Frequently Asked Questions
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- All About Artwork Editions
- How to Frame Your Art
- How to Hang Artwork
- How to Protect Your Art for a Lifetime
All About Artwork Editions
- What is a Limited Edition Print?
- Why does a Limited Edition Print increase in value?
- What are Artist's Proofs?
- What are Lithographs on Canvas?
- What is a Giclee?
- What are Open Editions?
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Prints are reproductions of original paintings created on a lithographic printing press. The press run of prints is strictly limited in quantity to a specific number called "THE EDITION." When a print is sold, a Certificate of Authenticity accompanies every print giving the new owner its credentials.
Each print in a Limited Edition is numbered in the form of a fraction to make it unique. The bottom number in the fraction says how many prints exist in the edition. The top number identifies this unique copy. (e.g. 25/1000 is the 25th print in the edition of 1000).
To create the edition, the artist works with a master lithographer during the press run to assure that the reproduction matches her original painting in every respect. If she approves the quality of the printing, she certifies so by hand signing the print. BARBARA HAILS Limited Edition Lithographs are printed in oil inks on the finest art printing paper available. Treated with care they will last a lifetime.
WHY DOES A LIMITED EDITION PRINT INCREASE IN VALUE?When an edition is published it is described as a "NEW RELEASE" and is offered for sale at the retail price, known as the "ISSUE PRICE". As prints in the edition are sold and become more scarce, the edition is described as "IN LOW SUPPLY" and collector interest in the print increases. It is important to acquire "Low Supply" prints without delay because so few exist.
When all of the pieces in the edition are sold and are no longer available from the publisher, the edition is described as "SOLD OUT". It is then only possible to obtain the prints through other collectors or galleries that have already stocked them, but rarely for very long. At this point the price of sold out prints frequently increases from the original issue price, due to supply and demand.
"SECONDARY MARKET" is a term used to describe the reselling of sought-after prints by collectors and galleries to each other. People wishing to obtain SOLD OUT prints must do so on the Secondary Market often at a higher price. If you want to purchase any BARBARA HAILS print listed as SOLD OUT, we can search for it for you on the Secondary Market.
WHAT ARE ARTIST'S PROOFS?  |
An edition contains a specific quantity of prints in the regular "EDITION" and very often a number of "ARTIST'S PROOFS" and/ or "PRINTER'S PROOFS."
Even with the advent of modern, technically superior printing presses, "proofing" is a critical part of the printing process. With ancient technologies, as the artist worked on press to create prints, it was necessary to pull proofs periodically to see how the work was commencing. With each change on the press, another proof was pulled until the work was perfected. Then the entire "EDITION" was printed. The proofs used for testing were imperfect but uniquely different from the rest of the edition and, therefore, valued as special by some.
Today, the offset lithographic presses used to produce BARBARA HAILS's prints are so sophisticated that the quality of the last print is as good as the first, and in most cases the Artist's Proofs are absolutely perfect. To set them apart, Artist's Proofs are signed and numbered as such (e.g. 1/25AP) and often released after the regular edition is completely sold out. They are considered special because they carry on the time-honored tradition of designating the first prints off the press in the form of ARTIST'S PROOFS, and because they are so rare. If there are any PRINTER'S PROOFS, they would be numbered as such (e.g. 1/10PP).
WHAT ARE LITHOGRAPHS ON CANVAS?  |
Lithographs on Canvas are produced in Deluxe Limited Editions with only a small number of Artist Proofs. Each is hand-signed and numbered by BARBARA HAILS and accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.
These reproductions on Canvas are Hand-Enhanced in oil making each one UNIQUE. The face is protected from UV damage with an acrylic varnish which also enriches the color, closely matching the original. The art image glows with life.
Meticulous craftsmanship using the "tucked and rolled" technique results in a drum-tight surface, and a clean-edged canvas, with no side staples, ready to frame. Our framed Canvas Lithographs may come with an engraved, polished brass title plate (optional), and the frame rabbet sealed with hand rubbed carnauba wax to protect the canvas.
