What is a Giclee Print? Artist Statement, What is a Canvas Print? Questions, About the Process

Have you ever experienced the joy of buying art?
Want to know more about how my paintings and prints are made?
Browse through these pictures above and get to know the difference between Canvas prints and Giclee Fine Art paper prints!
I can answer a lot of your questions here, but also feel free to contact me! I would love to chat with you!

What inspires me to paint?

My creative process comes from the natural desire to explore and learn from nature. Ever since I was a small child my mother would take me out walking and teach me the names of trees and wildflowers, identify the rocks we'd picked up, and listen to bird calls. As an artist I spend hours outside translating my response of awe into a love language of paint on canvas. I prefer to paint en plein air (right on site) but I also take my own photographs and paint in my studio. My work not only evokes strong memories of a favorite place but also a grounding connection to nature and opens a dialog with others about preservation of the beautiful places we share.


What is a Giclee Fine Art Print?

"Giclee" (pronounced “zhee-clay”) is a French term meaning the process of creating the best print reproduction available. For this you need: high resolution camera and printer, 12 color archival ink and ink jet printer, and archival acid free paper. These large format inkjet printers use small spraying devices that can both match color and apply ink precisely, giving us a high-quality print of the best quality - a Giclee Fine Art Print :)

How are prints made from a painting?

Once I have completed a painting I take it to a local gallery here in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I love to support local businesses!.
I drop off the painting for a few days while they set up studio lights and take professional photographs of the piece with a high resolution camera.
Next, they transfer it to their computer and color match the image with the original.
Later, they print out proofs of the image which we go over together so it is just right. We all agree it looks awesome and the image is finalized and ready to print!

Printing time! The image goes from the computer to the giant Epson ink jet printer. This is where it gets really exciting! We can print very BIG! My giclee fine art prints are printed with archival inks on 100% cotton rag hot press bright paper. This paper is thick and luxurious! Acid free and archival! Big or small they are gorgeous as they slowly print in vibrant colors!

Will the print I order fit into a standard frame?

Because my original paintings are painted in various sizes sometimes the printed images are bigger or smaller than common frame sizes. Here's how we solve that to make framing a snap: All my paper prints have a blank margin of plain white around the image bringing the overall size up to a standard frame size like 11x14 or 16x20 etc. The prints actually look pre-matted, and because of the gorgeous quality paper, they are ready to pop in a frame! For safe keeping I enclose prints in crystal clear plastic fitted jackets with an acid free cardboard backing. They are safe until you are ready to frame! Larger prints will ship rolled around a tube and then boxes. Smaller prints ship flat in ridged mailers. All items ship with insurance.

What is a Gallery Wrapped Canvas Print?

Printing on canvas is a little different than on fine art paper. We are still using the big ink jet printer with archival inks, but now a giant roll of canvas weave instead of paper is coming through!
Next, the canvas is hung to dry and later sprayed with an acrylic varnish that protects it from fading, scuffs, and water splatters that may occur during it's lifetime.
Once dry, it is stretched on a hand cut, low profile frame with the canvas wrapping around the edges. It gets an acid free backing board and a wire for hanging.
I personally think the canvas is the way to go for the best look! The canvas gives it a natural texture and weave that makes it look like you own the original painting. It also comes ready to hang on your wall or you can frame it at a later time. The canvas is priced more expensive than fine art paper but it actually comes out to be about the same when you consider that a paper print should be framed, matted, and protected with UV glass...which adds up too.


How do you properly hang or frame your purchase after it arrives?

Here are some simple rules of thumb for framing art:

1) Giclee Fine Art Prints: Best when matted, protected with UV glass, and framed. When picking
out a frame it is best to see what complements the piece, not what matches your woodwork :)

2) Gallery Wrapped Canvas prints: Come ready to hang or you can frame it! It is very easy to frame
a stretched canvas. The frame will sit on the edge of the stretched canvas. It does not need
glass.

3) Original Painting on Canvas: A painting on canvas board needs a frame, but no glass. A painting
on gallery wrapped canvas can be hung just as it is or framed, no glass needed.