To acquire art in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you will primarily get it from Jolly Redd, a foxy character known for selling both genuine and counterfeit masterpieces.
The Artful Fox: Redd's Role
In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the sole proprietor of fine art is Redd, a familiar face for long-time Animal Crossing fans. As noted, "that'll come from Redd. This fox is an old face for existing Animal Crossing fans, but he's a bit of a scoundrel. He'll sell you art, but some are real and some are fakes, and it's up to you to figure out which ones are which." This makes obtaining art a challenging yet rewarding endeavor, as you must discern authentic pieces from cleverly crafted forgeries.
Unlocking Redd and the Art Gallery
Before Redd begins visiting your island, you must first progress in your museum's development.
- Donate to Blathers: Donate a total of 60 unique items (fish, bugs, fossils) to Blathers at the museum.
- Blathers' Announcement: After reaching the donation threshold, Blathers will approach you the next day, mentioning his desire to expand the museum to include an art gallery.
- Redd's First Visit: The day after Blathers' announcement, Redd will appear on your island. He will be walking around, and upon interacting with him, he will offer to sell you your first piece of art at a discounted price. This piece is always genuine. Purchasing it is crucial to initiating his regular visits.
- Museum Expansion: After you purchase this first piece from Redd, donate it to Blathers. The museum will then close for renovations, and the art gallery wing will be added the following day.
Finding Jolly Redd's Treasure Trawler
Once the museum's art gallery is open, Redd will begin to visit your island randomly.
- Secret Beach: Redd's boat, the Jolly Redd's Treasure Trawler, will dock on the secret beach located at the very back of your island, accessible only by a ladder or by swimming around the coast.
- Infrequent Visits: Redd's appearances are infrequent, typically occurring once every week or two, sometimes even less often. Keep an eye out for his boat or for your villagers mentioning his arrival.
Identifying Authentic Art
Redd always has four pieces of art for sale inside his boat, but usually only one (or sometimes none) will be genuine. The challenge lies in distinguishing the real from the fake.
- Examine Closely: When inspecting a piece of art, pay close attention to details. Forgeries often have subtle differences from their real-life counterparts, such as misplaced features, incorrect colors, or altered expressions.
- Use External Resources: Many online guides and communities provide detailed comparisons between real and fake art pieces, which can be invaluable for making informed decisions.
- One Purchase Limit: You can only purchase one piece of art from Redd per visit, so choose wisely!
What to Do with Your Art
Once you've purchased a piece of art from Redd, you have a few options:
- Donate to the Museum: Take any genuine art pieces to Blathers at the museum to add them to your collection. This is essential for completing your museum's art gallery.
- Display in Your Home: Authentic or fake, you can display any art piece in your home or on your island as decorative items.
- Sell: You can sell art pieces, including fakes, to Nook's Cranny, though they fetch a lower price than what you paid for them. You cannot donate fake art to the museum.
