Questions: Is this a reputable art gallery? Is it safe to buy art from this gallery online? Does your gallery guarentee conditon? Do you provide a Certificate of Authenticity ? Does this gallery ever purchase art? Is a print an original work of art? What is a limited edition? What does an edition marked: H.C., A.P., P.P. mean? What is B.A.T. (Bon a Tirer) ? How can I learn more about printmaking techinques and terminology? Why is the background of this site off-white? Does your gallery accept portfolio submissions from new artists? Is art a good investment? Will I make money off of it? Answers: Is this a reputable art gallery? Is it safe to buy art from this gallery online?: London Arts Group has been selling fine art to overjoyed art collectors for over thirty years. With the advent of e-commerce we have been selling over the internet since 1998. As art professionals we are proud of maintaining a 100% satisfaction record on orders from clients worldwide.  [Top of Page] Does your gallery guarentee conditon?: We go to great lengths to accurately describe and represent the condition of every piece offered for sale. Please refer to detail images. Contact us with specific questions regarding any item.  [Top of Page] Do you provide a Certificate of Authenticity ?: We provide detailed COA's with all pieces purchased from this site.  [Top of Page] Does this gallery ever purchase art?: Yes we do purchase items. We are interested only in works by artists already represented in our current artists list. Please inquire with details regarding your situation. Images are helpful. However we do not review new artists, regardless of talent or reputation.   [Top of Page] Is a print an original work of art?: "First of all a print is not a reproduction. A print, in whatever medium, is or should be made and conceived by the artist himself; he will have knowingly chosen his medium so as best to express his idea, and he will have supervised its excution at every stage. In certain cases others may have helped him in the techical execution and printing, but his sigature on every proof is a witness to his approval of each final copy." -- Julian Travelyan, Master Printmaker and Royal Academician  [Top of Page] What is a limited edition?: When art is produced in multiple edition, the edition size is the total pieces produced deemed authentic by the artist. It is the difference between a poster of the Mona Lisa which is produced in the tens of millions, and a fine print which may have less than a few dozen examples.  [Top of Page] What does an edition marked: H.C., A.P., P.P. mean?: H.C. stands for Hors Commerce (Not for Trade in french). Traditionally these were graphics pulled with the regular edition, but were marked by the artist for business use only. These graphics were used for entering exhibitions and competitions, but today, these graphics generally are allowed into distribution through regular channels. An Artist's Proof (AP) is a number marking which appears on certain print editions. This is outside the regular edition, but printed at the same time or after the regular edition from the same plates without changes. By custom, the artist retains the A/Ps for his personal use or sale. Typically, 10% of the edition total is designated as A/P, or in the case of a small edition, five graphics are usually so designated. Likewise p.p. stands for "printers proof"; a few prints may be pulled for the printer and may or may not be signed by the artist   [Top of Page] What is B.A.T. (Bon a Tirer) ?: When the artist is satisfied with the graphic from the finished plate, he works with his printer to pull one perfect graphic and it is marked "Bon a Tirer," meaning "good to pull." The printer then compares each graphic in the edition with the BAT before submitting the graphic to the artist for approval and signature. There is standardly one BAT and usually it becomes the property of the printer or workshop printing the edition.  [Top of Page] How can I learn more about printmaking techinques and terminology?: Please see our CLIENT RESOURCES section for great demonstrations, research utililties and fine print glossary  [Top of Page] Why is the background of this site off-white? : When viewing on a computer monitor, 'white' looks exceedingly harsh in contrast to other colors. We feel that by providing a background that is not white, your eye will perceive the different values of white more clearly. This is noticeable in the brightness of the paper as shown in the margins and unprinted areas.   [Top of Page] Does your gallery accept portfolio submissions from new artists?: No. Regardless of talent, we maintain a policy of not accepting unsolicited portfolio submissions.  [Top of Page] Is art a good investment? Will I make money off of it?: Yes! No! Maybe? Though it is difficult to address such a broad question thoroughly, here is our usual response: "Purchase fine art because you'll love it day after day, not because you expect to make money off of it in the future. People spend far more money on ordinary cars and furniture and never tend to think of it as a future investment. Art is something beyond simple economic growth. The primary enrichment from art is to the soul."   [Top of Page]