What is an Artist Proof?

The above painting, "The Crossing", resulted from a wonderful research trip in Yellowstone National Park, USA. Yellowstone is an excellent location for North American big game and bison in particular are in healthy numbers within the Park. The painting comes from an area called Haydn Valley, where Yellowstone River winds gently through the landscape and the waters are shallow enough for wildlife to easily cross over to new pastures.

Here's another term within the world of Fine Art which often needs clarification:

An Artist Proof is a Fine Art reproduction intended for the artist's personal use. It is common practice to reserve approximately ten percent of an edition as artist's proofs, although this figure can be higher. The artist's proof is sometimes referred to by it's French épreuve d'artist (abbreviation E.A.). Artist's proofs can be distinguished by the abbreviation AP or E.A., commonly on the lower left of the work.

With modern printing, artists proofs are not better quality prints than the regular edition, however they are desirable to many serious collectors in that there are fewer signed in this way, making them even more valuable. Each Fine Art Artist Proof produced by The Art of BAS is personally signed and numbered by the artist.