Art Barbarians World Class Wildlife Art

Accession: An object acquired by a museum or any other collector as part of its permanent collection, or the act of recording and processing an addition to the permanent collection.

Acid-free canvas and paper: Canvas and paper which is treated to neutralize its acidity in order to protect photographs or fine art from discoloration.

Anaglyph: A sculpture or decoration in which the form projects from the background.

Appraisal: A type of analysis and evaluation, especially in an official or professional capacity. In appraising works of art, for instance, an art appraiser studies their various qualities, and ultimately estimates their monetary worth, typically for insurance or taxation reasons, or in establishing a price.

Artist's Proofs: In offset reproductions, artist's proofs are additional prints not included in, but of the same quality as, the regular edition. In original prints, artist's proofs are the first prints pulled, which are the truest prints in the edition because the plates and screens have not yet been worn down. Artist's proofs are distinguished by the abbreviation "AP" and are numbered separately; they often represent 10 percent of an edition and are slightly more expensive than prints in the regular edition.

Assemblage sculpture: A three-dimensional composition made of various materials such as found objects, paper, wood, and textiles.

Canvas Print: A reproduction in which the image is printed onto canvas. These prints may be produced using offset lithography, digital printing or other methods. Artists may add brush strokes directly onto the canvas after the piece has been printed.

Canvas Transfer: A reproduction in which inks are chemically lifted off a piece of paper and applied to a piece of canvas. Some processes can replicate the texture and appearance of an original painting.

Composition: The plan, placement or arrangement of the elements of art in a work.

Conservation Framing: Framing that aims to prevent warping, fading, tearing or any other kind of print deterioration. Acid-free mats and glazing with UV protection are used in conservation framing.

Decorum: Conventions in matching a subject of an artwork to a style or tone appropriate to it. A kind of etiquette expected in the treatment of an artwork's content.

Dry Tapping: In offset lithography, printing one or two colors over stock paper first, so that when the final image is being printed onto the paper, it is not absorbed. It is a costly method used to assure the best color quality.

Edition Size: The total number of prints printed, or pulled, of a specific image. Separate edition sizes are recorded for the signed and numbered prints, artist's proofs and printer's proofs.

Etching: A process in which an etching needle is used to draw into a wax ground applied over a metal plate. The plate is then submerged in a series of acid baths, each biting into the metal surface only where unprotected by the wax. The wax is removed, ink is forced into the etched depressions, the unetched surfaces wiped, and an impression is printed.

Giclee: Giclee is a French word meaning "to squirt or spurt" and is a printmaker's term for "fine spray"--adopted to distinguish the technique from ordinary offset printing. Giclees are produced one at a time. The process allows the reproduction to closely match the original. Giclees are intended for sale in the fine art market.

Glazing: The transparent material that covers the artwork in order to protect it. There are many variations such as glass, anti-reflective, non-glare, conservation glass, and acrylic.

Image Size: The physical dimensions of an image—without the white border, which surrounds it.

Lithographs: A grease-based pencil is used to create a design on specially prepared stone or glass plate. The plate is then rinsed with water. Ink is applied to the plate and rolls off any wet areas, sticking only to the grease. Paper is then applied to the plate and both are run through a press, creating a print on the paper. For a color lithograph, separate drawings are made for each color and run through the press separately.

Limited-Edition Print: A reproduction of an original work of art that is sequentially numbered and signed by the artist. The total number of prints is fixed or limited by the artist or the publisher. "s/n" denotes a signed and numbered print.

Matting: Decorative board that is window-cut and placed around an image within a frame that provides contrast between the image and the moulding. It also serves as a spacer allowing the art to expand and contract with changes in humidity. There are numerous styles of matting, including rag mats (100% acid-free) and acid-neutral mats (for posters and less expensive open-edition prints.)

Medium (Media): The material and technique used to create the work of art

Monochrome: An image produced in a single color. Traditionally used to describe black and white photographs.

Moulding: A piece of wood, metal, plastic, or other material that is cut and joined to frame a piece of art.

Mounting: The process of attaching artwork to a board to prevent it from waving or bubbling in a frame. Valued art is typically not mounted because it may affect resale value. Dry and wet mounting are permanent and not suggested for archival pieces. Museum mounting, also known as hinging, is when the art is attached with paper hinges to the board. The art hang freely, allowing it to expand and contract with humidity.

Museum Boards: The purest quality boards for making mattes. Generally made from 100% cotton because of its acid-free qualities. Found to be a solid color all the way through.

New Release: A canvas or print created within the last year.

Offset Lithograph: A photomechanical reproduction created by the separation of colors in the original artwork and then recombining those colors on a printing press. Most posters and open-edition prints and many limited-edition prints are done this way.

Open-Edition Print: A reproduction of unlimited number of an original work of art that is sometimes signed by the artist.

Original Painting: A one-of-a-kind image created by an artist that often sells for several thousands of dollars.

Original Lithograph: Original pieces of art created on the printing press by an artist or master printer who creates the master plates and executes the printing process. No original exists from which the prints are reproduced, and each print is an original work of art.

Poster: A reproduction that is usually printed in unlimited quantities with a lower grade of paper and inks than limited-edition or open-edition prints. Posters often include graphics.

Preservation Framing: A technique that uses material to protect artwork from the effects of pollutants and sunlight that may fade, yellow, or damage the art. Hinging, archival matting, and UV protective glazing are common techniques used to prevent damage of framed artwork.

Remarque: small original sketches made by the artist, usually in the margin, of some or all of the final prints within an edition.

Reproduction: An original work of art that has been replicated by photographic or other means.

Secondary Market: An unofficial network of dealers and individuals who buy and sell prints above the issue price after an image is sold-out at the publisher.

Secondary Market Value: The reported price for a sold-out limited-edition, set by supply and demand. Unlike retail prices, secondary market prices can vary from one source to another.

Serigraph: A print created with silk screens; ink is pressed through the screens, color by color. Because each color requires a separate screen and a separate step in the printing process, serigraphs often come in small editions.

Shadow Boxing: Incasing items within a thick frame surrounded my matting and covered with glass. This process preserves items by keeping them away from dust and dirt.

Signed and Numbered: A predetermined number of prints that have been inspected, signed and sequentially numbered by the artist. The artist's signature is usually found in one of the lower corners of the print and is followed by a number that looks like a fraction; the top number indicates the number of that specific print and the bottom number indicates the total number of prints in the edition. "s/n" denotes a signed and numbered print.

Sold-Out: When all prints in a limited-edition have been sold, the edition is sold-out and prints must be bought on the secondary market.