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| Acrylic: Painted with acrylic (water based) paints on canvas or hard board. Acrylic paint dries much faster than oil and, over time, may become more brittle. |
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| Acrylic Sculpture: In the past decade, two new sculpture materials, Lucite and Kalonite, were introduced to the world of art. Lucite is a clear acrylic monomer and Kalonite is a transparent polymer whose color ranges from a soft rose to a vibrant amethyst. Proprietary chemical formations, not pigmentation, give this substance its gem-like quality, with color variations that are similar to translucent materials found in nature. Light flows through the sculpture for a delightful diffused effect that can be enhanced with special lighting techniques. |
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| Artist's Proof/Printer's Proof/Gallery Proof: These terms were originally used to distinguish the earliest stages of the prints for inspection purposes. Today, they are often applied after the entire edition has been produced. In many instances, an entire edition is divided into several limited categories and often the terms "AP" or "PP" are used to denote separate categories within the edition. Artist Proofs, "AP", is a print made for the artist's personal use, designated as such and not part of the edition of that print. Printer's Proof, “PP”, is a print exactly like the regular edition and is the property of the printer. It is usually a very small number of prints given to the printer, for the printer's own purpose, by the artist. It is more of a tradition by some artists, like in times past, to use these as payment to the printer. “GP” is a gallery proof for display purposes only, used in taking orders for pre-publication pieces.
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| Bronze: An alloy traditionally composed of copper and tin. It is harder than copper, more fusible and easier to cast. It is also harder than pure iron and far more resistant to corrosion. Each piece is cast in bronze using the lost wax method, producing a replica of the original sculpture, which is created out of a water-base clay. |
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| Brush Stroke: A form of drawing that is executed entirely with brush and usually in a wash. It is the favorite technique in Oriental painting.
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| Canvas Transfers: This is the process of transferring prints onto canvas. There are approximately 15 steps in the creation of a Canvas Transfer. It begins with an art print on paper. Then a ‘wet, cold process' is used. Individual techniques are used to peel the paper off the back of the print, which leaves a skin, which is then cured. The skin is what will be transferred onto a regular artist canvas. After curing, the canvas will be stretched to its proper size over wooden stretcher bars. Finally, a textured finish will be applied to the front of the transfer, enhancing the natural canvas texture, which is already present by that time. |
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| Casting: In Sculpture, the process of duplicating the original wax or clay model in metal, plaster of paris, or other material, by means of a mold.
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| Certificate of Authenticity: The Certificate of Authenticity gives authentic fine-art, limited-edition printmakers theopportunity to distinguish their work from posters or reproductions, which some dealers would like to pass off as "prints". By offering the extensive information of the Certificate, printmakers can guarantee the authenticity of their work and educate their buyers as to just exactly what they are spending their money on. A proper Certificate of Authenticity is an additional value added to a fine-art print insofar as it explains to the client in detail the various factors which intervene in its production and edition. The more details the Certificate includes, the more value it contributes to the print.
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| Chromograph: Same process as Cibachrome, except metal dye is used, which are more environmentally safe |
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| Cibachrome or Ilfachrome: Cibachrome images are exposed directly from slides or transparencies, eliminating the need for time-consuming, costly and resolution robbing inter – negatives. Cibachrome gives you maximum, first generation sharpness from your original slide or transparency. Cibachrome prints are widely considered the world standard for museum quality photographic prints. No other photographic process of paper can match the degree of color saturation, sharpness or color stability. |
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| Diptych: A painted or carved work in two parts or panels arranged side by side.
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| Edition: The total number of prints produced from a single master. |
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| Fine Art: Describes the categories of art works that are traditionally considered aesthetically significant. They include architecture, painting, sculpture and many of the graphic arts and are contrasted with decorative and applied art, in which function is as important as aesthetic considerations.
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| Giclee: The French word “giclee” literally means “to sputter”. The giclee (or “IRIS” print) is probably the best thing to happen to fine art reproduction since the invention of photography. For decades, artists have had to rely on state of the art photographic prints for one at a time and small quantity runs of fine art reproductions, or invest large amounts of money into lithographic processes that require producing hundreds or even thousands of prints at a time.
This new process requires only that the original be scanned digitally and recorded to a disk. It can then be printed out digitally one at a time on the “IRIS” printer with integrity of color and image unknown before. Canvas and somerset watercolor paper are the most popular of printing surfaces for this method. Finally, the artist can expect that the reproduction will actually look like the original. While the artist gets what he wants, it is the art buyer that benefits the most from this new technology. Today as never before, the art buying public has access to a product that brings the look and feel of original artwork within the reach of the vast majority of people who cannot afford original artwork.
