Preliminary identification
Photo reference
2 uploaded photos
Overview
A charming watercolor-style lithograph featuring a classic lifeguard surf boat on the sands of Ocean City. This piece is part of a nostalgic series by renowned Jersey Shore artist Donna Elias, celebrating the maritime heritage of the U.S. Life Saving Service.
Story
Donna Elias began her career as a boardwalk caricature artist before becoming a coastal art icon. This 1998 piece captures the 'Surf Boat,' a vessel that evolved from 19th-century rescue craft into a symbol of summer safety.
Maker / Origin
Donna Elias is a self-taught artist from Southern New Jersey best known for her 'Great American Lighthouses' series. Her work is widely collected across the Atlantic coast, often sold through her own galleries and maritime museums.
Condition & Value
The print appears well-preserved behind glass, though there is some minor debris or spotting visible on the lower right of the matting. The white frame shows light wear consistent with age. Condition is typical for a decorative piece of this era.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.