Here's our definitions for some common terms in the art world that you may not be familiar with:

Certificate of Authenticity (COA) -A document which certifies the edition number/size, the artist signature, any autographs or unique qualities of the product. Typically issued by the publisher or artist but sometimes issued by the seller such as an auction house when dealing with old or famous works.

Etching - A printmaking process utilizing a metal plate coated with wax, then drawn on with a sharp instrument called a stylus, to cut through the wax on the plate. The plate is then washed in an acid bath which eats away the cut lines made by the stylus. The acid is then washed off and the plate heated to dissolve the wax. The plate is then inked and printed onto paper, producing a piece known as an etching. Rembrant made frequent use of this process.

Giclee Print - Giclee is from the French word meaning 'fine spray', which is the printing process used for this type of art. An original painting is digitally reproduced and then carefully adjusted to match the original's colors. A very advanced (and expensive) version of the desktop ink-jet printer is used to put the image on a variety of papers or canvas. We typically offer our Giclee prints on archival quality watercolor paper. The printer uses minute droplets of ink to create prints that cannot be duplicated by other printing techniques… there is no visible dot screen pattern and the resulting image has all of the subtle colors of the original art. This produces exceptional museum quality prints. Although the giclee movement is only a few years old, with the development of stable inks that are said to last over 100 years, it has become an accepted archival printmaking process.

Limited Production - Fine craft and fine art items handcrafted individually in small-scale production. The artist creates new original works as similar to the artwork shown as possible. Slight differences make each work of art unique. Limited Production items that have already been created and are ready for shipping are labeled "Available." All other Limited Production artworks are labeled "Made Upon Order" and are created when an order is received. The length of time required to make and deliver such artwork varies and is noted for each item.

Lithograph -A planographic printing process which means the printing and non-printing areas lie in the same plane. The natural antipathy between grease and water is the fundamental principle behind lithography. A drawing is done on a zinc plate with grease pencils; the plate is then coated with a water-based ink which repels the grease. An indication of a lithography print is how the ink sits on the paper. It appears to be on top of the paper and has a flat, even consistency, with little variation in ink application.

Monoprints - One of a series of prints in which each has some difference of color, design, texture, etc. applied to an underlying common image. The print will be marked with the number 1/1 in pencil to indicate it is a unique piece of art.

One of a Kind - This means the artwork you're viewing is the only one created. It is the unique artwork you'll receive when purchasing. Prints: Limited Edition Art objects produced in a limited number. Each item in the edition is identical and is an original work of art, signed and numbered by the artist. When an edition is complete, the original means of production are destroyed so additional items can't be made.

Open Edition - A production of work which is not limited by number of pieces produced or days of production. There may be several later reproductions of the same work done in exactly the same or a different manner without restriction.

Scratchboard - This technique closely resembles metal engraving. The scratchboard is a specially prepared paper which contains a thin layer of white clay beneath the surface of black India ink. The image is created by drawing with a small sharp knife which removes the ink layer to reveal the white background. Transparent color is then added by painting with colored inks.

Screen Printing (Silk Screening) - This is a color printing process where special paint is forced through a very fine screen onto the paper beneath it. The areas that don't print are blocked with a photo sensitive emulsion that has been exposed to light. A squeegee is pulled over the screen, either by hand or machine, producing a direct transfer to the paper. A separate stencil is used for each color. Not only is this technique highly detailed and very versatile, but it is also one of the few reproduction methods that uses paint and not ink. This process is called serigraphy or silk screening since the screens were once made of silk.

Signed and Numbered - Refers to a print from a limited edition run. Generally, all limited edition prints are numbered as a fraction with the top digit being that particular print's number and the bottom digit being the total size of the edition. For example, the number 45/50 means this is the 45th print from a total number of 50 prints produced. The artist will generally sign in pencil at the bottom of the print as well. An "AP" on the print means artist's proof, or the first of the prints made, often with changes to colors being made between the proofs and the numbered prints.

Special Photo Essay:

The Art of Creating Blown Glass

By Glass Artists Hugh Jenkins and Stephanie Ross

Photographs by
Hugo de Vries

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