It is estimated that Paul Sawyier completed over 3,000 works of art during a thirty year career. During Sawyier’s “Kentucky River” period, 1908-1913, Brower’s of Lexington, a local furniture store, definitely sold over 500 watercolors. Over1500 Sawyier charcoal portraits, pastel, watercolor, and oil originals, and etchings have been catalogued. Up to ten originals are “found” each year.

There have only been a few significant collections of over ten Sawyier paintings. Most collectors were those who knew Sawyier personally, such as Mayme Bull, J.J. King, Dr.Orrin L. Smith, Leo Oberwarth, Russell McRery, and Orlando Brown. Other families, such as the Averills, Barretts, Berrys, Davis, Grahams, Lindseys, Knobles, and Staggs, had collections which have over the years been dispersed to relatives or donated to institutions such as the Kentucky Historical Society or University of Kentucky Art Museum.

Current displays of Sawyier originals are limited primarily to the Frankfort area. Paintings can be seen at the Orlando Brown House/Liberty Hall, Paul Sawyier Art Gallery, Kentucky History Center (only a few of their large collection) and the Kings Daughter’s Apartments. At times, the University of Kentucky Art Museum, in Lexington, and Speed Museum, in Louisville, also display their Sawyier paintings.

A Rainy Day In Lexington     Type: Watercolor Dimensions: 19 ¼” x 13 ¼” Sold     Autumn     Dimensions: 9 ½” x 20 ½” Sold     Big Eddy Bend     Type: Watercolor Dimensions: 13 ¼” x 23 ¼” Sold

Blacksmith, The     Type: Watercolor Dimensions: 12 ½” x 9 ½” For Sale     Canoeing     Type: Oil Painting Dimensions: 13 ½” x 19 ½” Sold     Church’s Grove     Type: Watercolor Dimensions: 8 ¾” x 15 ½” For Sale

Cottage at Berry Hill     Type: Watercolor Dimensions: 11” x 17” For Sale     Daniel Boone Monument     Sold     Elkhorn Creek     Sold

Fall Reflections on the Elkhorn     Type: Watercolor Dimensions: 8 ½” x 15 ¼” Sold     Fourth of July, The     Sold     Frankfort’s Main Street     Type: Watercolor Dimensions: 4 5/8” x 8 ½” For Sale

Going To The Mill     Type: Watercolor Dimensions: 12” x 10” For Sale     Green House, The     Type: Watercolor Dimensions: 12 ½” x 20 ½” Sold     Heading Home     Sold

Hemp Breaker, The     Sold     High Bridge Over The Kentucky River     Type: Watercolor Dimensions: 12” x 19” For Sale     Kentucky Splendor     Sold

Lower Pool, The     Type: Watercolor Dimensions: 3 ¾” x 7 ½” Sold     Moonlight     Type: Watercolor Dimensions: 16 ½” x 10 ¼” Sold     Morning Ride     Sold

North Elkhorn Creek     Sold     Old Covered Bridge     Type: Watercolor Dimensions: 11” x 18” For Sale     Old Oventon Road, The     Sold

Path Through The Woods     Type: Oil Painting Sold     Path Up Williams Hill     Type: Watercolor Dimensions: 6 ½” x 9 ½” For Sale     Peak’s Mill     Type: Oil Painting Dimensions: 5½” x 10” For Sale

Rafting At High Bridge     Type: Watercolor Dimensions: 13 ½” x 20 ½” For Sale     Road To Midway     Type: Oil Painting Sold     Springtime     Sold

To sell or purchase a Sawyier original contact William Coffey (502-223-8507). Pictured are the Sawyier originals currently available for sale. William Coffey also offers free authentications and appraisals of Sawyier paintings, primarily for insurance and estates, based on the previous sale of Sawyiers. He provides conservation information on cleaning and repair of originals


1940 J.B. SPEED MEMORIAL MUSEUM, Louisville, Kentucky Commemorative Exhibition of Paintings by Paul Sawyier,
May 5-26, 1940.

1942 SCHAEFER FAMILY, Fleischmanns, New York, An Exhibition of Art By Sawyier, Schaefer, and Others.

1964 Shakertown, Pleasant Hill, Kentucky, Paul Sawyier (1865-1917): An Exhibition of the Artist's Work Held at Pleasant Hill, Kentucky. June 1-14, 1964.

1965 J.B. SPEED MEMORIAL MUSEUM, Louisville, Kentucky, Willard Rouse Jillson, Paul Sawyier and His Paintings: Centennial Exhibition (1965).

1973 SHAKERTOWN, Pleasant Hill, Kentucky: Arthur F. Jones, Paul Sawyier: The Last Fours Years Autumn, 1913 to November 1917. September 16-30, 1973.

1975 EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY, Richmond, Kentucky, A Kentucky Artist, Paul Sawyier (1865-1917), text by Mary Michele Hamel. February 2-28, 1975.

1977 PAUL SAWYIER GALLERIES, Frankfort, Kentucky, A Exhibit of Paul Sawyier Original Paintings.

1988 MASON COUNTY MUSEUM & JONES FINE ART & ANTIQUES, Maysville, Kentucky, Paul Sawyier of Kentucky, Regional Impressionist.

1992 UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY ART MUSEUM, Lexington, Kentucky, Dreaming Over Woods and Hills: Kentucky artists in the Humphreys Collection.

1997 GEORGETOWN COLLEGE, Georgetown, Kentucky.

1998 PAUL SAWYIER ART GALLERY, Frankfort, Kentucky: Paul Sawyier Original Art Exhibit.
May 21, 1998.

2002 KENTUCKY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Frankfort, Kentucky, Paul Sawyier: A Kentucky Impressionist.
September 13-14, 2002.

2004 UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY ART MUSEUM, Lexington, Kentucky, Paul Sawyier: The River Artist.

2005 CLARK ART & ANTIQUES, Lexington, Kentucky, Exhibition of Paul Sawyier Watercolor & Oil Paintings.
July 17-30, 2005.

2006 CLARK ART & ANTIQUES, Lexington, Kentucky, Exhibition of Paul Sawyier Watercolor & Oil Paintings.
September 9-23, 2006.