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| Hand Highlighting or Uniquing: Artists use oil or acrylic paint and paint “highlights” on the limited proof edition. This gives the artwork a textured appearance. Hand highlighting or uniquing is done on Cibachrome, Repligraph, Artagraph and Cibachrome on Canvas.
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| Hand Signed: The artist signs the print by hand.
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| Impressionist: Impressionist painters analyzed the effects of nature with devoted intensity. They devised a spectrum palette and relied on optical mixing to capture the impression of light at a given moment.
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| Limited Edition: A limited edition is created when a finite number of reproductions are made from a single master image. These editions usually bear numbers or markings to indicate the maximum number of allowable prints. All images in the limited edition are generally hand-signed by the artist and numbered. This signifies the artist's approval of all aspects of the creation and quality of the image, including execution and production techniques of the master and proofs. The image on the master also exists as an original painting or sculpture.
Limited editions are printed on high quality stock. Once the edition is sold out, no more limited edition prints of that image can be produced. The same image may be reproduced in different sizes or mediums. To the best of our knowledge, the master plates and casting molds have been destroyed by the printer and/or the casting foundry.
Lithograph: A lithograph is a direct print of an image. Historically, artists
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| Lithograph: A lithograph is a direct print of an image. Historically, artists recreated an image on a large, flat slab of Bavarian limestone, using a greasy substance called "tusche". The surface was fixed chemically and wetted with water, which did not adhere to the greased image areas. When the stone was inked with a roller, the ink did not adhere to the wet areas, but only to the greased areas. A sheet of paper was then placed in position, and the press was operated to print one impression. The process was repeated for each impression. Contemporary lithography includes all forms of multiple reproductions, including offset and photo-mechanical processes, as well as other new and involving techniques designed to more faithfully reproduce the artist's image.
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| Lost Wax Process: (Cire Perdue) A casting wax process using a wax model which is encased in a molding material, such as sand or plaster, then melted away, leaving a hollow mold for the metal cast. The method may be used to produce a hollow metal cast by applying a thin coating of wax over a clay core and then encasing the waxed core in plaster. When the wax is melted by heating, a thin space remains, into which the molten metal is poured.
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| Lucite Mixed Media Sculpture: A harmonious blend of precious metals is combined with hot-torched acid patinas embedded in Lucite, an acrylic polymer that is clear and which adds rich color and texture. Originals arrive at a foundry in the form of plastiline - the result of sculpting, and resculpting, soft clay. From these originals, first-generation models are created. Each sculpture is sectioned into a myriad of component parts and placed into molds for the creation of individual cavities. Once these metals have solidified in the molds and are released, the component parts are welded together to form the final shape of the sculpture. Meticulous hand work with fine stainless steel tools recovers detail lost in the welding process. At that point, each original sculpture is bathed in hand-applied precious metals and various patinas. In finishing, the sculpture is hand-relieved with a combination of steel wool and sand to release the color and texture of the original metal form. In its final stages, the metal castings are embedded into the Lucite. Once the Lucite is baked and cured, its texture and visual appearance is very rough. Hours of painstaking hand polishing are then put into making the Lucite crystal clear.
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| Medium: A physical material of which a work of art is made: oil paint, clay, ink, pastel, wood, concrete, bronze, etc.
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| Mix Media Originals: When an artist uses two or more different media to create the original. |
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| Mixed Media: A combination of various graphic techniques applied to one print.
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| Mixed Media Serigraph: This is an offset lithograph where silk screening has been done over the image. One to thirty different colors of resin can be used in the silk screening process. The surface of a serigraph is raised or textured.
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| Mural: A large painting or decoration applied directly on a wall surface or completely separated and later affixed to it.
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| Numbering: Numbering prints has become an established custom. They are signed with two numbers such as 3/950. This indicated that there are only 950 prints in the edition and that particular print was the third one to be signed.
There is some misunderstanding as to the significance of numbering the art, and it is sometimes assumed that the lower the number, the better or more valuable the print. This is not necessarily true of all prints. First, the prints may not be signed in the order they were printed. Prints are not normally signed until the entire edition is printed, dried, trimmed, and stacked and it is difficult to always handle them in the order that they were printed.
