Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re interested in obtaining a Bill Owen original, send an email and we will add you to the wait list. We will email you when something becomes available.
Throughout Bill’s career, all Bill Owen artwork remained the sole and exclusive copyrighted property of Bill Owen, even after selling the original, unless he relinquished his rights. Since his passing on June 15, 2013, those rights now belong to his widow, Valerie Owen. All materials on this website, including images/text/design/layout and any other website and/or media featuring Bill Owen artwork, are copyrighted and are the exclusive property of Valerie Owen. Reproduction of any Bill Owen property without express written consent is unlawful and prohibited, and infringements will be pursued legally.
When Bill was just starting out, he usually put a date and the S Slash V brand (an old family brand which belonged to Bill’s Uncle) in the area where he signed the piece.
When you find a piece signed in this way, it’s a very early piece and was created prior to Bill becoming a member of the Cowboy Artists of America. When he became a member in 1973 he quit using the S Slash V brand and began putting the CA brand on his art.
When artists decide to make a reproduction of one of their originals they have the option of making an ‘Open Edition’ or ‘Limited Edition.’ An Open Edition means there is no limit to the number of reproductions; they may or may not be signed by the artist and they are not numbered. A Limited Edition means the artist has placed a limit on the number of reproductions to be offered. If the number in the edition is 300, there is an additional 10% printed – or 30 – which are offered as a separate “edition” known as artist proofs. The artist signs each reproduction and each one is numbered. For an example, a reproduction out of a “regular” edition of 300 would be numbered in this manner – 267/300 – indicating the print is #267 out of the 300 offered. An artist proof of that same piece would be numbered in this manner – AP 15/30 – indicating the print is #15 out of the 30 artist proofs offered.
They are widely viewed as more desirable because there is less in the “edition” and artist proofs are believed to be more valuable and expected to appreciate in value more than identical lithographs out of the “regular” edition. Some people only collect artist proofs for these reasons.
Limited Edition Fine Art Giclée Reproductions
Giclée art prints have become a popular art print media. Giclée is a French word meaning “to spray” or “to squirt” and is pronounced ji-clay. Giclée print machines spray fine droplets of ink as small as 4 picoliters, which is about as small as an ink dot can be without evaporating on its way to the print substrate. These very small dots allow precise and detailed image reproduction. Giclée print machines use 3 to 8 more ink colors than traditional lithograph print machines, therefore, has the capacity to produce a much wider range of color with 512 chromatic changes and about 10 million color possibilities. This process is the best reproduction technique available today and the closest to the appearance of an original, and priced more than reproductions printed on paper. The expected lifetime of a giclée that is not hung in an area where it is subjected to direct sunlight is 100+ years. The Giclée prints offered by Bill Owen are printed on canvas. After placing your order, if you wish to have yours printed gallery wrapped, please send us an email with that instruction. Gallery wrapping means the edges of the surface image are printed mirrored, so that the image wraps around the sides. This enables you to hang it with or without a frame. You will receive your giclée rolled, in a tube; you will then take it to your local frame shop where they will mount the canvas onto stretcher bars and install a hanging wire.
Limited Edition Fine Art Lithographs
Lithographs are affordable color reproductions of original oil, watercolor or pastel paintings. They are printed on paper and to be framed under glass.
Limited Edition Duo Tones
Duo Tones are affordable reproductions of original drawings, printed in varying shades of gray and black, resulting in wonderful detail and definition, appearing very much like the original would have, and are to be framed under glass.
Canvas Transfers
A canvas transfer is a medium-priced print. The process transfers the image from a paper lithograph onto canvas, which gives the appearance of an original, but is not as fine as a giclée of the same image would be. This reproduction is to be framed as an original would be, therefore, no glass or glare.
Note Cards
Some of the reproductions are offered as note cards.
Posters
We do have a few posters available.
An original stone lithograph is hand drawn by the artist on limestone or marble. The process is difficult and remarkable when one realizes the fact that the image is drawn backwards, so that when it is printed it is correct. Each stone is used to print one color and the best stones, which are Bavarian limestone, are grey in color and have a clear complexion free of fossils and other flaws. These stones are becoming increasingly rare. After the edition (number of impressions) is hand-printed, each impression is signed and numbered by the artist. Imperfect impressions are destroyed and the stones and plates are effaced, and each edition is carefully documented. This is the oldest lithographic technique and is still considered to be the best by some.
Please note: Bill has done two Stone Lithographs, entitled, Breaking Horses and Saddle Horses and Broncs. One of these days, as time permits, the handful we still have may be offered.
From the time you place your order, you can typically expect to receive your giclée within 2-3 weeks.
Fine Art Color Lithographs and Duotones are typically shipped within 1-2 weeks.
Only Arizona state residents pay sales tax at a rate of 6.9%.
All shipping is charged a flat rate of $12.95 within the continental US. Artwork is shipped in a rolled tube for ideal protection. International shipping rates are variable and will apply.
We want you to be completely happy with any piece of art that you purchase, whether it is an original or a reproduction. Therefore, if you’re unhappy, return it in the same condition received within 30 days and you will receive a full refund, excluding shipping charges.
We do offer gallery wrap! Please email us for more information. The gallery wrap process can take up to 3 weeks.
Please note that shipping rates for gallery wraps will be higher than our standard rates.
Our Giclees arrive rolled on canvas, it looks similar to an original work of art. You can hang it several different ways. We recommend you take your Giclee to a frame shop where it can be stretched on bars and wired for hanging. You can choose to add a frame or not. It isn’t necessary to use glass because the canvas is coated. You might also prefer to have it gallery wrapped where no frame is needed!
Gallery wrap is a method of stretching an artist’s canvas so that the canvas wraps around the sides of the stretcher bar or strainer bars and is secured to the back of the wooden frame. The edges of the canvas are then colored for an aesthetic look.