Canvas artworks are especially desirable where glare makes works under glass impractical or atmospheric conditions are unkind to artworks on paper. The rabbet of the frame should be brushed with a release agent like light oil, wax or silicone spray. As with all fine art, these pieces should not be subjected to direct sunlight or extremes of temperature or humidity. Due to the individual hand work, special orders may take four to six weeks.
WHAT IS A GICLEE?"GICLEES" are an exciting new technology. Multiples of an original painting are created with wide format printers that spray rich, vibrant color directly onto paper or canvas. Giclee prints offer several advantages: They can be made in a much larger size than possible in any other process. 30" x 40", and 40" x 60" are common. The inks are durable, offering brilliance indefinitely. The editions are often small, making them exclusive and sometimes available by custom order.
WHAT ARE OPEN EDITIONS?"OPEN EDITIONS" are prints published in unlimited quantities and for as long as there is demand for the image. Because so many prints are published, inexpensive materials are used. The price of an open edition is normally lower and open editions are considered a temporary form of art. You will find open editions frequently with trendy art (children's subjects, sports, cartoons, famous people) and the like. Open editions may contain a published signature of the artist, but almost never a hand-written signature.
A "POSTER" is an open edition print that contains some text, often of an advertising nature, on the margin or image of the print.
How to Frame Your Art
You see the difference the minute you view a BARBARA HAILS artwork. The quality shows. To preserve its value, we recommend framing to conservation standards.
Conservation materials are very affordable, adding only a small percentage more to the framing job, however, the benefits are impressive. If you choose 100% rag, acid-free, museum mat and mounting board, your art will not yellow over time. Conservation glazing filters out harmful UV light, preventing fading. Archival mounting allows you later to reframe the piece without damage to the artwork and can protect its value on the SECONDARY MARKET. Once you have taken the time to search for, and such care to select a beautiful piece of art it is smart to have it framed with quality, time-tested materials. Just ask us to show you what we can do for you.
How to Hang Artwork
POSITIONING CONSIDERATIONS
To enjoy your art, hang it at eye level. Museums achieve average eye level when the center of the artwork is 47" from the floor. Avoid placing it too high.
In a home or office, the art will be balanced against the other items with which it shares wall space. Place art 4" - 6" above a sofa so that together the art and sofa "feel" like a unit. Place art similarly with a chair, table and lamp so that the items within the same field of view "feel" like they are part of each other.
HOW TO PERFECTLY POSITION ART OVER YOUR COUCH OR MANTELMake a template out of newspaper the size of your art including the frame. Use masking tape to temporarily position the template, centered, with the bottom of the template no more than 6 inches above the top of the couch or mantel. Lightly mark the top center of the paper. Remove the paper.
Place the art vertically on the floor and tension the picture wire toward the top of the frame. Measure the distance from the wire to the top of the frame. Make another light mark on the wall for the picture hanger that same distance down from the original pencil mark but compensating for the length of the hook. Drive in a picture hook and hang the artwork.
Click HERE to for our On-Line Art Size Visualizer HOW TO GROUP ARTWORKSMake newspaper templates the same size as each of the items you wish to mount on your wall. Arrange them on the wall with masking tape so that they make a group.
Although you will hang each piece individually, for placement, treat the whole group as one artwork. For example, center the grouping side-to-side over the furniture and hang the group with its midpoint at eye level.
When you like the arrangement, measure and mark the wall the same way as for a single work over a couch. Then drive in the picture hooks and hang your art.
How to Protect Your Art for a Lifetime
Your art will remain beautiful for years to come if you keep it safe from heat and humidity. A normal home environment is the perfect setting for artwork.
According to The Museum Environment (p. 20), by Garry Thomson, ordinary home incandescent or halogen lighting is safe for art. Do not place art in bright sunlight or under fluorescent lights unless protected by 100% guaranteed UV glazing.
Since our art uses only the best materials and is produced to the highest standards with skill, you will be proud to display it in your home or office. Barbara's images will create an atmosphere of peace for a lifetime of your enjoyment.
