to say. “Found my Lert at a local thrift store, guess someone died & their family didn’t appreciate this very awesome pen & ink Owl pic? Their loss!!” Tamei adds, frame is 16×20, but drawing (on. board,on leaves) seems to measure 16 long x almost 13 across. Am glad to be learning about artist also! It’s nice to know am not alone in my admiration for this talented artist! Was thinking,if we could identify origin of leaves,maybe that would help?

I totally agree with Tamei! Splendid details in this ink drawing on a bed of leaves!

Updated October 20, 2013:

A new clue about the mysterious unknown artist LERT has arrived!

From El Paso Texas Ricardo shares that the Lert he owns was owned by his mother for as long as he can recall. His mother passed a few years ago and Ricardo rescued the painting before it was tossed out. Sounds like the end of the stream of information but the framer left us some details on the back of this lovely cat painting. We now know this painting was framed in late December 1975 or early January 1976. We still don’t know when or where Lert actually lived . . .  the painting could have been re-framed in 1975 or perhaps finally framed in 1975. Did Lert live in Angeles City in Philippines ? Or was this treasure a memento from somewhere else on earth and carried home to Angeles City. Okay sleuths – what do you think? By the way, Ricardo also says he is willing to sell this cat painting for the right price.

Update July 26th 2013:

Today Anna sends greetings from the Ukraine to all of us Lert fans, and she has included a photo of her family’s lovely Lert painting. This is the second photo to be received of a canvas without the leaves as a base. Perhaps the canvases are earlier art paintings, or do you think the painted leaf backgrounds came first? I feel like the regular canvases came first and the leaves second. But I also first thought Lert was a woman when I had only seen the bird paintings. After the two smoking men painting arrived I have personally decided Lert was a male. Someday I hope to learn more than just guesses!

Either way, the artist known only as LERT is/was a very prolific painter. I wonder if Lert ever imagined having paintings traveling wide across the world and to be enjoyed by so many people? I hope so!

Update May 12, 2013: David from Florida has provided another Lert bird painting. He didn’t share its dimensions, but sent along this note:

Just like you I love this small but very delicate painting. It is painted on leaves and very well detailed. I too am searching for this artist. Please keep me informed of any information you find. Thank you

Update February 9, 2013: Today I am so pleased to share two more Lert’s ! This time both are of pairs of birds. Thank you Margaret from New Zealand for sending us your treasured art. I wonder if you recently acquired them or have you had them for some years?

Margaret from New Zealand shared both the owls and the finches (above).

Update January 28, 2013: Another puzzle piece! Today Per, an art lover from Sweden emailed me a photo of another LERT painting! This is a larger 48×38 painting and it is the first one to surface that has not been painted on a bed of leaves. This scene lends belief to the possibility that Indonesia may indeed be where Lert hails from.

Owner of the above LERT painting is Per from Sweden.

Owner of this LERT drawing: Pedro, Central Florida

This page is dedicated to finding information about an artist who signed work with the 4 letter name, LERT. Eventually I hope enough information and hints about this delightful obscure artist will come to light and I can build a website/blog dedicated to LERT’s work.

Summer 2012 I was rummaging through Prineville Oregon’s Fallen Angel Antiques and was overwhelmed by a small bird painting on a bed of leaves. Everyone that sees it hanging on my cottage wall asks about the happy painting. A quick Googlesearch has not led to any light being shed on the artist. Fragments of information

I mentioned the artist and painting on this Belladaze blog when I wrote about the Central Oregon trip (that I was on when I found my own little LERT treasure). Slowly other LERT owners have begun to surface. Mary in California, Pedro in Florida, Alan in Ohio.

Your Comments and tiny bits of information will eventually weave the bio of the obscure artist known to a few as LERT.

So who is LERT? Male? A female artist? Well it’s a start! And now we know LERT also produced large 18 x 24 ink drawings on the same bed of leaves surfaces. Pedro from Central Florida shared this wonderful drawing that he bought about 20 years ago. Do you also have a LERT image to share with us? Please contact me at Belladazeart@gmail.com with photos or comments to help unravel where and when LERT lived/lives. With gratitude, Kris.

Updated January 19, 2013 – Eric also has shared a wonderful LERT original seen here, front & back: 

And here is another look at my small charming LERT bird painting:  After reading about this auctioned Lert, I have decided mine is perhaps one of the Bush Bird series:

Found another tidbit regarding an online auction sale in 2010:

http://www.graysonline.com/lot/0024-173102/artworks-and-antiques/artist-lert-signed-original-mixed-media-on-board-title-bush-birds

Description

Artist Lert, Signed Original Mixed Media on Board, Title: BUSH BIRDS, Framed, Frame Size: 450mm x 400mm, Image Size: 295mm x 245mm, Image in excellent condition, frame in very good condition. A most delicate work. Unique/Quality.(SN:18)(130944-18)

Artist Lert, Signed Original Mixed Media on Board,

Title: BUSH BIRDS       Current bid: $86

Quantity Available: 1    This auction has ended    Closed: 01/03/2010 7.30 PM AEDT

I have also found a left over web page from an AU auction that no longer had an image associated with the page (sold/expired listing), but the description spoke of Lert as being an Indonesian artist. That feels right to me. What do you think?