PRINT
What do the different print sizes mean?
Is there a Prose Card for all artwork subjects?
Do I get a Certificate of Authenticity with every Purchase?

FRAMING
What are the options, is it all or nothing?
Why would I want your e-manual on framing?

ORDERING / PAYMENT
What are my payment options for purchases?
How long does it take to get my order?
Are my saving calculated at time of purchase?

SHIPPING & HANDLING
Do I get discounted shipping for a multiple order?
Do you ship outside of the US?

COLLECTOR’S CLUB
Why is the “savings off Retail” greater in the Collector’s Club?
Do I get discounts for my first two purchases in the Collector’s Club?
Do I have to make all my purchases at the same time to qualify?

BUSINESS/GROUP PROGRAM PLAN CLUB
Do I have to be a Business or other Organization to take advantage of the Club?
Why would I want to join the Bus. Club if I am a Collector’s Club member?

Do you have a physical gallery I can visit?
No. All of our marketing is for on-line sales. This cuts down on our overhead and the cost of additional personnel. We can pass the savings on to you. We do not have to rely on large volume sales to break even.

What do the different sizes of the prints mean?
On our front page, the sizes referred to are the image sizes. In other words, a 16x20 refers to the image size on the printed paper. The total paper size would be 18x22, which includes a one inch margin or border of extra paper in addition to the image dimensions. The image size and paper size of a print can vary depending on what is chosen by the artist or publisher.

Is there a Prose Card for every artwork subject?
At this time, there are Prose Cards for any price range of Dreams of Yesterday, A Time of Glory and Whispers of the Past. There are artist comments at the bottom of each of the Limited Edition, Certificates of Authenticity. Later, if there are additional Prose Cards made for the other artworks, each past purchaser of that artwork will receive one free of charge. There is no charge for a Prose Card and any purchaser of those prints, which have one, will receive it free with the Print.

Do I get a Certificate of Authenticity with every purchase?
The Certificates are for the Limited Edition prints and the Artist Proofs that are signed and numbered. Those are the 16x20 image sizes.

What is my framing options, all or nothing?
You may purchase the print without framing; you may have the print matted with the choices available, or you may have the print matted and framed. In other words, it is your choice. You also have the option of taking your print to your own framer to have it matted and/or framed.

In addition, please consider that the colors you see for the matting and/or framing on the Internet may be somewhat different than the actual colors of the matted and framed artwork. Each computer monitor will have different effects on what you see. Some monitors will see a lighter color, some darker, and there may be different appearing tones and hues. This is because the color reproductions, displayed on the Internet or on any other system, will not duplicate the exact colors as the originals. This is why the artist has chosen what he believes is the best combinations to fit any particular artwork.

The frame is generally the most expensive part of framing (with the possible exception of the print) and may not go with the decor where it will hang, so you may want to choose another color or type of frame. Any of our framed artwork, is constructed in such a way that you will be able to change any of the matting, frame, and glazing (glass or acrylic), at any time, at the framer of your choice and at your own expense.

Why would I want your e-manual on framing?
When the e-manual is completed, it will give you information on the proper care of your print or original art, the best way to frame your art originals and reproductions for long-term preservation, what materials (papers, matting, glazing, etc.) you want to consider in the custom framing process, what to ask and look for in picking a framer, and much more art related information. If you have no interest in this kind of information then you probably will not want the manual. You can reserve (not a purchase at this time) your copy of the manual now. It retails for only $9.95. See the Collectors Club for additional savings.

What are my payment options for purchases?
You may pay for your purchases with a Money Order, Check, Pay Pal, or Credit Card (Visa, Master Charge, or American Express). If you want to send a check, your purchase will be mailed when the check clears.

How long does it take to get my order?
Your purchase usually goes out within 24 hours of receipt. We normally ship using UPS ground or USPS parcel post. What form of shipping used will determine the speed you require or want. If you do choose a faster method, we can do that but the shipping cost will increase.

Are my savings calculated at time of purchase?
Yes, the amount of your sale will have all the savings calculated in it. There are no reward points, rebates or accumulated credits. We give you direct savings so you are not burdened with record keeping. We try to keep it simple for you.

Do I get discounted shipping for a multiple order?
Yes, but it would depend on how you purchase them.

• If you purchased 1 Limited Edition print and had it mailed to you, the shipping cost would be $16.95, which would include insurance and handling fees.
• If you purchased 2 Limited Edition prints at the same time and had it mailed to you, the total shipping cost would be $17.95, a savings of $15.95 versus purchasing each print seperately.
• If you need more information to place an order, please contact us at Sales with your information.

Do you ship outside of the U.S.?
Yes. Please e-mail us your questions if you do require shipment outside of the US.

Why is the “savings off Retail” greater in the Collector’s Club than normal?
For example, Step 2 has a 15% discount off the Deluxe Discount Offer. The Deluxe Discount Offer is 33% off the Retail price. The two discounts combined equal a 43% savings off Retail. If you were not in the Collector’s Club, you would pay $59.95 for the Limited Edition print. If you were in the Collector’s Club, you would pay $50.96. That is a savings of $9.00 per print

Do I get discounts for my first two purchases in the Collector’s Club?
Yes, but you are not fully qualified until you make your second purchase. You will notice the discounts for your two purchases in your second purchase.

Do I have to make all my purchases at the same time to qualify?
No, but you must send your annual administrative fee of $17.50 to start your membership. You have one year from the date your information is entered (usually the date your payment is entered) to make your purchases to qualify for the discounts. If you only make one purchase at the time you join, then the discount for the first and second print will be calculated when you make your second purchase.

Do I have to be a Business or other Organization to take advantage of the Club?
No! As long as you meet the requirements to qualify, you can take advantage of all the club benefits and discounts. You can also be a member of the Collector’s Club at the same time.

