"Art is long, life is brief" - the masterpieces by Renoir, Rembrandt, Picasso, Lois Maylou Jones, and Romare Bearden are still with us. Through art we can visually look into the past and keep it ever present. Some of the great art masters lived very short chronological lives, but live forever through the body of art they have left behind for us to enjoy.

(This "Art Talk" article is reprinted from the book, "Collecting Limited Edition Prints - Contemporary African American Printmakers," by Dennis L. Forbes, Cavanaugh Press, Inc., 2004)

Collecting limited edition fine art prints is an easy, affordable way to start and build an art collection. Limited edition prints are exclusive because only a specific number of prints are reproduced from an original painting; they are signed by the artist; and they have their own edition number, along with the number of the total size of the edition. Printing commences when the artist approves the final print created by the printmaker. After making a limited number of copies of the print, all the materials used to create the print are destroyed, ensuring that the print cannot be produced again, thus guaranteeing the exclusivity of the edition.

Limited edition fine art prints can be purchased from several sources and venues, including artists, galleries, studios, publishing houses, auctions, art agents, art expos, collector clubs, art shows, exhibitions, dealers, frame shops, printmaking workshops, artist Web sites, the Internet, eBay, and a host of other resources and venues. Ensuring that reputable individuals and businesses are consulted and used is key when purchasing limited edition fine art prints.

Gather Essential Information Before Purchasing

A collector should gather and learn some essential information before purchasing a limited edition print. Information about the artist, edition size, publishing date, publisher, printer, technique used, paper, and authenticity should be readily available to a potential purchaser by the seller.

Artist - Always request a biography of the artist, which tells you about the artist's accomplishments. Today, it is customary to find the artist's signature, in pencil, on the print. However, if the images bleed to the edge of the paper, the artist may write his or her name on the back of the print. If you do not recognize the artist's signature, consult a signature catalog.

Edition Size - Find out the size of the edition, which is very important. If the edition is more than 250, rarity may not be a factor for future value and demand. Ask how many artist's proofs, printer proofs, etc., were printed.

Publishing Date - Find out the publishing date of the print, which is usually found in the lower right-hand corner of the print. The publishing date lets you know at what point of the artist's career that the print was published.

Printer/Publisher - If an artist collaborates with a printer to produce the edition, a collector might want to know about the printer or publisher. Some collaborative projects with a master printmaker can add value to the print. A collaborative printmaking venture will contain an embossed printer's stamp or chop.

Technique - Find out what technique or medium was used (e.g., serigraph, silkscreen, lithograph, linocut, etc) to produce the print. Determining what process was used to produce the print is difficult if the print is framed. Ask how many colors are in the print or how many special process or effects were used.

Paper - Ask what type of paper the image is printed on. Today, archival acid-free paper is the most widely used paper. Find out the size of the paper, the weight, image size, margins, etc. The paper used can affect the value of the print.

Authenticity - Get an authenticity certificate or catalogue, which contains essential information about the print you wish to purchase. This information may prove to be very important if you decide to sell your print.

(We wish to thank Dennis L. Forbes for giving permission to reprint this section from his book)