Articles

If you've ever priced pieces of fine art, you know that they can be extremely expensive. A more affordable solution would be to collect prints of artwork that you love! Prints can be inexpensively bought, and once they are properly framed they can be as beautiful as the originals and begin increasing in value. Art lovers on a budget can treasure their print collections just as they would a canvas collection.

When most people hear the words "art print," they think of cheap posters and low-quality reproductions of famous artistic works. But today, there are many art prints that are valuable collectibles, and some art prints are even featured in museums.

This is due to the fact that in the artistic community, art prints are usually just as valuable as original paintings and drawings. Art prints are typically created in limited amounts, utilizing premium printmaking equipment. Printmaking is directly supervised by the artist. Each print is numbered to document its position in the limited edition series. Many times, prints are hand-finished and signed personally.

People who are in the market for art prints need to start by looking to see if the print was only produced in limited numbers. You can find the production number on each print. Rule of thumb is that the lower the number produced, the higher the value of each print. In addition, lower numbers in the series are often worth more. In fact, first, second, and third prints are often considered valuable collectibles.

Another thing to look for when evaluating art prints is the print technology used. You are going to want to select prints that use a high-quality print technique, such as woodblock, silkscreen, or Giclee prints. Giclee prints - a variation on ink jet technology -- are the newest printing method available, and therefore are highly photo-realistic and will most likely increase tremendously in value in the years to come. The best printing technologies produce a high-quality image but also produce subtle differences that make prints one-of-a-kind.

What you want to do is find specific print genres. Genres are types, for example, floral painting, landscape artwork, and stills. Some genres are appreciated more than others, such as Giclee florals, which are widely regarded as beautiful. You should pick those which will match the feel and furnishings of your home.