Giclee vs Lithograph

When I describe one of our prints you will see me use the term Museum Quality Limited Edition Giclee’s printed on 100% Acid Free Hot Press Signature Paper.

That’s quite a mouthful I know and deserves an explanation. First off is what the heck is a Giclee? To put it simply, Giclee is mainly a process. The process of producing a large-format, high resolution image on an industrial inkjet printer. This is NOT a desktop inkjet printer you can buy at the store. 

A printer that produces a Giclee has been adapted to produce a fine-art print, that is better than traditional silver halide, or even a 4 color offset lithograph press.

You word Giclee is actually derived from the French word gicleur, which means nozzle. A high quality giclee printer sprays ink  a onto the substrate using a nozzle smaller than a human hair.

The Giclee process uses fade resident pigment-based inks. The color inks are more than the standard CMYK 4 color process used in a standard litho. A Giclee is typically created using at least 8 or more, which increases the color gamut, and resolution.

This process provides better color accuracy than any other means of reproduction. You will find giclee prints at the Metropolitan Museum in New York, and the Museum of Modern Art.

DRY FALLS

I love to photograph Waterfalls, and I'm fortunate to live close enough to NC, where a there seems to be endless opportunities to photograph them. This is one of Dry Falls.

A short walk from the parking area above.

Monet vs Manet. and Jerry Lee Lewis......"I Know What I Like"

With all the Art History classes I took in college I used to be able to able to tell you the difference between a Claude Monet and an Edouard Manet Painting. I could tell you the name of the painting, the year it was done, the home country of the artist, (not just those two), etc.

Although it was tedious at the time, I learned to appreciate what goes into an oil painting, the time the artist "has into it", including composition, subject matter,lighting,shading, and coloring. Regardless of what the artist was trying to convey though, "I know what I like".

When I see a print on the wall today, I don't stop and ask myself if it is a painting, or a photograph, I simply say to myself "I like that" and I might buy it, OR that thing is ugly and what fool would pay money for it? The medium of the artwork is still of no consequence- Beauty certainly still is in the eye, (and the pocketbook), of the beholder".

Fine Art from the very definition is what pleases the Artist. If someone else likes it too, all the better. Support your local artists, and BUY when you can, but only buy what you like. Keep us honest.

Crayons to Camera

Like most young people I was involved with art from a very early age. I started drawing at about age 3 with crayons. Mostly on the walls, furniture, the dog, and to my mother's dismay...most anything that did not move. Moving up to coloring books, learning to stay within the lines. Folowing that it was colored pencils in the coloring books and on to oils at about age 9 or 10.
 I think it was at that point my next door neighbor gave me a camera. Very old with one shutter speed, it took 8 frames per roll. Film size was 620, I remember that much, waist level viewfinder with broken glass...but it kept me happy.

I think they were trying to tell me something. You can't seem to draw very well, so why not use a camera instead.

My point is that the work, be it a photograph, oil painting, pencil drawing, charcoal....are critically important. The value of a oil painting, photograph, giclee, watercolor is not necessarily what the market will bear....it's worth is what one individual will pay for it.

When a number of these same mediums (from the same artist), become available to the market with the same level of interest, that value increases. A collection has now been born.

Introduction to Lexington Fine Art

Allow me to introduce myself:

My name is Al Beard. I have been a professional photographer for the last 36 years. I am a 1976 graduate of The Art Institute of Atlanta. I also spent seven years in a professional lab printing photos for some of the top photographers in America. Since then I’ve made a very good living photographing youth sports, and I am proud to say I was one of the early pioneers of the group and individual niche. Way back in 1976 there were not many of us at all.  While establishing this niche I have always believed in supporting these youth leagues. I simply believe you must “give back” to your community, and we have.

I don’t know the exact figure, but it is over 6 figures. I bring this up only to emphasize our goal with this gallery. It is my intention, no MY PROMISE, to give a minimum of 20% of our sales to charity. When you buy a piece of art from us, you are also a part of this. I know initially many of you who read my brochures and Facebook posts may tire of hearing this, but I want to make sure the word gets out there.

  

Since youth sports is a very seasonal business, I have been blessed with a lot of down time that allowed me to capture images that were of interest to me. Now I hope to be able to share many of those images, and more of my current work. My hope is that they will also be of interest to others.

I love to travel as much as anyone and of course my camera is always with me. There is nothing I like more than studying the landscape while riding and watching everything. (I probably should get someone else to drive since my head many times is literally in the clouds.) 

As this new venture moves forward I am both hopeful and anxious. This new venture is a calling from God. In November of 2011 I was standing in the back of this building in what was once my photo lab.  God literally spoke to me and said “Open an Art Gallery”. My immediate response was an audible “Are you sure?”. I immediately retracted and apologized, saying “of course you’re sure”. How stupid of me. From that time on, we have literally transformed the building in obedience to this calling.

I would be remiss if I did not take the time to publicly thank two good Christian friends, Jeff Antal, and Tim Hill for helping with the construction and developing the website respectively.

It is both a joy and an honor to do this, just hope I can have the stamina to keep pace.

Opening Day

Nov 1st  2012

Well the big day has finally arrived. We are officially open on All Saints Day. Looking forward to having that Grand Opening soon. Just need to iron out some kinks, as with any new business.

I will talk more about that later.......Stay tuned.