Ann Craven, Quiet Moon, 2024 

Color Acquatint and hardground etching

Paper Size 33x27, edition of 75. 

What makes prints so remarkable is the inherent contradiction they embody. They resolve the tension between exclusivity and accessibility that dominates the art world. Unlike one-of-a-kind paintings or sculptures that often command prohibitive prices, prints are deliberately created to be shared while remaining authentic expressions of an artist's vision.

Perhaps what continues to fascinate me most about works on paper is how they possess qualities entirely their own, impossible to replicate in other mediums. Jacob Hashimoto's prints aren't simplified versions of his sculptures—they're distinct artistic statements with their own integrity and power.  The same is true from many artists working in prints today.  And the new processes for print-making offer a range of choices. 

The textural relationship between paper and ink, the interplay of positive and negative space, the intimate scale that draws you closer—these elements create an experience entirely different from standing before a painting or circling a sculpture.

Artist often use printmaking to explore ideas that wouldn't work in their primary medium. For collectors, prints offer insight into different facets of an artist's thinking and visual language that might otherwise remain hidden.

For anyone hesitant about beginning their own collection, I offer this perspective: prints aren't a compromise or a second-best option. They represent a legitimate artistic medium with unique qualities and opportunities. They allow us to live intimately with artists' work in ways that would otherwise be impossible for most of us.

I'm reminded that meaningful art experiences don't have to be exclusive or fleeting. Sometimes, the most profound artistic relationships are the ones you invite into your home, the ones that witness your daily life in all its complexity.

*Upstart Modern offers access to a variety of fine art prints from established and emerging artists. Contact us to arrange a private consultation.*