Art Terms

A - B  C - E  F - L  M - S  T - W

_{Foxing   Discoloration of paper by mildew of micro-organisms, due to dampness or bad preservation.}

_{Giclée A computerized reproduction technique in which the image and topology are generated from a digital file and printed by a special ink jet printer, using ink, acrylic or oil paints. Giclée printing offers one of the highest degree of accuracy and richness of color available in any reproduction techniques.}

_{Gilding   Covering a surface with gold leaf.}

_{Gouache   Painting with watercolors made opaque by the addition of white pigment or sizing. Unlike watercolors, gouache does not allow the whiteness of the paper to show through the paint (from the French term meaning opaque watercolor)}

_{Graphic   A term usually used to describe a print made by lithography, silkscreening, or etching. As in, "this is a graphic work by Hockney" or "we carry graphic works by some of the best artists in the world".}

_{HatchingThe building up of an effect of tone by a series of close parallel lines. Crosshatching consists of a series of parallel lines, crossed by others at right angles. Usually a technique used in etching.}

_{HMP   Abbreviation meaning "hand made paper".}

_{Hors Commerce   French term meaning outside of business or not for commerce. Abbreviated as "H.C.". Referring to a portion of a limited edition that is not meant for sale. In recent times, the H.C. designation has simply become another portion of the total edition breakdown. Prints designated H.C. are readily sold, and have no higher (or lower) "value" than any other prints within the edition.}

_{ImpastoThick application of ink or paint on a surface.}

_{Impression   Any print taken from an engraved block, plate or stone.}

_{Intaglio   Meaning "beneath the surface".  Forms, marks, or lines that are hollowed,
sunk or drawn into the surface instead of being raised upon it. Etching and engraving are intaglio processes. Pronounced "in-tal-eo" from Italian, "to incise".}

_{Linocut   The full term is linoleum cut. A surface printing process similar to woodcutting. The image is dug into the linoleum (linoleum is a hard, smooth washable floor covering made of a mixture of ground cork, wood, and linseed oil, first manufactured around 1860) with the areas not to be printed being cut away. The block is then inked and paper is pressed down on the linoleum. Colors can be added by using different blocks, or altering the one block and re-inking.}

_{Lithography   A surface printing process based on the mutual incompatibility of grease and water. (derived from the Greek term lithos meaning stone and grapho, meaning to write.) A greasy crayon is used to draw the design on the surface of a porous stone. More modern methods use disposable aluminum plates instead of the original limestone blocks. The stone is then thoroughly wetted and an oil based ink rolled across its surface. Where the greasy design has repelled the water, the ink will adhere. Paper is then pressed onto the stone. Each print in the edition usually requires re-wetting and re-inking the stone or plate.}

_{Lost Wax  A method of casting bronze sculpture. From the artist's model, a rubber mold is made. The mold is then filled with wax, allowed to cool and then the mold is pulled off leaving an exact rendition of the model in wax. This wax rendition is then stuccoed with a sand-like material until successive layers produce a heat tolerant ceramic shell of sufficient strength to withstand the weight of the molten bronze. Then the shell with the wax print inside is heated, the wax is melted out (thus, the lost wax process) and the molten bronze can be poured in. After the bronze has cooled, the shell is chipped away and the sculpture is then sand blasted and hand finished to its ultimate perfection. The lost wax process is considered the highest quality method of producing limited edition bronze sculpture.}