The 3 major groups of paints are oil, acrylic, and watercolor.  Watercolor and gouache tends to be the least expensive.  Gouache is a fast-drying opaque watercolor, giving it the drying of a watercolor and the depth of an acrylic. Art created in oil tends to sell for the highest of the three although lately the distinction between oil and acrylic has lessened.

Acrylic is a water-based paint, more opaque and slower drying than a watercolor. Many artists are using this medium rather than oil because it is faster drying than oil and does not require solvents for diluting or clean-up.  The finished surface of acrylics is also non-porous. A disadvantage to acrylic is it will crack if subjected to below freezing conditions so care in winter should be considered. There is a recent trend of underpainting oil paintings with acrylics.  Acrylics do not have the luminosity that oils create.

Oil is the "old master's" medium. It is the slowest drying of the three main mediums and it is considered not fully "cured" enough to varnish and seal for a longer period of time than acrylics. The luminosity and depth of color, the given longevity of oil, and the blending ability of oil are what make this medium my favorite.  When I work with oils, there seems to be a magical quality that allows oils to bring out aspects and liveliness in my paintings.

The term "print" is liberally used in the marketing of any artwork which is put onto paper or canvas. There are two main categories of this broad term; limited and unlimited prints.

Unlimited prints will have no maximum number of prints. Posters, note cards, other similar products, and open editions are usually presented in unlimited numbers.

Limited prints (signed and numbered) means that the printer is creating a piece which has a maximum number of pieces printed.  Each print in a limited edition are hand signed and numbered by the artist.  If it is an edition of 500, the first print will be 1 of 500 (1/500), the remainder sequentially numbered until the last is numbered 500/500. The publisher should not reissue this print once the edition is completed.   Artist's Proofs are printed when the limited edition prints are printed.  These prints are selected by the artist from the regular edition for highest quality.  The number of artist's proofs selected is typically 10% of what the regular edition will be.  To add to our example above, there would be an edition of 50 artist's proofs.

A giclee print is the process of printing the image from a digital scan. The advantage of this method is a more versatile and accurate color translation from the original image.  With the advent of new technology, the best inks combined with the right paper have an image life up to twice as long as a regular printed limited edition.  My favorite paper for printing giclees is d'arches watercolor paper for it's rich texture and velvety surface.

Canvas Editions are done two different ways.  The first method is inks printed directly on the canvas.  The best inks should be of UV quality.  The second method consists of a  paper print applied over the top of canvas to create the texture of canvas.  These prints are usually sealed with an acrylic or varnish finish.

Prints

Even if the utmost care has been taken in purchasing a print with a high quality printing process and museum quality framing was used, a framed print placed in poor conditions can be ruined. Direct sunlight interacts with the image’s ink and may bleach it or "blue" it. Humid conditions can promote the growth of mold, subsequently damaging the paper and frame. Too dry conditions can also make a wood frame shrink if it was framed in a more humid climate. After all this, what conditions won’t hurt a print? Good prints are actually fairly durable if framed properly and placed out of direct sunlight in moderate conditions with the humidity below 50%. If the print is kept unframed for a period of time, dust is an issue. A print should, at a minimum, be sealed from dust with a cover that will not chemically react with the inks.  Florescent lights can cause almost as much damage as direct sunlight and care should be taken hanging artwork in office situations.  UV-protected glass can be purchased to put on prints to protect them.  With care, a print can last many decades.

Originals

Watercolor originals should be framed and behind glass.  If gouache is not behind glass, it should have some kind of protective sealer applied to the surface. UV-protected glass may also be an option. Keeping the glass and the frame dusted is always a good idea.

Acrylic paintings with their non-porous surface do not need to have glass, and oils should not be behind glass as they have to breathe. Lightly dusting the surface is OK and does prevent build-up.

All art should be kept out of direct sunlight, and in a room where the humidity levels do not get very high. Fluctuations in temperatures should be kept to a minimum. In addition, extremely low temperatures will crack acrylic paintings, so winter shipping should be done with care.

A remarque is a small original that is painted in the bottom margin of a limited edition print.  Purchasing a print with a remarque give the piece a unique quality.  The remarques are one of a kind originals and will not be duplicated exactly the same again.  The value of a print is greatly enhanced by acquiring a remarque with a print.  Remarques require a small added fee to the purchase price of a print.