Untimely Death Creates Run On Work Of Stephen Lyman Buyers Rush To Snatch Up Prints In Galleries Across The Country

Shortly after the news broke that nationally known nature artist Stephen Lyman had died, the buying frenzy began.

Mourners, art lovers and investors poured into galleries across the country to snatch up his limited-edition fine art prints.

“We have been busy all morning. We can’t keep up with it,” said Michael Young, an employee at the Print House Gallery in Spokane. “We sold everything we have here and are searching for more prints.”

The Gallery sold about 100 of the Sandpoint artist’s prints Monday. A few customers even lined up outside the shop, waiting for it to open.

The Lyman Gallery in Lewiston, Idaho, where Lyman grew up, was stripped of most of its inventory during the weekend.

Buyers also filtered in and placed phone orders at the Bighorn Gallery in Carmel, Calif. Gallery director Rob Pitzer has about 10 of Lyman’s original paintings there.

Out of respect for Lyman’s family, Pitzer said all of the original works were taken off the market.

“It (Lyman’s death) has caused a bit of a feeding frenzy, but we are trying to maintain some composure in all of this,” Pitzer said.

He had to turn away a few people who wanted to buy large quantities of Lyman’s work in hopes of reselling it for tidy profit.

“It’s a sad frenzy,” said Merlin Berger, who owns the Frame of Mind gallery in Coeur d’Alene. He’s fielded a bevy of calls from people looking for Lyman’s work but hasn’t had any of his artwork for weeks.

“Lyman was selling two weeks ago, but not a fraction of like it is selling now.”

Lyman, 38, was found dead Saturday after falling off a cliff while hiking in Yosemite National Park. It was a place Lyman often went to get inspiration for his wilderness paintings.

“He was going out and recording nature for those of us who couldn’t get to these places as much as we would like,” Pitzer said. “We are still in shock over this, but he died doing what he liked in a placed that he loved.”

Lyman’s sister, Shauna, and brother-in-law, Jeff Poole, co-own the Sandpoint Lyman Gallery. It is now closed indefinitely, Poole said.

Lyman fans have placed flowers, cards and candles outside the door. The phone inside the gallery rang constantly Monday. Many were offering condolences; others were placing orders for prints.

Poole admits the family has struggled with people buying up Lyman’s work with such zeal after his death. But he understands most of the buyers admire Lyman’s art and want a piece of him in their home.

“A lot of people are familiar with Stephen and just wanted to make sure they got something of his before it was all gone,” Poole said. “It’s an ‘I’d better get it now, while I still can’ reaction, and I can understand that.”

Randy Wells owns Mr. Auction in Coeur d’Alene and had eight Lyman prints for sale Sunday.

They were advertised for more than a month before Lyman’s death. Still, Wells debated about whether it was proper to sell them a day after Lyman’s body was found.

“I felt bad for the family and it was just bad timing,” Wells said.

He explained his dilemma to the crowd and said if anyone had a problem with them being sold, he would pull them from the auction “One guy came up and said it best: ‘The reason he (Lyman) painted was so people could buy them,”’ Wells recalled.

All the prints, which were not owned by Wells, sold for a much higher price than their listed retail value.

One man looking to make a buck brought Wells a Lyman print the day of the auction. He was turned away.

“As far as I was concerned that was in poor taste,” Wells said.

A few gallery owners have jacked up prices on Lyman’s work because of the demand. But the Lyman family and the Greenwich Workshop, which publishes Lyman’s art, said they do not condone that practice.

“We will continue to provide artwork to the public at a fair market price,” Poole said. “As far as we are concerned we are not going to take advantage of this type of situation for a money-making venture.”

Greenwich Workshop put a temporary hold on all of Lyman’s prints and locked up his original works. Lyman was getting ready to release a new print next month called “Morning Light.”

He never had a chance to sign those prints. The work still will be released, possibly with a signature from Lyman’s wife, Andrea.

“The family feels Stephen’s legacy needs to continue,” Poole said. “He wanted his artwork to touch as many lives as possible and it’s incumbent upon us to fulfill that dream for him.”

There will be a memorial service for Lyman at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Yosemite National Park Cathedral Rock picnic area. There also will be a service in Sandpoint, but arrangements still are pending.

A memorial fund also has been established for Lyman by the Yosemite Association. Contributions can be sent to the Lyman galleries in Sandpoint or Lewiston.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo