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Resellers/Designers and Corporate Services.
Wall Art Gallery provides the fastest turn around, attention to detail and quality wood molding from Larson Juhl. These qualities make Wall Art's price and service to the trade industry second to none. Contact us today to discuss your project!

It seems everyone in the art world has as many opinions about art as Monet has water lily paintings.  The fact is, for 99% of us walking the Earth, art is simple.  Just like a song you hear for the first time, you know if you like it enough to hear it again, or you don’t.

The same should apply for visual art.  Do not get caught up in the drama of accolades the artist has received.  Buy art for art.  If you can afford a framed poster, buy it.  Chances are that poster is a print from one of the best paintings the artist.  That is why a business chose to spend money to have it printed.  If you can afford to buy nothing but original works, buy them.  Keep in mind, if you are led to believe that the art you are purchasing is for an investment, do your homework.  Just because a particular artist is enjoying an increase in price does not mean that anyone will be spending a dime on that particular art 20-30 years from now.  Most “investor” grade art would be auctioned at Sotheby’s or Christies.  Or perhaps a dozen elite galleries in the World.  Outside of that, your investments are best left to your financial advisor, not the local gallery owner.

Below, I have written about some basic fundamentals in the art and framing business.

BE IN THE KNOW!

Print Making. The making of limited edition prints is a time-consuming, exacting and collaborative effort between the artist, publisher and printer. Most artists are often involved in the process from beginning to end. Foremost thought is given to choosing the most appropriate medium to achieve the best possible interpretation for the piece. To ensure an accurate interpretation, the Publisher works in conjunction with the printer and directs the look and feel of the print. Upon completion, prints are sometimes examined by the artist for any last changes to be made. When the Publisher produces limited editions, the printing plates are either defaced or destroyed.

Limited Edition Prints. A limited edition print is an original image limited to a determined quantity to retain its integrity and value. The edition is individually signed and numbered by the artist. The numbers denote the individual piece number in the edition over the total edition size (written as a fraction).
     In addition to the numbered prints in an edition, there are usually an additional 10-20% of signed proofs produced for the artist and publisher. Artist’s Proofs (APs) are sometimes reserved for the artist, but many times they are sold in a gallery. Printer’s Proofs (PPs) are proofs presented to the printer upon completion of printing. Sales Proofs (HCs) are generally kept by the Publisher and are generally used as sales samples. Keep in mind that these descriptions are meant to give you a general definition of what the letters and numbers mean. A lot of times whole edition is retailed in a gallery.
     All limited editions sold at Wall Art are accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. This document is created by us to certify that the print or original is authentic. It will also outline the total number of images created, the year it was produced and the type of medium.

Paper. The paper on which serigraphs, giclée, mixed media and stone lithographs are printed add immensely to the value and quality of the print. The paper weight and content make the difference in the way a print looks, feels and ages. An integral part of printmaking, paper is perhaps the foremost consideration for the publisher at the outset of the printing process, especially in terms of what best interprets the original piece and the artist’s intent. The traditional art of papermaking has remained virtually the same for centuries. Ts’ai Lun, a Chinese eunuch, is generally credited with its invention in A.D. 105. The invention of paper spread from China to Korea and later, by A.D. 610, Japan. The paper trail blew eastward to Persia, and eventually to Egypt, Morocco, Spain and Italy. By the time papermaking got to Europe, the materials had changed from those in the Orient. Europeans used cotton and linen fibers and then sized it with gelatin. The result was a paper that was soft, translucent and absorbent, and could only be used on one side, perfect for their extensive use of brushes. The real changes in papermaking occurred in the materials used to make the paper. The more cotton and high quality fibers present, the stronger the paper. The quality of the paper content will not only affect the longevity of the print but also the quality of the print’s color.