Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH) Guides

Redd’s Paintings & Statues: Real vs Fake Art Guide

Jolly Redd is a shady fox salesman selling rare pieces of painting and statue artwork in Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH)! Learn exactly how to tell the difference between his real genuine art and his fake forgery art in this guide.

How Redd’s Fake & Real Art Works

When Redd’s Treasure Trawler ship shows up on your island’s north secret beach, you can purchase both paintings and statues inside from him for 4,980 Bells each. Be careful though  because there is a chance for the art piece you buy to be a fake forgery version, instead of a real  genuine.

Fake forgery versions of Artwork in Animal Crossing: New Horizons are essentially useless besides decoration as Blathers will not accept such art pieces for donations to the Museum. They can’t be sold at Nook’s Cranny either, so you’ll need to use a trash furniture item to completely remove fake art.

The good news is that there’s more to fake artwork than just pure random luck — you can actually tell apart a real genuine piece of art from a fake by looking carefully at the artwork. If you have some existing knowledge of the piece, you might be able to figure this out yourself, or make an educated guess if something in the artwork just looks flat out ridiculous.

How Many Redd Artworks Can You Buy Per Day?

Each time that Redd appears on your island with his boat, you can purchase only one piece of artwork per day. When you buy one, it’ll be mailed to you by Redd the next day, so don’t expect to find it in your pockets.

While you can only purchase one art piece yourself, other characters can buy one as well. This includes both other players living on your own island, in addition to visitors from far away in online multiplayer. Yes, your friends can come and buy art too!

However, if you want to abuse this functionality, consider making an alt character or two on your island. Even if you’re a single player, there’s nothing stopping you from creating additional fake players on your island. This will allow you to purchase multiple artworks per day from Redd.

How Many Real Artworks Can Redd Sell Per Day?

When Redd arrives on your Animal Crossing: New Horizons island, it’s possible for him to be selling anywhere between 0 to 4 real pieces of art! Yes, that’s right — he could have absolutely zero genuine artworks for sale and completely waste your time. He sucks.

On the other hand, it’s possible for Redd to be selling multiple real art pieces as well, even though you can only buy one. In this case, follow our advice in the section above about multiple players.

Redd Art Paintings: Real Genuine vs Fake Forgery Guide

Not an expert at distinguishing between real and fake art? That’s where our guide comes in! Browse the sections below to find the painting you’re looking to purchase from Jolly Redd and compare what you’re seeing in-game to what you see displayed in this guide.

Plus, as an added bonus, not every panting in Animal Crossing: New Horizons actually has a fake version! So for some paintings, you won’t even have to compare because we’ll tell you if the artwork only comes in real genuine versions. Additionally, a complete list of these always real art pieces are included at the end of the guide.

Table of Contents

Academic Painting: Real vs Fake?

The fake version of the Academic Painting has a large coffee stain in the top right of the art piece. This is missing from the real version.

Full Size Versions: Real Academic Painting, Fake Academic Painting

Amazing Painting: Real vs Fake?

The fake version of the Amazing Painting removes the large black hat from the person featured in the middle. This large hat is only present in the real version.

Full Size Versions: Real Amazing Painting, Fake Amazing Painting

Basic Painting: Real vs Fake?

The fake version of the Basic Painting changes the person’s forehead hair line to be completely covered in hair. Their forehead has far less hair in the real version.

Full Size Versions: Real Basic Painting, Fake Basic Painting

Calm Painting: Real vs Fake?

There is no fake forgery version of the Calm Painting — you’re safe to purchase this item from Jolly Redd without any worry of getting ripped off! The Calm Painting will always be real and genuine.

Common Painting: Real vs Fake?

There is no fake forgery version of the Common Painting — you’re safe to purchase this item from Jolly Redd without any worry of getting ripped off! The Common Painting will always be real and genuine.

Detailed Painting: Real vs Fake?

The fake version of the Detailed Painting has entirely different colors using a purple scheme. These are the wrong colors and a blue color scheme is seen on the real version.

