Acrylic: Acrylic paint is a water-based, fast-drying paint widely used by the artists since the 1960s. It can be used thickly or thinly depending on how much water is added to it. 

Artist Proof (AP ): In earlier printing methods the artist needed to approve the progress of the creation of reproductions. In today’s world APs are a small segment of the overall edition sometimes reserved for the artist’s private collection, sometimes marketed to the public. Collectors of APs expect to pay a premium for own a small run in the overall edition. 

Bronze: A metal alloy that has been used since antiquity for casting sculpture because of its strength. 

Canvas: Closely woven cloth used as the substrate for most oil and acrylic paintings. 

Certificate of Authenticity (COA): An accompanying document to the artwork verifying its validity. 

Cibachrome: A high quality color print made from a color transparency enlarged onto a unique paper that produces exceptional color and brilliance. 

Collage: A work of art created by sticking various different materials such as photographs, pieces of paper or fabric on to a backing. 

Diptych: A painting of 2 separate parts that together form the complete work. 

Embellished (Hand): A print on which the artist has applied their unique touch with their particular art mediums. 

Etching: The process of using strong acid to cut into the surface of unprotected metal (on a plate) to create a design in the plate which can then be used for creating reproductions. 

Gallery Proof (GP): Akin to an Artist Proof, the Gallery Proofs were often given to the Gallery for their private collection.  As some galleries chose to release these to the public, they became popular among collectors. 

Giclee: A fine art print made by a sophisticated ink-jet printer. The French term Giclee means “to spray.” The Inks are formulated to last a lifetime with some companies claiming 100+ year color vibrancy. 

Graphite: A metal gray writing and drawing material (in the form of an art pencil) used by artists to produce monochromatic works. 

Enhanced (Hand): See Embellished. 

Hand Signed: Traditionally in a Limited Edition run of an art print , the artist will attach their signature to the work attesting to Its authenticity. 

Highlight: Highlighting is hand embellishing a reproduction in order to add intensity to the work. Highlighted art pieces usually sell for a premium over the regular price of the print. 

Illustraton Art: In specific reference to the work of Dr. Seuss, the Illustration Art is the series of limited editions often created  by hand-pulled lithography, taken from the highly popular book series. Note: These works are posthumous creations authorized by the Seuss Estate. 

Limited Edition: An issue of a collectible print that is limited to a specified number of copies. These graphics are usually hand signed by the artist and numbered for legitimacy. 

Linen: A type of canvas made from fibers of the flax plant. It usually comes in rolls and is stretched by the artist. 

Lithography (Offset): Greek- Litho=stone, graph=writing. Often simply referred to as “lithography,” is the process used  by putting the colors on to an intermediate surface, rather than directly on to the paper. Color “blankets” usually numbering from 4 to 8 individual color transfers are employed. 

Lithography (Hand pulled): A lithograph whose multiple images are usually hand drawn on stone or marble, color is applied to the stones, and then transferred directly to the paper. 

Medium: All the various paints, tools, supports, surfaces, and techniques employed by artists, ie the substance the artist uses to create a work of art. Plural = mediums or media. 

Mixed Media: A term used to describe artworks composed from a combination of different media or materials. 

Oil: A medium consisting of dry powder pigments suspended in refined linseed oils. 

Panel: A rigid painting surface usually consisting of wood or metal as distinct from painting done on canvas. 

Pigment: The raw materials of painting and art. They are insoluble particles that impart color over the surface to which they are applied. 

Plein Air: The manner of a 19thc style of painting outdoors, or with a strong sense of the open air, that became a central figure of French impressionism. “Plein air” = out of doors, French. 

Printer’s Proof (PP): Similar to an Artist Proof, PPs are usually a small part of an edition that a printer receives as thanks or compensation for producing the work. 

Published: Usually refers to an original artwork that is chosen to be reproduced into an edition of prints. 

Remarque: A Remarque is a “live” small drawing or rendering that an artist adds to a limited edition print. The Remarque usually appears in the border/margin of the print. 

Resin Sculpture: A casting of superior, art quality plastic where a mold is filled with liquid synthetic resin which then hardens into the final work of art. 

Sculpture: A branch of the visual arts rendered in 3 dimensions. Materials can be wood, stone, marble, metal, resin, ceramics, wood and other substances. 

Secret Art: In specific reference to the work of Dr. Seuss, the Secret Art is the collection of wondrous, dream-like images created in the privacy of the artist’s studio and for the most part never revealed to the public. These other-worldly figures set in other-worldly landscapes are perhaps visions and scenes of the  artist’s vivid imagination. Note: These works are  posthumous creations authorized by the Seuss Estate. 

Serigraph: Seri-silk, graph-writing, Greek and Latin. A printing method where a mesh is used to transfer ink or pigments through a fine screen (silk) on to a substrate. A different screen is used for each color in the print, resulting in a final serigraph with great color density , color saturation and texture. 

Sign & Numbered (SN): An issue of a collectible print that is limited to a specified number of copies  are hand-signed by the artist and numbered for legitimacy. 

Watercolor: A painting method in which the paints made of pigments are suspended in a water based solution. 

Wood Block Print: A print derived from carving into the surface of a block of wood to create high areas in the wood to which ink or dye or paint is applied, and then transferred to the paper.