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Limited Edition Art
Fine art limited editions are reproductions of original works that are printed in small quantities to retain integrity and value. Our Limited Edition prints are custom framed using high-quality, conservation grade materials designed to protect the archival value of the print. Each piece of art is individually approved and signed by the artist. When every work within a Limited Edition is sold, the edition is closed out. Each Limited Edition piece will be accompanied by a formal Certificate of Authenticity, which validates the work and certifies it as an authentic print within that edition.
Limited Edition Giclée on Paper
The limited edition giclée process begins with an original piece of artwork, such as a painting or a photographic print. The artwork is captured digitally and converted into a high-resolution digital file. When the file has been optimized for color and accuracy to the satisfaction of the publisher, printer and artist, it is output using a state-of-the-art printer in which super-fine nozzles spray microscopic droplets of ink with extreme precision onto a surface. It takes an hour or more to print just one high caliber fine art giclée.
Our giclée editions are created on archival fine art paper. The paper stocks are selected not only for their exemplary archival qualities, but for their receptivity to the printer inks, the purity and brightness of the surface, and the fine art texture that appeals to the eyes and hands. Giclées on paper sometimes receive a gloss varnish treatment in the image area to infuse additional vibrancy and luster into the work.
Each piece of art is individually approved and signed by the artist.
Limited Edition Lithograph
Lithography is a process in which the printing surface is uniformly flat; the drawing is on the same plane as the surface of the printing plate. Operating on the fact that grease and water don’t mix, the artist draws an image directly on to the printing surface of limestone or zinc with a greasy crayon or tusche (water soluble liquid or crayon). When the drawing is complete, the entire surface is dampened with a mixture of water and gum arabic. The water, repelled by the greasy lines of the drawing, covers only the open areas and leaves the design exposed, so that when the artist rolls oil-based ink on to the surface the ink adheres only to the greasy crayon drawing and is repelled by the areas dampened by water.
The artist’s final step is to place a sheet of paper against the drawing on the inked plate or stone. A sheet of metal or plastic is placed on top of the paper and plate and they are braced together. The paper and plate are passed through a litho press, squeezing the paper against stone (or zinc) so that it lifts the ink from the drawing and transfers a duplicate image on to the paper. This process is repeated for each color in the image. Upon completion of the edition, the artist signs each print to indicate approval of the quality, and numbers them to indicate their sequence within the edition.
Our limited edition lithographs are artist-created, ensuring that each print stands alone as an original. Each piece of art is individually approved and signed by the artist.
Limited Edition Etching
An etching begins when a zinc or copper plate is coated with an acid-impervious ground, usually a hard or soft wax. The artist creates images by scratching through the wax, or placing paper over the wax and drawing on it with a soft pressure, or creating impressions in the wax with objects such as leaves or lace.
When the drawing is completed, the artist immerses the metal plate in an acid bath. The areas covered by ground are protected from the acid; but the exposed areas scratched or pressed into the plate are “bitten” away, leaving incised lines. After the acid bath, the artist removes the ground from the plate and applies the ink. The plate is then wiped clean, leaving only the ink that has been pressed into the etched lines of the drawing. Ready for printing, the inked plate is placed face up on the printing press with a dampened sheet of paper positioned on top of it. Felt blankets are used for the top layer, creating a sandwich that squeezes the inked plate against the paper, transferring the drawing directly onto the paper. This labor intensive process requires a fresh inking of the plate for each print made in an edition, but the artist only has to make the drawing once and can now repeat the inking and press process as many times as desired. Each piece is individually approved and signed by the artist.
Limited Edition Serigraph
Work on a serigraph begins when the serigrapher separates the colors in the original painting. The serigrapher must literally recreate the entire work, while recognizing how to reinterpret the original painting using generally 100 or fewer colors. A stencil for each individual color is transferred to a screen, which is typically made of silk, nylon or wire mesh stretched tightly across a frame. The ink is dragged over the screen with a squeegee and forced through the open areas of the stencil. In this way, the image is transferred to a piece of paper positioned beneath the screen. Each successive color requires a new screen and stencil to slowly build the image layer upon layer, creating the rich painterly textures that set serigraphs apart from other forms of image reproduction.
Because of the painstaking labor of color separation, color application, press time and drying, a hand-pulled fine art serigraph edition may take up to 100 days to complete. The amount of time, skill and effort invested in the creation of a serigraph edition is reflected in the strong archival qualities of this medium—serigraphs enjoy extreme longevity, and are excellent heirloom pieces.
Each piece of art is individually approved and signed by the artist.
Conservation Framing
Conservation framing techniques ensure that the archival value of Limited Edition prints are preserved. Acid free framing materials and UV protectant glazing help to prevent the deterioration and yellowing of prints over time that is associated with non-preservation grade materials. Should you ever wish to reframe your Limited Edition artwork, you will be able to remove it from the current frame with no damage to the print.
Conservation Framing Techniques and Materials
Mats: We use Crescent Alpha-Cellulose Matboard for Limited Edition prints. These mats are made of chemically treated alpha-cellulose (wood pulp) fibers and are acid-free and lignin-free. They meet conservation standards as set by the Fine Art Care and Treatment Standards organization (F.A.C.T.S.).
Perimeter Mounting: All Limited Edition prints are perimeter mounted with conservation quality polyester and acid-free paper adhesive strips. The conservation mounting strips are attached to the backing board or mat and no adhesive ever touches the print.
Glazing: We use a special high-end acrylic glazing for Limited Edition prints. This product is thicker and stronger than our standard glazing and adds greatly to the value and the structural integrity of the piece. It also features a non-glare finish that defuses reflective glare and allows you to see your print from any angle while offering 98% UV protection from damaging ultra violet rays. It weighs less than glass and is shatter resistant.
Finishing Touches: Limited Editions are always matted with white space around the edge of the image in order to feature the artist signature and edition number below each print. The mats are specially cut to complement this white space.
The back is finished with a distinctive black backing paper and a high-quality plastic coated hanging wire. Each piece comes with a certificate of authenticity that is mounted on the back.
Special Considerations
Conservation framing techniques require that the print can be removed from the frame with no damage. Our acid free perimeter mounts allow the print to hang suspended so it can stretch and breathe. Because the print is not dry-mounted, under certain conditions humidity can cause the paper surface to become wavy or rippled. Some days the print may appear wavier than others, but it should smooth out as the humidity levels balance. As with any work of fine art, please avoid hanging your Limited Edition in high humidity areas or direct sunlight.