Here's a few frequently asked questions of Ray that we thought might be of interest to you too.

HOME

PAINTINGS

PRINTS

A.    Original paintings are works of art having been created with actual paint on canvas or on watercolor paper, sometimes other surfaces such as masonite, wood and glass etc. are employed. I work in watercolor paint on paper or oil on canvas. I use a high grade of linen canvas and a high grade of 100% rag paper - the paper is usually Whatman paper produced in England.
    Original paintings may remain one of a kind painted on commission and or may be photo lithographically copied in art print multiples and made available to the public and collectors at a greatly reduced price. These prints, if done with high printing standards, accurately duplicate the artists original work and if printed in limited editions can appreciate significantly in value. This has proven to be the case over the years and an active "collector" market now exists in Limited Edition prints, prints made from original paintings. As a founding artist of the industry in 1962 I have certainly watched it blossom into fruition.
    In that year I had initially intended to create a full collection of wildlife prints in book form of my paintings and consequently for two or three years individual prints were not signed. The demand from collectors for personally signed prints became an imperative, however, and subsequently prints were not only signed but were individually numbered as well. In order to use prints to raise funds for worthy causes some editions were partially numbered and signed and all others were signed only. This stimulated collectors to purchase signed and numbered prints to raise funds for worthy causes as well as having the print.
    When I put my name on an original painting I print my name, I do not put it in script as one would sign a signature. This printed name is, of course, duplicated when the painting is copied. A second name appears on the Limited Edition print when I have personally placed my penciled signature in script below or near the name duplicated from the original. Signing my name in pencil below my printed name on each copy signifies my personally having handled the print and accordingly, approved of its quality.

A. Historically, as artist prints were being made by the printer, the initial trial, or work-up proofs were usually exploratory, less than exact and the artist was provided what was known as "progressive proofs" to check. The artist then noted whatever corrections or notations were to be made on the margins of the proofs for the printer to use in adding or subtracting color to improve the accuracy in reproducing the original painting as close as possible.

Sometimes the artist might make small drawings on the margin of the progressive proof to be more specific, with his or her corrections. These were called "Remarque's". When these progressive proofs reached a point where it satisfied the artist enough to give the okay for the final printing, the printer provided the artist with samples of the finished print. Usually there are enough finished proofs to satisfy the artist that there was a quality of continuity for the press run. These then were what are called "Artist Proofs" which the artist might sometime give or sell to others or perhaps donate to a cause.

Today artists and publishers have succumbed to the "profit motive" and charge for artist proofs at a premium level. As a matter of fact they now have designated some prints to be called "Publishers Proof" and the profit motive goes on.

Personally I believe that Artist Proofs sometimes seem to have more value to the collector than individually numbered prints since the proofs are less available than the regular edition and sold directly to the collector from the artist. At least in my case it's been that way. In other cases, publishers market, sell and ship both Artist Proofs and Publisher Proofs. In either event the quality of the prints is absolutely no different, only the designation.

A. When I started reproducing my paintings in 1962 they were each intended to be in a hard cover coffee table book of American Wildlife subjects with each species in the book assigned a plate number. As the work progressed my recognition as a wildlife artist accelerated so rapidly I decided to use my success to help other artists by also printing their paintings in high quality limited edition lithographs and the Frame House Publishing Company was formed.

Many artists recognized this opportunity and readily accepted the invitation to submit their paintings for approval. The idea of a hard cover book for each artist was of course cost prohibitive and the Ray Harm book venture was abandoned, but not before a number of plate numbers had already been assigned to my wildlife images on the engravers' zinc plates. For other artists we decided to print and release editions in the fine art tradition of indicating the edition size by numbering each individual print. This insured collectors that the edition was indeed limited. I adopted the same method. This explains why some of my earlier prints were given plate numbers and not necessarily signed personally.

A. We have had some reports of prints purchased from other sources showing the effects of framing, moisture damage, fading, rippling etc. You can be assured that as the artist I ascertain the quality of any print we ship.

Can prints be personalized by the artist?

A. Usually writing on actual prints is NOT recommended since it tends to devaluate the collector value. In appreciation for interest in my work however, I'm happy to write a personal note to someone on one of my note cards for special occasions if requested, to be included with the print.