The print number has little significance beyond indicating the maximum number of prints in the edition. It should also be noted that, although the bottom number indicates the maximum number of prints that may be produced, it does not necessarily mean that they were all printed. Many times an artist intends to produce a certain number of prints, but circumstances change and they are never printed.
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| Offset Lithography: : Offset lithography is a modern version of the old stone lithograph technique. Today the image is rendered photographically onto metal plates and treated so that only specific areas will retain the color. Next the paper is run through the press that picks up a different color at each plate. This material process is done on 100 percent acid-free paper. With offset lithography, there is virtually no variance from the first print or the last. In contrast, the old stone lithography method exhibits a good deal of variance between prints, with later prints losing definition.
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| Oil: Painted with oil paints on canvas or hard board. |
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| Oil Paint: A type of paint made of pigment mixed with a drying oil such as linseed oil.
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| Original: Refers to works considered to be authentic examples of the works of an artist, rather than reproductions or limited editions. |
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| Patina: A patina is a chemical coating that adds a colorful finish to metal sculpture. A patina is achieved by heating up the piece with a torch then applying certain chemicals with a brush or spray to produce the desired color. This is a particularly effective treatment for bronze, which can be given a wide variety of attractive green, brown, blue and black patinas. Natural patinas, like the creative element of fine art, have a degree of serendipity. Each unique patina will exhibit a different sequence or change in response to the atmosphere that surrounds it.
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| Pre-Published Artwork: Limited edition art is offered for sale before it is published at a large reduction in the published price. Once the limited edition has been printed or cast, approved, signed and numbered by the artist, then, the higher published price takes effect. It may take several months for an art piece to be published.
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| Print: An impression or proof taken from any master block or plate that has been prepared for that purpose.
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| Proof: Print made for the artist to examine before the slate is printed. |
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| Raku: Raku is a decorative art form and has a very unique ceramic firing process. The term itself means ‘enjoyment' or ‘pleasure', originating in Japan. The original pieces were tea bowls made for use in Japanese Tea Ceremonies. Though there are different variations to “Raku” the process is very similar in all its forms. The kiln is fired to a temperature of roughly 850-900 degrees Celsius, until the glaze starts to "bubble". The clay object pieces are pulled red hot from the kiln with tongs. The post-firing process can vary widely, but generally involves burying the hot pieces in a combustible material, such as sawdust, rice hulls, or straw.
The flames from this combustion alter the glazed surface, resulting in a crackled glaze with various lusters, beautiful colors, and a smoked clay body. On those parts of the clay body where any cracks have developed in the glaze, due to rapid cooling, that portion of the clay turns black. There is virtually no control in the extent of color and pattern and consequently no two pieces are alike. Due to the delicate nature of the glaze, raku can be damaged by water and heat. If you want to use the piece as a vase, a plastic or glass liner should be placed in the pot. Raku looks best when it's well lit, but avoid direct sunlight as it will dull the glaze coloring over time. Each piece of raku is a one of a kind work of art. |
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| Remarque: A current practice by some artists is the addition of a small-personalized drawing or symbol near their signature. This is borrowed from the artist Whistler, who personalized many of his prints. Remarques are done on offset lithography, serigraphs, mixed media serigraphs and giclees on paper.
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| Serigraph: Serigraphy, also called silk screening, is basically a stencil process. A screen of silk or synthetic fiber is stretched tightly across a frame. The artist creates a stencil design in the screen and positions it over high quality acid free paper. Paint is pushed through the screen with a squeegee, only passing through the portions of the mesh that are not blocked by the stencil. A separate screen is created for every color the artist wishes to add to the print. |
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| Signed and Numbered: Limited editions are signed by the artist and then numbered with the edition size on the bottom. |
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| Suite: A series of paintings, drawings or prints linked by a common theme.
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| Surrealism: Originally a literary movement in the 1920s, surrealism incorporates stylistic and theoretical aspects of cubism and Dada. Seeking to reveal the reality behind appearances, especially in a psychological sense, surrealism draws heavily on Freudian theories about the unconscious, dreams, irrationality, sexuality and fantasy. Hence, the use of dream imagery, automatism and symbolism.
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| Triptych: A painted or carved work in three parts or panels arranged side by side.
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| Uniquing: Artists may make a Cibachrome or Repligraph "unique" by adding hand-painted highlights. This also gives the reproduction a more textured appearance.
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| Watercolor: Pigment pulverized with a water–soluble binder, such as gum arabic, and dissolved in a water vehicle. A transparent technique in which the paper furnishes the highlights.
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