Often people do not know that original art for their home is an affordable asset. Most importantly they do not know what to consider
when it is time to purchase art work. Technology has advanced beyond art posters for those who want that extra special piece without
necessarily paying the price of an original piece of art work.
Over the years the digital age has emerged and keeps improving. This
has made high quality reproduction artwork more readily available to everyone. In my opinion everyone should own at least one original
piece of art in their lifetime. There is something amazingly special to have an artwork with all its vigor and energy hanging on your
walls. Original art is also an asset and will normally increase in value over the years. It can be treated as an heirloom piece and
passed on to family members.
The ultimate investment is a piece of original art for your home and family.
So the question often arises:
should you purchase an original piece of art, a lithograph, a gicleé or canvas transfer? You have several options:
1. Original art
2. Lithograph
3. Gicleé print/reproduction
4. Canvas art transfer
5. Work on paper, canvas, framed, museum wrap or gallery wrap
canvas etc.
Original Art
Original art is art created as one of kind work in its original medium on its original surface.
Medium used
would be oil paint, acrylic paint, watercolor, pen and ink, colored pencil, mixed media etc.
The surface used will be artist quality
canvas, watercolor papers, pastel papers, smooth surfaces such as gessoed wood panels to name a few.
Original work is the most highly
valued type of art work to consider for your home and traditionally thought of as the most expensive option. This is not necessarily
true, very often it is comparably affordable to framed prints found in catalogs, poster stores and online.
Check your local artists’
listings and art shows; for artists that create work that reflect your style. You might be surprised at the variety and quality of
your local network.
If you do not find something to your liking in their portfolio but do like their style, you can always request
that they create a work specifically for you.
The advantage of an original artwork is that no one else will have that particular piece
in that form.
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What is a Gicleé Fine Art Print or Reproduction?
Gicleé (g-clay) is an elegant, state-of-the-art reproduction. The
name comes from a French printmaker's term for "fine spray", and was adapted to distinguish the technique from ordinary offset printing.
A gicleé is created by a digital printer's tiny ink jets that spray millions of droplets of water-based ink onto fine archival art
paper or canvas (or linen) known as the "substrate". The combination of specific inks and substrate are carefully selected to assure
maximum print longevity.
Thanks to Frame Haven Gallery Art Dictionary website for the above definition
A Gicleé fine art print refers
to a machine-made reproduction using the latest and most sophisticated ink-jet technology. The name comes from the French word GICLEÉ
(pronounced Zhee-Clay) that means “spray". In this printing method, the media is carried by a spinning roller while infinitely small
pixels of rich, vibrant archival inks are sprayed on it at a very high speed. This renders an amazingly smooth and consistent image
true to the original painting, a superb quality fine art reproduction.
A gicleé is produced by taking high quality digital images
of the original art work. The digital image is adjusted to the closest possible match to the original. Very often you cannot tell
the difference between the original and the reproduction. The image is then printed on to the surface of your choice: artist canvas,
archival watercolor paper, self stick fabric, brushed cotton. Depending on where you go for the work, you can event print onto acrylic
panels and other thicker surfaces.
The Gicleé is quickly becoming the new standard in the art industry, and is widely embraced for
its astonishing quality by major museums, galleries, publishers and artists. A Gicleé print is quite simply the closest replication
of an original artwork that is currently possible.
Why consider a Giclee Print?
Because of the quality and ease of being able to reproduce art work to incredibly accurate levels,
this form of print is proving to be an affordable alternative to purchasing original art work. A Gicleé print will usually be a numbered
print as the artist will create a limited number of prints in the particular size, and or on a particular surface. This adds value
to your purchase.
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What is an Art transfer canvas?
Art transfer canvases are considered an affordable alternative to original art
or limited edition prints and lithographs. This can be considered as a cheaper way to own art.
The manufacturer / dealer starts with
an art print, either your photo reference or a store manufactured print. (A print, being an image of ink on paper). Special chemicals
are applied to the print, which once dry create a fine film over the print. The ‘print’ is then separated from the paper backing and
imbedded into artist grade canvas. The work is then usually coated with some form of UV topcoat and stretched onto stretcher bars.
The work is then ready for framing.
An art canvas can be embellished with textured clear gels to give an even more authentic look
to your finished print. There are many online dealers offering this service.
Gallery Wrap Canvas versus Museum Wrap Canvas
Gallery
wrapped canvas means that the image continues around the edge of the stretcher bar. Generally if you order a gallery wrap canvas you
do not intend to frame the work, as the depth of the stretcher bar is generally between 1 ½” and 2” deep. This is considered ready
to hang.
A museum wrap canvas means that there will be white showing around the sides of the work. This form of stretched canvas is
intended to be framed and the depth of the stretcher bar is usually ¾” to 1” deep.
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Copyright
Unless you have specifically purchased
all copyright from the artist for an original work or commissioned art work, the copyright always remains with artist. This means
that the artist can reproduce your art at their discretion.
Once you start purchasing a reproduction/copy of the artwork, your best
investment would be to acquire a signed and numbered print with a Certificate of Authenticity if possible.
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Certificate of Authenticity.
The
COA is intended to protect the consumer by providing information regarding the print/art work: title, size, process, relevant dates,
signature etc.
A COA is a proof of authenticity from the artist/seller. You should have the artist name & contact information,
Title, description or photograph of object/print/art, when the art was created/printed, dimensions, year created, medium, medium of
the print, number prints signed and unsigned, edition size, status of plate or master : destroyed on file etc
There are 14 states
that require a COA – Arkansas, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina,
Oregon, South Carolina, and Wisconsin.
With all this in mind you are now in a better position to make up your mind as to what kind
of art work you wish to start collecting.