Watercolour Prints | Limited Edition Wildlife Prints

Colin reveals a bit about the processes involved in creating fine art prints, and explains some of the terminology...

 How are the prints produced?

Most of my fine art prints are produced using the latest giclée printing method.  This uses computer technology to provide the most precise reproduction of an original painting currently possible.  Light-fast inks are used for longevity.  The heavyweight, pure cotton paper is archive-quality, with a texture similar to my chosen watercolour paper. The resulting print has the same 'feel', brilliance and depth as the original painting, as well as the very finest detail.  I colour match and profile every print, ensuring a rigorous quality check.

Some of my earlier prints were produced on traditional four or five-colour lithographic presses.  We used high resolution screen techniques, light-fast inks and specially chosen heavyweight, archive quality, pure cotton paper.

 

Buying prints

My fine art prints are available for ordering exclusively through this website or my colour brochure (which I will be happy to send on request).  They are seldom offered for sale through shops or galleries.

Since they were launched, at least six of my print editions have sold out, while others are very close to selling out.  If you would like a specific edition number (see Limited Editions, below), please feel free to contact me to see if it is available.  No.13 of most editions is still available.

Here are some explanations of the terms used to describe prints and editions:

 

Limited edition prints

Limited edition prints have a specified print run, meaning that there are (for example) 100, 250 or 500 copies available worldwide.  Legally, it is still possible for another print run to be produced at a later date, from the same image.  Almost all of my prints are single limited editions (see below).

Each limited edition print is individually numbered and signed by the artist. When numbering the print, the artist writes the print number as a fraction of the total print run, e.g. 34/250.  A low print run and a low print number (e.g. 3/100) makes the print even more collectable.

 

Single limited edition prints

These are limited edition prints which will only ever be printed once, i.e. the print run will never be repeated.  This makes the prints unique and more collectable.  Every print is signed and numbered by the artist.  All of my prints are single limited editions, unless otherwise specified.

 

Non-limited prints (open editions)

These prints have no limit to their print run, and are signed by the artist but not numbered.  They are usually less expensive, but their quality and standard of printing (at least in my case!) is in no way inferior to single limited editions.

 

Artist’s proofs

Traditionally, when overseeing the printing of artwork, an artist was supplied with proofs to ensure that the colour balance etc. was correct.  These artists' proofs have now become very collectable in their own right.  The proportion of artists' proofs to the total edition of the print run is usually 10% - in other words,10 artists' proofs in a total print run of 100.

Artists' proofs are usually signed and numbered, and are identical in every other respect to the main print run.

 

Remarques

Remarques are small pencil drawings drawn directly onto the white border of the print.  In some cases, I may add a little watercolour to them.

Usually the remarques are the same subject as the print (barn owls, for example) but on request I will add a different species!  Some print borders are not very large, meaning that only one or two sketches are possible.

If you would like pencil remarques added to your print, you can specify this when ordering (there will be a small additional cost).

 

Original oil paintings, watercolours and pencil drawings of Scottish landscapes, scenery and Scotland’s wildlife. Available also as Greetings Cards, Christmas Cards and Limited Edition Prints.

British Birds, Christmas Cards, Colin Woolf Fine Art, Original Paintings of Scottish wildlife, Scotland Landscapes, Scottish Birds, Scottish Wildlife, Crested Tit, Red Grouse, Golden Eagle, Red Deer, Puffin, Otter