I have written a small collection of short essays over a period of time that I hope offers information and insight to art buyers, whether here or elsewhere.

For instance, there is considerable misunderstanding about art prints and I want to try to clear up some of it.

There are several traditional ways of making prints: silk screen or serigraph (two names for more or less the same process); wood block printing, engravings made by using acid to etch metal, or intaglio -- digging into it; and lithography, drawing and painting with oil laden substances directly on stone.

Most people have heard these terms even though they may have little or no understanding of how the processes actually work. All of these methods are still used today. Some of them are hundreds of years old.

These are the traditional methods of making art prints. I briefly explain how each is done and their merits.

Near the turn of the 20th century high speed printing presses came about and muddled ideas about art prints. I explain why. And then in the last half of the century Xerox introduced a unique way of making copies, and in the last quarter of the century yet another method was introduced . . . ink-jet printers. All of these have impacted the art market.

Over the years I have also tried to answer for myself the question, "What is Art?". It has no easy answer, perhaps none that satisfies everyone. You will find my reflections on the question as well as other related topics.