Full Size Versions: Real Detailed Painting, Fake Detailed Painting

Dynamic Painting: Real vs Fake?

There is no fake forgery version of the Dynamic Painting — you’re safe to purchase this item from Jolly Redd without any worry of getting ripped off! The Dynamic Painting will always be real and genuine.

Famous Painting: Real vs Fake?

The fake version of the Famous Painting has incorrectly shaped eyebrows pointing upwards and resting far above the eyes. The woman’s eyebrows look more natural on the real version.

Full Size Versions: Real Famous Painting, Fake Famous Painting

Flowery Painting: Real vs Fake?

There is no fake forgery version of the Flower Painting — you’re safe to purchase this item from Jolly Redd without any worry of getting ripped off! The Flower Painting will always be real and genuine.

Glowing Painting: Real vs Fake?

There is no fake forgery version of the Glowing Painting — you’re safe to purchase this item from Jolly Redd without any worry of getting ripped off! The Glowing Painting will always be real and genuine.

Graceful Painting: Real vs Fake?

The fake version of the Graceful Painting has an incorrectly sized version of the woman wearing a dress where she fills almost the entire canvas, in addition to missing a white tag in her hair. A smaller rendition of her taking up only about 66% of the canvas is seen on the real version, alongside a white tag in her hair.

There’s also a second possible fake version where the woman is mirrored backwards to face towards the left.

Full Size Versions: Real Graceful Painting, Fake Graceful Painting

Jolly Painting: Real vs Fake?

The fake version of the Jolly Painting is missing a ‘weed’ or some other plant coming out of the straw in the bottom right. An extra plant is only sticking out in the bottom right on the real version.

Full Size Versions: Real Jolly Painting, Fake Jolly Painting

Moody Painting: Real vs Fake?

There is no fake forgery version of the Moody Painting — you’re safe to purchase this item from Jolly Redd without any worry of getting ripped off! The Moody Painting will always be real and genuine.

Moving Painting: Real vs Fake?

The fake version of the Moving Painting is missing a set of tall trees on the very far right side of the art piece. These tall trees and their leaves on the right side can only be seen on the real version.

Full Size Versions: Real Moving Painting, Fake Moving Painting

Mysterious Painting: Real vs Fake?

There is no fake forgery version of the Mysterious Painting — you’re safe to purchase this item from Jolly Redd without any worry of getting ripped off! The Mysterious Painting will always be real and genuine.

Nice Painting: Real vs Fake?

There is no fake forgery version of the Nice Painting — you’re safe to purchase this item from Jolly Redd without any worry of getting ripped off! The Nice Painting will always be real and genuine.

Perfect Painting: Real vs Fake?

There is no fake forgery version of the Perfect Painting — you’re safe to purchase this item from Jolly Redd without any worry of getting ripped off! The Perfect Painting will always be real and genuine.

Proper Painting: Real vs Fake?

There is no fake forgery version of the Proper Painting — you’re safe to purchase this item from Jolly Redd without any worry of getting ripped off! The Proper Painting will always be real and genuine.

Quaint Painting: Real vs Fake?

The fake version of the Quaint Painting has far more water pouring out of the container into the pot on the table than the original. There is almost nothing pouring out of the container on the real version.

Full Size Versions: Real Quaint Painting, Fake Quaint Painting

Scary Painting: Real vs Fake?

The fake version of the Scary Painting has reversed direction eyebrows on the man’s forehead pointing from the outsides towards the middle. There are more normal looking eyebrows on the real version.

There’s also a second possible fake version where the man is smiling instead of frowning, but the eyebrows are the same on  both fakes.

Full Size Versions: Real Scary Painting, Fake Scary Painting

Scenic Painting: Real vs Fake?

The fake version of the Scenic Painting is missing a second man and additional animals traveling in the snow near the front of the picture. There are more people and animals present on the real version.

Full Size Versions: Real Scenic Painting, Fake Scenic Painting

Serene Painting: Real vs Fake?

