Creative Touch & Design

Art Terms

Artist Proof
Common practice is that 10 to 15 percent of an edition is reserved for the artist. These proofs are identical to impressions in the edition in most instances. Print Marking example; A/P "1/35" is the first print of an edition of 35 Artist Proof impressions.

Certificate of Authenticity
A document issued with limited edition prints, with the print published date, size of the image, original art media, number of the prints in the edition, a statement about the work from the artist and the fact that the plates have been or will be destroyed to close the edition

Giclee
A fine art print that has become more precise with the advent of the revolutionary printing process Giclee (zhee-clay) a French term meaning "spray of ink." In the Giclee process, a fine stream of ink (more than four millions droplets per second) is sprayed onto archival art paper or canvas. Each piece of paper or canvas is carefully hand mounted onto a drum which rotates during printing. Exact calculation of hue, value and density direct the ink from four nozzles. This produces a combination of 512 chromatic changes (with over three million colors possible) of highly saturated, non-toxic water-based ink. Since no screens are used in Giclee printing, the prints have a higher resolution than lithographs and the dynamic color range is greater than serigraphs.

Hors de Commerce
Hors de Commerce (Not for trade) traditionally were the graphics pulled with the regular edition but marked by the artist for business use only. These graphics were used for entering shows, exhibits, samples, etc. Today, however, since people began to acquire and collect them, these graphics now generally find their way to the market place through regular channels and are sold. Example H/C 1/10

Limited Edition Prints
A fixed number of identical prints of an image, signed by the artist, sequentially numbered, and showing both the print's number and the total edition size. Each print is referred to as a "limited edition print."

Lithograph
A print produced by a printing process in which the image to be printed is rendered on a flat surface, as on sheet zinc or aluminum, and treated to retain ink while the non-image areas are treated to repel ink.

Medium
Medium is the material or technical means of artistic expression.  Examples include oils, watercolors, acrylics, ink, pencil and charcoal.  Technical examples include lithography, serigraphy and giclee.  Mixed media is the use of two or more materials and/or technical means.

Printers Proof
Common practice by many printers is that a small number of impressions are made for their review. These proofs are marketed and are identical impressions to the edition in most instances. Print Marking example; P/P "1/20" is the first print of an edition of 20 Printers Proof impressions.

Remarque
A current practice by some artist is the addition of a small personalized drawing near his penciled signature in the margin of the graphic. A print of this type is called a Remarques.

Serigraph
A print made by the silk-screen process involving the use of stencils. Paint is applied to a fabric screen, penetrating areas not blocked by a stencil. Several stencils are used to produce a multicolored print.

Signed and Numbered
Prints that are authenticated with the artists signature, the total number of impressions in the edition, and the order in which impression is signed. Numbering example; L/E "5/350, indicates the fifth print of a limited edition of 350 impressions.

There is no better time to begin establishing an art collection. If you have already started a collection, then it is important to continue adding to your existing collection. Collecting art is a fun activity. Your search for art can take you to exciting and even interesting flea markets. You can treat yourself, your family members and your friends to the gift of art. One of the major reasons for collecting art is to help enrich your environment. Your environment includes your home, office, boat or other surroundings where your, family or friends spend time relaxing, working or residing. These are areas that demand art but often are overlooked because we are unaware of the importance art has on our lives. You can use art to fill a void or to fill an empty space on a wall or in a room. Art can consciously be placed in a space to create a flew and an atmosphere that cannot be duplicated or substituted, for only art can fill the bill.

Can you imagine a world without art? Without art we might end up with blank walls of solid colors or we might try to fill the empty spaces with plants, flowers or TV monitors. Close your eyes and try to imagine your home without art.

Your surroundings not only affect what you see but also the way you feel. Art can be therapeutic. It can enhance your awareness of your settings, by taking you away from your present frame of mind. It also helps to alleviate or relieve stress. Gazing at art can have a calming affect through color, texture form, design or subject matter. Art can enrich your personal space just by the pride you develop because you own specific works or art. Art can make you feel content because it has sentimental value to you. Art can help make a space inviting and create a place where you want other people to come. Art can exemplify part of your personality. Art can be used to increase your cultural awareness. Your environment can reflect cultural subject matter such as African masks, landscapes and intimate portrayals such as mother and child. You may wish your environment to be of an historical nature where the art on your walls depicts historical events or historical figures. It can also be used to diversify your art arena. You may collect contemporary art that you feel reflects life today. Some of my personal favorites are brightly colored abstract painting and small detailed sculptures of different media.

As parents, grandparents, concerned friends and relatives, it is important to get our children involved in collecting art. They can enjoy being in an environment that gives them joy by identifying with an array of subject matter. They can enjoy art of historical figures whom they respect and who can drive them to achieve their goals. Historical art can give them greater strength and allow young people to know their roots.

As you become more excited and enthusiastic about the art in your collection, you will want it to continue to grow. You should be inspired to learn more about the meaning of art in your collection and understand more about what motivated the artists. You will also gain insight into how art is created. Remember that greater awareness will improve your understanding of art and bring a greater personal satisfaction to your collection.

While there are many guidelines for purchasing art, the first and foremost is collect art that YOU like. Let art enrich your environment and that of your family and friends. Give the gift of art and watch the collection grow. Pass the art-enriched environment on to future generations to enjoy.

Whether your art gift is for yourself or others, your gift can inspire a change of feeling in the environment of the person who receives it.

Article

by Anna Allen
taken from the magazine. VOL.II, NO.4

Ana M. Allen is the author of the book. "The Beginners Guide to Collecting Fine Art: African-American Style." For letters and comments, contact her at P.O.Box 91581, Washington, DC 20090 or call at (202)882-4079.