Mo's Gallery & Fine Framing
All about Giclees August 2009
In This Issue
Coming soon...
Word of the Day
Shopping Smart
The Artaissance Advantage
Comments from Corinne
Coming soon...
I will be doing a "Mo's home makeover" edition of the newsletter coming soon.  The home being made over is mine!  I just bought a new house and thought that this would be a perfect way to show you how affordable decorating with artaissance can be.  I will also be demonstrating how framed mirrors really make a difference in the bathroom.  You will see before and after shots and a grand total of the cost when I'm done.
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Hello everyone! 

This newsletter is dedicated to the most current and popular type of fine art print, the Giclee.  I think it is important for you as a consumer and art collector to understand this medium.  There are a lot of benefits in buying giclee prints, but there are things to be wary of too.  In this newsletter I will explain how giclees are made, how to get the most art for your money, and what to look out for. 
Word of the Day
fall treesGiclee (zhee-clay):
French meaning "sprayed ink"

A giclee starts with a scan or digital file of an original work and then the image is printed on paper or canvas.  The ink jet printers that are used are capable of producing millions of droplets of color per second so the colors in the giclee print are very saturated and true to the original image.  After the print has been made, some artists will go back over the image and hand embellish the giclee giving the print more texture and adding an original touch to each copy.  Hand embellished giclees are harder to find because of the extra labor involved.   

 
Shopping Smart 
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If you are thinking about purchasing a giclee print, here are few things you should consider before you buy. 

Are you buying the print for decoration or for an investment? 

If you are wanting a collector piece, look for one with a low edition number and if possible with hand embellishments.  Buy from a reputable source that will give you a certificate of authenticity.  When buying as an investment you want to see and feel what you are getting.  Look for thick paper or a canvas that does not feel like plastic.  Not all giclees are created equal.

If you are just looking for a decorative piece, I would suggest getting an open edition giclee.  Cost is generally the main concern when buying decorative art.  Giclees are considered a fine art print and they are not posters so be prepared to spend a little more on a giclee than poster art.  As I mentioned above, not all giclees are created the same so don't spend the extra money on a giclee that looks like a poster.  (And let me tell you, some of them really do)

fall treesHow do you want to display your print?

I get a lot of requests from customers for gallery wraps (where the canvas image wraps around the sides of the stretcher bars)   We will do this but we don't like to.  Giclees are not printed on the same kind canvas used for oil paintings.  The canvas used for printing giclees has a polymer coating on it that takes the inks better.  However, this coating gives the print a degree of elasticity and once stretched it will tend to sag after awhile and has to be tightened or even re-stretched.  An extra concern with a gallery wrap is that the image is being bent around the stretcher bar.  This not usually a problem, but on occasion an older or poorly printed giclee will crack along the edges.  This is why having expert framers (like us) look at your art is important. We can show you the best way to protect and present your art.

For giclees on canvas that are not extremely valuable, we have an alternative mounting method that looks great and costs less than a gallery wrap on stretcher bars.



The Artaissance Advantage
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 Whether you have one specific spot to fill, are decorating an office or have an entire house of blank walls, Artaissance can help.  Mo's Gallery & Fine Framing has partnered with Artaissance to bring you affordable fine art that fits any space you need.  Artaissance is a national online company that works with local galleries - the best of both worlds!  You can browse their ever growing selection of art from your computer at home.  Our gallery has over 80 pieces of art from Artaissance so you can see the finished product before you buy. 

You can find what you are looking for faster with an advanced search option.  For example a square, contemporary, blue piece.  As you find pieces you like, save them to your gallery.  All you need is your email address and you can pull up your favorite pieces to show your spouse, designer, or us. 

Artaissance will print any image in any size on paper or canvas so you know your art will fit your space.  If you are not sure how big to order your prints we will come to your house free of charge and do an in home consultation.  When you buy through artiassance you can have your art shipped directly to Mo's Gallery for free where we can help you make frame selections. 

fall treesArtaissance carries mostly open edition prints so their prices are very reasonable without sacrificing quality.  They have a price calculator on their web site that will tell you how much you art will be depending on the size and medium you choose. 

The convenience of an online store combined with our knowledge and personal attention - that's the Artaissance advantage!
Comments from Corinne
I'll keep this short and sweet.  Major props to all of you who actually read this newsletter in its entirety.  I know its a bit but long, but there were too many important points I wanted to make.  Thanks for hanging with me everyone!
Sincerely,
 

Corinne McClintock
Mo's Gallery & Fine Framing