What are fine art giclee reproductions ?

When you buy a print from me on canvas or fine art paper, they are considered giclee prints for their reproduction fidelity and archival qualities (i.e. multi-decade lifespan).  Even prints on metal or acrylic today have similar compelling properties.  So, what are these high quality prints?  Below is a quick summary for you.

The Term : The term  "giclee print" connotes an elevation in printmaking technology. Images are generated from high resolution digital scans and printed with archival quality inks onto various substrates including canvas, fine art, and photo-base paper. The giclee printing process provides better color accuracy than other means of reproduction.

The Process : Giclee prints are created typically using professional 8-Color to 12-Color ink-jet printers. Among the manufacturers of these printers are vanguards such as Epson, MacDermid Colorspan, & Hewlett-Packard. These modern technology printers are capable of producing incredibly detailed prints for both the fine art and photographic markets. Giclee prints are sometimes referred to as Iris prints, which are 4-Color ink-jet prints from a printer pioneered in the late 1970s by Iris Graphics.

The Advantages : Giclee prints are advantageous to artists who do not find it feasible to mass produce their work, but want to reproduce their art as needed, or on-demand. Once an image is digitally archived, additional reproductions can be made with minimal effort and reasonable cost. The prohibitive up-front cost of mass production for an edition is eliminated. Archived files will not deteriorate in quality as negatives and film inherently do. Another tremendous advantage of giclee printing is that digital images can be reproduced to almost any size and onto various media, giving the artist the ability to customize prints for a specific client.

The Quality : The quality of the giclee print rivals traditional silver-halide and gelatin printing processes and is commonly found in museums, art galleries, and photographic galleries.

The Market : Numerous examples of giclee prints can be found in New York City at the Metropolitan Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Chelsea Galleries. Recent auctions of giclee prints have fetched $10,800 for Annie Leibovitz, $9,600 for Chuck Close, and $22,800 for Wolfgang Tillmans (April 23/24 2004, Photographs, New York, Phillips de Pury & Company.)

(source: gicleeprint.net)

What is your satisfaction and return policy?

Purchasing art on-line offers many advantages to the purchaser, most notably a favorable price relative to a gallery.  However, not seeing the finished piece in person to see the detail quality can cause some level of hesitation in committing to a purchase.  Complicating the quality issue is that computer monitors are not necessarily accurately calibrated to present color exactly the same as in printed form.

My policy is to make sure you are 100% completely satisfied.  Simply stated, I will refund your money within 7 business days of delivery if the painting does not meet your expectations.

Similarly, a painting damaged during shipping to you will be remedied with a replacement sent as soon as possible.  We may ask for photos for our shipper's insurance. Use the contact form to reach out to us in any event or call Mark at (469) 261-7137.

How long until I receive my prints & framing ?

Generally, your art is shipped within 4-5 business days (often sooner).  There is a button on the shop page if the order needs to be expedited which will increase the priority.  Special note: the acrylic media can take up to two weeks as the process and materials are procured but the results are well worth it!

How can I review detail close-ups?

Reviewing an on-line image of a painting will give you a very good representation of the finished piece when viewed 7-10 feet away.  However, the character of art is often revealed in the texture and brush strokes when seen closer.  If you wish to see this level of detail, I can e-mail to you a section of the painting at 75% resolution (standing up close).  The images on-line are too small if you attempt to do this.

What is an artist embellished or enhanced canvas giclee ?

An embellished giclee is the closest resemblance possible to an original painting.  The fidelity and vibrancy of these prints is further enhanced with the artist's addition of simulated brushstrokes in the finishing coat and hand-painted highlights.  These details emphasize light and add pure color to the drama of the artwork.

I typically will use acrylic paints to give the painting the "pop-and-wow" factor.  In many ways, these individual details make each piece unique and an original piece in themselves. Please see the limited editions available under the Shop menu.  (Note: This enhancement is at the discretion of the artist based upon his assessment of the value-add to the final canvas presentation)

What are the media options: metallic paper, metal and acrylic ?

These are hard to describe but a video does a better job visually. 

Metal vs acrylic:  

Metallic paper vs metal:   

Do you do commisioned paintings ?

Yes.  I have excellent referrals and can send you some previous work to review.  I also make a point of your involvement from concept, work in progress to framing.  Simply reach out to me through the Contact webform or call Mark at (469) 261-7137 to discuss your needs and get a pricing quote.  I will discuss my process and timing in your response as well.