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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How long has Irene Carranza Fine Art been in business?
What is an original, limited-edition, fine art print?
What does Giclée mean?
What is the longevity of a Giclée?
Do you use archival quality products?
Do you offer volume pricing?
How long will it take to get my art print (if it's not in stock)?
Why would an artist mount to board instead of stretching a piece?
What are your hours?
Do I need to make an appointment?
What other services do you offer and what is the cost?
Do you assist is art selection?
What is your turn-around on print orders?
How do you care for original artwork?
How do I buy art?

Other Info.
Print Conservation Care
Printing (Giclées)

Q: How long has Irene Carranza Fine Art been in business?

A: Since 1998 (formerly called "Irene Carranza Art Studio").

Q: What is an original, limited-edition, fine art print?

A: An original limited-edition fine art print is a work of art conceived and developed by the artist for the purpose of making an edition. The artist creates an image on a matrix of suitable material for the process to be used (a lithographic stone for litho, a copper plate for etching, etc.). Traditionally, in collaboration with a master printer, proofs are created as the artwork develops until the artist is satisfied with the result. The artist approves the final proof) and the edition can be printed in a quantity predetermined by the artist, using the proof as a standard. After printing, the edition is curated and signed, numbered, and dated.

Limited-edition fine art prints are not to be confused with reproductions of existing works that are reproduced photomechanically. Generally such prints are unsigned and not numbered, but they can appear to be signed if the signature of the artist was also reproduced photomechanically as part of the printing plate. Most posters and museum reproductions fall into this category of commercially mass-produced prints.

Original prints are most often discussed with reference to the printing technique that was used to produce them; for instance, you will find collographs, etchings, aquatints, screenprints, and more in the Irene Carranza Fine Art Portfolio.

Q: What does Giclée mean?

A: Strictly speaking it comes from a French word that means “a spurt” or “a spray”. It is commonly used to refer to high end fine art digital reproductions.

Q: What is the longevity of a Giclée?

A: The equation that dictates how long a product will last has many variables including the ink used, substrate printed on, top coating used (if any), and the environment(s) the end product is exposed to. Our publishing house tells us that it can range in longevity from 30 years to hundreds of years under normal conditions.

Q: Do you use archival quality products?

A: Irene Carranza Fine Art uses only the best of archival materials in the selection of all of our reproductions, and only the best of archival materials for all of our original paintings, including the highest quality paints and canvas. Read about Giclee Care tips for valuable information on caring for your prints.

Q: Do you offer volume pricing?

A: Yes. We are eager to determine how we can help build your art collection and we do offer volume pricing depending on quantity. We would love to talk to you about it.

How long will it take to get my art print (if it's not in stock)?

A: The ordering process is generally 5-10 days depending on peak times. Once color approval is received it takes approximately 7-10 to complete your prints. If additional services are required, such as stretching, enhancing or framing, it will take a little longer.

Q: Why would an artist mount to board instead of stretching a piece?

A: Mounting to board has some clear advantages when compared to stretching a canvas print. A mounted piece is much easier to store, handle, and ship because the back side of the canvas is flat against the mounting surface while stretched canvas prints are like a drum, supported only along the outside with an exposed back side. Because this backside is exposed it can be more easily damaged and requires more space to ship and, as a result, is generally more expensive to ship because of dimensional weight. Mounting also requires less excess canvas than what is necessary in stretched pieces, therefore, allowing more printable area on a sheet.

Q: What are your hours?

A: Our hours are whatever our customer needs them to be! You can contact Irene Carranza, any time, day or night, but the best times are between 9:00 am and 7:00pm on Monday through Saturday. Call 213.308.6767.

Q: Do I need to make an appointment?

A: Yes. Please do so by submitting your information to us or calling 213.308.6767. We would love to have you come in for a visit either at Irene's studio in San Diego or our location in Alhambra, California (10 minutes from downtown Los Angeles).

Q: What other services do you offer and what is the cost?

A: We are available for home or office visits, where we bring several art pieces for you to see and decide whether they work for your environment before you decide to purchase. The first home/office visit is free of charge.

Q: Do you assist is art selection?

A: Yes. We have experience to help guide you in determining what art work and price point is right for you. We look at art as being unique and want to assist you in determining what defines your own uniqueness and style.

Q: What is your turn-around on print orders?

A: Customer service will provide due dates upon ordering, but it is generally in the 10 day range, depending on whether we have the art print available or have to order from our lab. Custom orders can sometimes take up to 3 weeks.

Q: How do you care for original artwork?

A:If you're an artist yourself, you won't need to read this as you will probably already know it, or will you? This little bit of information is to give first-time art buyers a very basic understanding of how to take care of the original oil paintings they have purchased and chosen to live with. Believe it or not, most non-artists are unaware that art needs special care and cannot be treated as a piece of furniture might be treated. Whenever someone buys one of my paintings, I try to explain to them the basics of caring for the work, and offer to be available any time they have a question or need assistance with its preservation. After all, I care very much about the well-being of my work. My paintings remain as personal and dear to me when they are purchased as they were the day I created them. Art collectors should always keep in mind that this is how artists feel about their work, and that art is more than just a commodity. It is a piece of the artist's soul.

Here are just a few basic rules:

(For those of you who already know these things, Yippee! This is not for you. These instructions will sound very simplistic, nevertheless I have met many people who actually don't know these things.)

1. Never lean the front or back surface of a stretched canvas on a pointed or sharp object, no matter how small. This will leave a dent that will disfigure your work, and result in annoying and upsetting the artist who spent so much time creating it. If you must lean it against something, lean it on the wood of its stretcher bars so that nothing presses against the canvas.

2. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight will fade the colors in your oil painting. Please be aware of this when choosing a location for your work.

3. You might want to dust your painting regularly, so that a thick layer of dust does not build up which will dry out the paint and possibly result in cracking and peeling. Do not spray anything (like pledge) on the work. Dust with a soft, dry cloth. If the surface of your painting looks dry and dull, you may want to have it varnished. Most artists will offer to varnish the work, if they haven't done so already, at a new owner's request and free of charge. Varnish is a protective surface which will not only enhance the image, but will keep the surface intact and safe from cracking (except under extreme circumstances, of course).

4. If you must transport the work, lay a flat piece of cardboard, mat board or similar firm material over the front and back surfaces, and then wrap it in bubble wrap or styrofoam wrap. Try not to keep it wrapped up for too long as to avoid moisture buildup which might cause damage to the work.

5. Never expose your painting to extreme heat, extreme cold, or to extreme humidity. (Yes - this means a flood. Yes - this means a fire. Yes - this means snow. This could also mean an attic in the summer or a damp basement).

6. If something bad happens to the work (i.e. it crashes down on someone's head and gets a big gash in it), bring it to a professional conservator who can fix it properly. Don't do it yourself! Bring it to someone who knows what to do. The artist will appreciate it.

7. If you ever need or want to get rid of the work for any reason, always contact the artist, who should be informed of the work's new whereabouts so he or she can update the work's provenance records. Never, ever destroy or throw away an original work of art!!! If you absolutely can't keep it for any reason, offer to give it back to it's creator.

Note: Reprinted with permission of Robyn Bellospirito who may be reached at: PO Box 302, Locust Valley, NY 11560, or www.anxietyreferralonline.com/art/welcome.html

Q: How do I buy art?

A: There are a number of ways that you can buy art. Once you have seen something that you wish to buy, you may do one of the following:

1. Purchase online with a credit card

You simply add the art you wish to buy to your shopping cart and check out. You will be asked to provide your name, address and credit/debit card details.

2. Purchase by telephone, with a credit card

Simply contact us with your details and we will arrange everything over the phone.

Buying an Original

When you purchase an original artwork from Irene Carranza Fine Art, we will arrange for the shipping from the artist's studio. At the point of purchase we will take your payment and hold it until the work arrives. Shipping costs will be borne by you. The time for this depends upon the artist's location and your own delivery address. If you are not happy with the work then you may return it to the artist. Costs involved in this will again depend upon the respective locations.Irene Carranza Fine Art will refund your money after the work has been safely returned to the artist less shipping costs for the original delivery. We will work with you to make sure that return shipping is covered with the requisite level of service and insurance.

Art commissions

Irene Carranza Fine Art will be happy to assist you with your specific requests for portraits, company commissions, or any other special art order you may have. info@irenecarranza.com.

Shipping

We can ship art to any address. However you must provide your shipping and billing address with your credit card.

OTHER INFO.

PRINT CONSERVATION CARE

General Care: As with any valued fine art piece, it is recommended that this print be displayed in indirect lighting conditions and away from any contact with moisture. Using archival materials for mats, backing and spacers, museum quality framing and UV protected glass/Plexiglas will add to the life of the print. The artwork should never directly touch the glass/Plexiglas.

Giclée prints on Paper: The paper of the print itself needs to be handled carefully to prevent absorption of oils and/or marks from fingertips. Be careful to avoid dents and creases, since these can be very difficult or impossible to remove later.

Giclée prints on Canvas: When stretching canvas prints, do not steam the back of the canvas to remove wrinkles. This can cause your image to turn yellow and if not properly dried, can allow fungus to grow. When stretching, use rounded stretcher bars and reduce the amount of tension by 10% to 20%, depending on the relative humidity and temperature. This should reduce any sagging of the print in the future. Of course, changes in relative humidity and temperature can cause sagging, even to originals. Always clean your canvas print with a dry, lint free cloth or soft brush. Never use a wet or moist cloth to clean your Giclée canvas print.

Storage: Please store your final canvas or paper piece in an environment controlled for both humidity and temperature. Ideal conditions would be 70 degrees and 55% humidity. High humidity can cause yellow blooming. Keep all Giclée prints away from solvent-based materials such as oil paints and linseed oil, as the vapors can cause yellowing. Stretched pieces should be stored upright, not stacked, and all prints should be interleaved with archival paper dividers and never stored with any weight on top of them. Avoid tape coming in contact with the coated print as it can peel. Do not store heavily embellished prints in plastic bags. This extra care given initially will allow you to enjoy your purchase for many years to come.

PRINTING  (GICLÉES)

Digital prints are images that have been originally created, scanned (or both) on a computer and printed with a 6 color printer that communicates with the computer. Printing of digital imaging that use archival pigments is revolutionizing the art world and photography. Five years ago, Epson engineers improved upon technology developed for precision color inkjet printers and just 1 year ago developed the 9500 printer with 6 color pigment cartridges that make prints look as good as conventional printing methods such as Lithographs and Serigraphs. Complex mathematical algorithms at the heart of the printer's software translate images into millions of small, clean round dots of archival pigments that are precisely positioned on the paper. This unique printer has the capability of printing on numerous types of paper including fine art watercolor paper as large as 44"x 100'. With advanced technological and color expertise, the accuracy and output achieved is museum quality. The present life expectancy of the most common types of color photographs ranges from 2 or 3 years to an upward limit of about 60 years. Mr. Wilhelm (world renowned authority on the conservation of color photographs) calculated that the new pigment prints will last 200 years, which constitutes them as "archival".

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