How do I find out how collectable or "hot" a certain artist is at the moment?

I have 2 pieces of art I am curious about how to sell for the most I can get. One is by a landscape painter named Gene Kloss and one is an abstract shapes sort of thing by a Richard Hall. Both are smaller paintings but seem to be signed originals. One has some slight discoloration from the edge of the matte it was framed in but both are in otherwise great shape. How do I get information about their value? I live in the Bay Area and was wondering if I should go to an auction house like Clars in Oakland?