Why is my print valuable?

Art is intrinsically valuable and has been for as long as anyone remembers. Art records important things, it reflects emotions, events and prompts us to consider the world around us from different points of view. Art inspires, educates and helps us to imagine other worlds, times and places. Art adorns our walls at home and work, and quality work accrues value over time.

Printmaking is an ancient and sometimes misunderstood aspect of visual art. 

The distinction between fine art prints and commercially reproduced prints (posters, reproductions) is not clear to new buyers of art who often think that a ‘print’ is not an ‘original’ and therefore not valuable . 

The four main types of hand printmaking are relief, intaglio, lithography, and stencil (silk screen print). The process and materials used in producing these techniques influence the appearance of the final print.

Fine art printmaking involves the hand creation of a master plate from which an artist makes multiple images. The work is done either wholly or in most part by the original artist and a limited number printed (known as a limited edition). The artist prepares the printing plate by cutting, etching or drawing an image onto the plate. Ink is applied and paper is pressed onto the plate either by hand or by way of a hand-run printing press. The finished print is pulled from the plate.

If you are considering purchasing a print from Jo, or are already the proud owner of one (thank you)... your print is unique and hand made. There is not one exactly the same and there never will be, and this is part of the joy found in printing. During the printmaking process many test prints or proofs are printed to show the artist how the work on the plate is progressing until the artist is satisfied with the result.

Look out for a few things when you are considering investing in a beautiful print. In a genuine print you will see at the bottom of a print are two to three things always written in pencil. On the left is an "Edition" number that appears as a fraction (e.g. 3/10 means the print is number 3 of 10 prints from one plate).  An edition is a number of prints from the same plate which are essentially the same design, but because they are all handmade, there are usually very subtle differences. This Edition number excludes the artist proofs, which are designated with an A/P. And in the centre of the bottom of the print is the title (if any).  And at the bottom right, is the artist's signature and date of production.

Often the first three or four prints are different to the rest of the edition. These first prints are called "Artist proofs". Once a certain number of prints are pulled, the plate is destroyed so that it can no longer be printed, thus ensuring the value of the edition. 

Jo's exquisite etchings are made on copper or zinc plate. One picture is often made up of multiple plates and printed using the best quality German etching paper. She enjoys the unexpected results achieved by intermixing of colours on the paper. She also sometimes mixes colour on the one plate by a method known as “a la poupee”.

 Jo's editions are small and they reflect a sensitivity for the art of etching, producing delicate imagery with emotional undertones.