Stellers Gallery, Jacksonville

Stellers is, in reality, more an art retailer than an art gallery or museum. However, the staff there, which includes the family of the gallery's preeminent artist, C. Ford Riley, are so accomodating and helpful that unless you notice the price tags on the artwork (get a credit limit increase and bring your gold card) you might not realize they are hoping you'll take a piece with you. The art, which is most primarily original oils, acrylics and watercolors, is of exceptional quality and often deals can be found on new and emerging artists not yet well known but who do wonderful work. C. Ford Riley, the master artisan of nature and landscape oils known for incredibly detailed and compelling views of rural and old north and central Florida, is unquestionably the star of the show. Unless you are invited to view someone's private collection of his work you won't find more original works of his on display anywhere else. List prices on original works range from about $1000 to $75,000 but don't be afraid to haggle. Stellars galleries are not very large and for that reason only I give them four instead of five stars.