Why would I want to join the Bus. Club if I am a Collector’s Club member?
It would depend on the number of purchases you want to make in a years time. The Collector’s Club is for up to 29 purchases of Limited Edition prints annually. The Business/Group Program Club is for purchases of 30 or more and includes Open Edition prints. You will find additional savings on quantity purchases of Open Edition prints with the Bus. Club.
 

Art Term Definitions
(Mostly Used on this Gallery)

Archival – (Museum Grade) To preserve. It is a higher grade of preservation for a work of art; as compared to acid free, it is a material that is acid free throughout. In the sense of matting for a print, acid free may mean part of the mat is acid free but not all. Archival material is acid free throughout and is a higher quality in the desire for Preservation Framing. The matting used for framing American Artist Collections prints is Archival quality.

Artist Proof (AP) – Usually the first copies printed that the artist has approved after making changes to color reproduction and other aspects of the printing process. These are prints that precede the Limited Editions printings. They are signed and numbered and may represent approximately 5% to 10% (normally should not be over 10%) of the Limited Edition printing. They are slightly more expensive than the Limited Edition prints. These are a limited one-time printing.

Certificate of Authenticity – It is a warranty card or statement that guarantees the edition is limited, full-size and that the image will not be published again in the same form or size. It usually records the title of the work, and the artist’s name. It sometimes includes the edition size and the print’s number within the edition.

Commission – When an individual makes an agreement for an original painting or work from an artist.

Commission Print (time-limited edition print) – An edition whose size is established by the number of orders a publisher receives during a set period of time.

Conservation Framing – It is a method of mounting and framing that preserves a print in original mint condition. All materials in actual contact with the print contains no chemicals (acid-free) that might damage the paper or the inked image.

Dealers – Others who sell artwork. This can be galleries, framers or other individuals. Authorized Dealers are ones who have a signed agreement to carry and sell the artwork of certain print publishers or self-published artist.

Digital Prints – A digital file, of an original painting, is printed by a special inkjet printer that sprays ink directly onto the surface of a substrate (canvas or paper). These digital prints, sometimes called giclées or iris prints, can match the colors of the original with millions of possible hues.

Edition –Edition size is the number of copies made of original art and usually does not include artist proofs or any special edition copies that may be made; these are treated separately.

Glazing – Glass or acrylic set, to be set in a frame that protects the artwork from environmental harm. There are different levels from lightweight acrylic and regular glass to more expensive products such as anti-glare, anti-reflective and UV protection.

Image Size – The actual size dimensions of a printed image. It refers to the image only and not the paper its printed on.

Issue Price – The original price of a Limited edition print when first offered for retail sale (implies a full retail sale). Our gallery offers flexibility in its discounted prices (Introductory Offers, Wholesale, etc.) in first offers of sale that increase in value in time as gallery prices increase in stages to the Full Retail price.

Limited Edition Print – A reproduction of original art where the total number of prints is fixed or limited. The artist signs and numbers these editions. These editions can be offset Lithographs, digital prints, serigraphs or any other type of reproduction.

Lithography – A more modern, mechanized process is called “Offset lithography”. The image to be printed is photographically applied to a metal plate and is mounted onto the roller of a printing press. Ink is applied to the plate, transferred to a rubber roller called a blanket and from the blanket onto paper. Offset lithography is the most widely used method of printing today.

Margin (border) – The white unprinted area surrounding a printed image.

Matting – The decorative board(s) used in framing between the image and the molding. Most are acid-free and are an important part of the conservation framing process.

Molding – A piece of wood, plastic, metal or other material used to frame art.

Numbered – Two numbers separated by a slash mark as in a copy of a Limited Edition or Artist Proof. The first number identifies the copy and the second number identifies the edition size. (EX: 150/2500 – print number 150 of 2500 copies of the edition.)

Offset Lithograph – A photomechanical reproduction created by the separation of colors in the original and then recombining of those colors on a printing press. Most posters and open edition prints, and many limited edition prints are offset Lithographs.

Open Edition Print – A print produced with no conclusive limit to the number of copies that will be made. These prints may or may not be signed by the artist.

Original Painting – A one of a kind image created by an artist, in any medium, that often sells up to several thousands of dollars.

Original Prints – Serigraphs or original lithographs that are created without the use of photography. Every print in an edition is originally created directly by the artist and may vary slightly from the other prints in the edition.

Overall Print Size – The physical dimensions of the paper upon which a print is made. An image area of 16” x 20” may be printed on a paper that is 18” x 22”. The print would then have a one inch margin (border).

Portfolio – Prints by one artist that are grouped together and sold as a set.

Poster – A reproduction that is printed in unlimited quantities with a lower grade of paper and inks than limited or open edition prints.

Publisher – A company who produces and market prints.

Reproduction – An original work of art, which has been replicated by photographic or other methods.

Secondary Market Value – The value of a print that is determined by supply and demand, after all copies have been sold at original issue price.

Self-Publish – An artist who publishes and markets his/her prints and sometimes work with distributors.

Serigraph (Silk-screening) - A print created by using stencils made on tightly stretched silk. Ink is forced through the silk and onto paper to make copies of the image. Because each color requires separate screens, and separate steps in the printing process, serigraphs are usually done in small editions. Normally, each silk screen is hand pulled.

Serilith – Is the combination of serigraphy and lithography.

Seriset – Is similar to a serigraph with the same process but the screens are mechanically pulled.

Signed and Numbered (s/n) – A print that has an original signature and copy/edition numbers.

Signed Only (SO) – A print signed by the artist but not numbered such as an Open Edition.

Sold Out – An edition that is sold out and is no longer available for sale except through the Secondary Market.