Information
FAQ
Why are some prints more expensive than others? Art is a very personal thing. I believe the more craft and hands-on an artist has to do with his art, the more personal it is. Printmaking is a very hands-on endeavor. I cannot speak for every artist. For the most part, it can be a painstaking process, albeit an enjoyable one. That is just one of the factors when determining cost.
Another factor is quantity. For some collectors, provenance is significant. A collector wants to know the piece’s history, origination, and rarity. This is true for the Artfest buyer and the collector who has thousands to spend on art. The rarer a print is, the more expensive it can be. For printmakers, it is the best of both worlds. While some screen prints can number up to 250 copies of signed originals, some can be as low as 5-25. I will usually produce 10-30 prints. I’ve done as low as five. As a hand-pulled print, each can be slightly different from the rest, giving each print some originality. If there is some additional application of craft, such as direct painting or drawing on the print, it makes it even more unique, thus, more expensive.
There are also what the industry calls Open Editions. Open Editions (OE) means that the image will print in unlimited quantities depending on the demand.
What is a giclee or fine art print? These are printed on high-end pigment inkjet printers with anywhere from 8 to 12 colors. The paper is usually on heavyweight 100 percent cotton rag. This is an archival paper that, combined with the high-end pigment, would last dozens of years without any color degrading. These would be less expensive than the originals. I limit the number of prints to 100 signed and numbered prints.
Signature. Not all artists sign their work, but it doesn’t hurt. An artist doesn’t have to be a rock star or an athlete for one to know the importance of the artist’s signature. It is as unique as is the art. It is the mark that a collector needs to validate the work’s authenticity and is authorized by the artist to exist. Without it, it is just a piece of paper with some cool art. For the collector, it is the signature of provenance and has value. As a collector myself, I have acquired several signed fine art prints.
What kind of papers do you use? Every print, whether original handed-pulled print or a digital copy, is done on 100% rag cotton paper. This type of paper is archival quality, meaning it will last a long time without turning yellow with age, such as bond or newsprint.
Some of the papers we use are Aurora Art White 285 100% cotton rag paper. 18 mil thickness. Non-reflective matte Cranes Lettra Cover 110lb. Heavyweight paper. 100% cotton.
What type of printer do you use? I use a Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300, a 10-color pigment ink printer for the digital work.
How are the prints shipped? The prints are shipped flat or in a tube, depending on the size. They are protected in a top loader PVC case inside and inserted heavy-duty envelope that keeps it flat and protected during shipping.
What if it arrives damaged? Great care has been taken to make sure your print arrives undamaged. In the rare case, return it in the same packaging if possible.
Is all of the artwork in the gallery available for purchase? No, not yet. However, I can make it available if you are interested in a particular piece. Most of the time, the art won’t go on sale unless there is a decent amount of demand for it, or I just haven’t had the time to make it available.
What does the POD mean in the image title? POD stands for Print on Demand. These are high quality prints that are usually unsigned and shipped by a third party. They are open editions and will be available to anyone. This is done to give buyers multiple options on how they acquire and enjoy their art collections. POD images can also be available on sites such as Esty, to download to print on a personal printing device.