Good Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions collectors asked us constantly during our gallery years — preserved here because the answers haven’t changed. Most concern fine art prints, since that’s where new collectors usually start.
How accurate is an image on screen compared to the artwork itself?
Reputable galleries display artwork with a high degree of accuracy, but computer monitors introduce some variation in color fidelity — two screens will render the same crimson differently. When buying art online, ask whether the seller photographed the actual piece or used the publisher’s file, and whether returns are accepted if the color disappoints in person. In our gallery days we honored a 30-day return for exactly this reason.
How are artwork dimensions measured?
Dimensions are conventionally measured to the outside perimeter of the print, which almost always includes the white area surrounding the image. That white border is necessary for framing — it’s where the mat sits. Expect published dimensions to be accurate within about half an inch, and if a listing shows only the image area, it should say so clearly. Always confirm whether you’re being quoted sheet size or image size before ordering a frame.
What is a lithograph?
Offset lithography has been the standard for quality art reproduction for decades. The process involves multiple steps from original image to printed reproduction: photography, laser scanning, color separations, plate-making and printing. The greater the number of plates used for each color, the greater the artist’s control over the finished print. Fine art lithographs from quality publishers remain crisp and stable for generations when kept out of direct sun.
What is a giclée?
A French word, pronounced zhee-clay. Also known as fine inkjet printing: the artwork is captured as a high-resolution digital scan and printed with archival pigment inks. On paper, the inks absorb slightly and blend to create reproductions often indistinguishable from the originals. On canvas, the process yields prints of stunning vibrancy and realism. The luminosity of giclée printmaking represents the artist’s original work better than any reproduction technique available today, and archival ratings of 75+ years are common with quality inks and stock.
How should I frame and care for automotive art?
Three rules cover ninety percent of it. One: use UV-filtering glass or acrylic — sunlight is the enemy of every pigment ever made. Two: insist on acid-free mats and backing; cheap materials yellow the print they touch. Three: hang away from heat sources and damp walls (garage art deserves a climate-controlled garage, or at least an interior wall). Museum conservation departments, like those of the Smithsonian Institution, publish excellent free guidance on caring for works on paper.
Is automotive art a good investment?
Honest answer: buy for love first, money second. Original works by established artists with concours exhibition histories have appreciated steadily, and signed limited editions from respected names hold value well — but the print market is a collecting market, not a trading market, and anyone promising guaranteed returns is selling something other than art. The reliable dividend is the daily one: a great automotive painting pays you every time you walk past it. If investment matters to you, favor signed and numbered editions, keep documentation, control light and humidity, and read our valuation guidance before selling.
How can I contact Automotive-Art?
We are based in Southern California. For inquiries about the archive, corrections, or story ideas, please use the contact form below — we read everything, eventually, usually with coffee.