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Artist Tom Sierak/American Realism in Pastels
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FAQS, Frequently Asked Questions & Answers, American Realism In Pastels, American Realism In Pastels... • Frequently Asked Questions About Reproductions • What Are Offset Reproductions? "Offset Reproduction" is the most common type of fine art print. The original painting is photographed and printing plates are made from the negatives. The ink is transferred from the plate to the paper. Basically it is the same as what many people refer to as a "print". A print in artists terms is actually an original graphic, so it is a bit confusing. A "Lithograph" is typically an offset reproduction. What Is A Signed & Numbered Limited Edition Print? and individually signed by the artist. Each print will have its own number. If you owned a print that was numbered 25/1500. This means that out of 1500 prints that comprise the edition, you have the 25th one that was signed by the artist. What Is A "Remarque"? This is a small original sketch or painting that is done somewhere in the margin of a limited edition print. Usually an interesting detail from the picture is chosen and used in the remarque. What Is An Open Edition Print? Often, an artist or publisher will decide to make an image available to the public in unlimited quantities. There is no predetermined edition size. Occasionally, it is a smaller sized version of one that was previously published as a limited edition print. Sometimes it may be a vignette, or just a section of the original. Most often, the art will not have been previously published. The paper and inks used are usually of lesser quality than those used for limited editions, and the artist neither signs nor numbers the prints. As a result open edition prints are far less expensive. What Is An "AP", or Artist's Proof? It is a select part of a limited edition print run, where the artist & publisher select out a certain amount of the prints, typically about 10% of the total edition. The quality of the print is the same. If there were 50 prints set aside for the artists proofs, they will be numbered AP 1/50, (or 1/50 AP) up to AP 50/50. Some collectors prefer AP's because they consider it a separate, small edition, but in actuality, it’s not. What Is A Serigraph? This is a reproduction process that more closely mimics original art, but it is still a reproduction. They are usually done in significantly smaller edition sizes and are done much like a silk screen print. Layer after layer of ink is applied, one color at a time, until it is finished. Sometimes 30, 40, or even more screens are applied to achieve the desired results. The finished print is more brilliant in color and has a more “original” look to it. They require