The fake version of the Serene Painting has a miscolored animal with varying dark grey shades in the woman’s hands. There is an animal with more consistently white colors on the real version.

Full Size Versions: Real Serene Painting, Fake Serene Painting

Sinking Painting: Real vs Fake?

There is no fake forgery version of the Sinking Painting — you’re safe to purchase this item from Jolly Redd without any worry of getting ripped off! The Sinking Painting will always be real and genuine.

Solemn Painting: Real vs Fake?

The fake version of the Solemn Painting changes the orientation of the man’s arm seen at the very back of the picture in the doorway. His arm is touching the wall, rather than pointing, on the real version.

Full Size Versions: Real Solemn Painting, Fake Solemn Painting

Twinkling Painting: Real vs Fake?

There is no fake forgery version of the Twinkling Painting — you’re safe to purchase this item from Jolly Redd without any worry of getting ripped off! The Twinkling Painting will always be real and genuine.

Warm Painting: Real vs Fake?

There is no fake forgery version of the Warm Painting — you’re safe to purchase this item from Jolly Redd without any worry of getting ripped off! The Warm Painting will always be real and genuine.

Wild Painting Left Half: Real vs Fake?

The fake version of the Wild Painting Left Half changes the color of the creature to green. His colors are white on the real version.

Full Size Versions: Real Wild Painting Left Half, Fake Wild Painting Left Half

Wild Painting Right Half: Real vs Fake?

The fake version of the Wild Painting Right Half changes the color of the creature to white. His colors are green on the real version.

Full Size Versions: Real Wild Painting Right Half, Fake Wild Painting Right Half

Wistful Painting: Real vs Fake?

The fake version of the Wistful Painting changes the shape of the woman’s earring to a star shape. Her earring is shaped like a ball or circle on the real version.

There’s also a second possible fake version where the woman’s eyes are closed.

Full Size Versions: Real Wistful Painting, Fake Wistful Painting

Worthy Painting: Real vs Fake?

There is no fake forgery version of the Worthy Painting — you’re safe to purchase this item from Jolly Redd without any worry of getting ripped off! The Worthy Painting will always be real and genuine.

Redd Art Statues: Real Genuine vs Fake Forgery Guide

Browse the sections below to find the statue you’re looking to purchase from Jolly Redd and compare what you’re seeing in-game to what you see displayed in this guide.

Plus, as an added bonus, not every statue in Animal Crossing: New Horizons actually has a fake version! So for two statues, you won’t even have to compare because we’ll tell you if the artwork only comes in real genuine versions. Additionally, a complete list of these always real art pieces are included at the end of the guide.

Ancient Statue: Real vs Fake?

The fake version of the Ancient Statue has two antennas seen on the top left and top right of the art. These antennas are missing from the real version.

Full Size Versions: Real Ancient Statue, Fake Ancient Statue

Beautiful Statue: Real vs Fake?

The fake version of the Beautiful Statue has an extra decorative necklace around the bottom of the woman’s neck on her shoulders. This necklace is missing from the real version.

Full Size Versions: Real Beautiful Statue, Fake Beautiful Statue

Familiar Statue: Real vs Fake?

There is no fake forgery version of the Familiar Statue — you’re safe to purchase this item from Jolly Redd without any worry of getting ripped off! The Familiar Statue will always be real and genuine.

Gallant Statue: Real vs Fake?

The fake version of the Gallant Statue is carrying an extra book near the arm on the left! This extra item is missing from the real version.

Real Gallant Statue

Fake Gallant Statue

Great Statue: Real vs Fake?

There is no fake forgery version of the Great Statue — you’re safe to purchase this item from Jolly Redd without any worry of getting ripped off! The Great Statue will always be real and genuine.

Real Great Statue

Informative Statue: Real vs Fake?

The fake version of the Informative Statue is wrongly colored blue — this could be the easiest fake you’ll ever spot! This stone is entirely black on the real version.

Real Informative Statue

Fake Informative Statue

Motherly Statue: Real vs Fake?

The fake version of the Motherly Statue has a tongue visible out of the wolf’s mouth! Look for a closed mouth with no tongue on the real version.

Real Motherly Statue

Fake Motherly Statue

Mystic Statue: Real vs Fake?

The fake version of the Mystic Statue has a large earring hanging out of the women’s ear! There’s no earring on the real version.

Real Mystic Statue

Fake Mystic Statue

Robust Statue: Real vs Fake?

The fake version of the Robust Statue has a watch worn on the man’s wrist on his raised arm! There’s no wrist watch on the real version.

Real Robust Statue

Fake Robust Statue

Rock-Head Statue: Real vs Fake?

The fake version of the Rock-Head Statue has a smiling mouth at the bottom of the rock! His mouth is more neutral on real version.

Real Rock-Head Statue

Fake Rock-Head Statue

Tremendous Statue: Real vs Fake?

The fake version of the Tremendous Statue has an extra lid covering the container! There’s no lid and the container is completely open on the real version.

Real Tremendous Statue

Fake Tremendous Statue

Valiant Statue: Real vs Fake?

The fake version of the Valiant Statue has the subject’s legs mirrored with their left leg stepping forward! Specifically, their right leg is stepping forward in the real version. Consult the images below for help.

Real Valiant Statue

Fake Valiant Statue

Warrior Statue: Real vs Fake?

The fake version of the Warrior Statue has an extra shovel in front of him that he’s leaning on! There’s no shovel on the real version.

Real Warrior Statue

Fake Warrior Statue

Always Legitimate Jolly Redd Paintings & Statues

The following Painting art pieces sold by Jolly Redd will always be a real and legitimate item, you can buy them safely without any concern for checking authenticity:

• Calm Painting
• Common Painting
• Dynamic Painting
• Flowery Painting
• Glowing Painting
• Moody Painting
• Mysterious Painting
• Nice Painting
• Perfect Painting
• Proper Painting
• Sinking Painting
• Twinkling Painting
• Warm Painting
• Worthy Painting

The following Statue art pieces sold by Jolly Redd will always be a real and legitimate item, you can buy them safely without any concern for checking authenticity:

• Familiar Statue
• Great Statue

How To Unlock & Find Redd

Once Blathers has mentioned the possibility of displaying art in the Museum, it’s possible for Redd to arrive on your island with his Treasure Trawler the next day. This can occur after at least 60 different bugs, fish, or fossils have been donated.

Redd will be walking around your island where you can meet him for the first time and purchase a piece of artwork from him for 4,980 Bells, which will always be real and genuine. Make sure to donate this art piece to Blathers ASAP to begin the process of expanding your Museum.

After the Museum has been fully expanded to include an Art Exhibit section for displaying all of your paintings and statues, Redd will begin to appear on your island randomly as a special visitor — just like Saharah, Gulliver, and others.

On subsequent visits to your island, Redd can be found with his Treasure Trawler ship docked on the north secret beach, Enter his boat to browse a selection of paintings, statues, and furniture — including both fake forgeries and real genuines.

Redd was added in the Version 1.2 Update of Animal Crossing: New Horizons released on April 23rd, 2020.

When & How Often Does Redd Appear?

Jolly Redd can be appear at your island’s north secret beach in Animal Crossing: New Horizons on weekdays Monday through Friday beginning at 5AM.

But how often does Redd show up? Each week, five random special visitors that can visit on weekdays are selected to appear during that week on your island. These include Redd, Gulliver, Saharah, Leif, Kicks, Flick, and more.

If Redd isn’t selected in this set of five weekday visitors during one week, then he’s guaranteed to appear during the next week. This should ensure you spot him at least once every two weeks, if not more often.

While Redd used to feel extraordinarily rare appearing on most islands only once every two or three weeks for many players, some changes were made in the Version 1.3 Summer Update making him more common. In previous versions, special characters Kicks, Saharah, and Leif would visit your island every single week taking up precious opportunities for Redd to appear.

Special thanks to Diam and Nintendo Wire for images used in this guide.