About Ohara Prints
A bit about us...
OharaPrints.com is an online print shop dedicated to creating beautiful fine art giclée prints that will add joy to any space.
We are based in the small town of Casterton in the far southwest of Victoria, Australia. From there, in our small country studio, we make our prints and send them to collectors all over the world.
The guiding light behind our selection of prints is cosiness - artworks we would like to have on our own walls that inspire an atmosphere of warm contentment, sparking moments of curiosity, charm and whimsy. The Danish concept of "hygge" perfectly encapsulates our vision - creating warmth, cosiness and contentment through embracing life's small joys.
OharaPrints on Etsy?
We also have a shop on Etsy with the same catalogue and selection of fine art prints. The key difference is price - we offer lower prices through our own store because we do not have to pay Etsy fees and can pass that saving on to our customers.
You are absolutely welcome to buy through Etsy, if you prefer - click here to visit our Etsy Store
The Artworks
Where does OharaPrints find the artworks we sell?
All of the artworks available to purchase at Ohara Prints are in the public domain, with the exception of our "Ohara Photos" collection which are original works by Ben O'Hara, the proprietor and giclée printmaker behind Ohara Prints.
These public domain artworks were sourced from many different online catalogues and collections held by major international museums and galleries around the world, such as the Metropolitan Museum in New York or the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. These online collections offer publicly available high resolution scans and photographs of the original works.
In some instances, Ohara Prints was able to take our own high resolution photographs of the original works.
After acquiring sufficiently high resolution scans or photos of our favourite artworks, the source images are digitally restored by Ohara Prints before being made available as prints in our online store.
What is "digital restoration"?
Digital restoration of artworks involves using advanced imaging software to repair and rejuvenate damaged or aged images, such as photographs or paintings. It is often the case that artworks have lost their original condition due to colour fading, paper or canvas yellowing, discolouration due to humidity, sunlight or bad air quality, physical damage or deterioration of the materials due to age.
High-resolution scans or photographs of the artwork are made, and digital tools like Photoshop are used to carefully restore the artwork's original appearance while preserving its authenticity. This process might include correcting colours, removing or minimising scratches, stains or tears, and enhancing faded areas.
Ohara Prints prefers to use non-additive restoration techniques, so we therefore only work with the artwork as we find it – we won’t create or add missing pieces. Sometimes this means that we consider some damage or deterioration to now be a part of the artwork. Our goal is always to honour the artist, along with the history of a piece, by restoring each work as much as possible toward its original appearance while maintaining its artistic and historical integrity. The result should be a vibrant, detailed print that closely matches
the appearance of the original artwork but which also speaks to its current condition.
At Ohara Prints, we take great pride in our digital restoration work and devote a great deal of time toward producing beautiful prints that allow our customers to appreciate an artwork as it was originally intended to be seen.
The Printing Process
What is giclée printing?
Giclée printing is a digital printing process used to produce high-quality fine art prints. The term "giclée" (from the French word meaning "to spray") refers to the inkjet printing method, where tiny droplets of ink are sprayed onto paper or canvas. Using archival-quality paper and pigment inks, giclée prints are known for their vibrant colours, high resolution and excellent longevity, making them ideal for reproducing artwork and photography.
What is archival paper?
Archival paper is a high-quality, acid-free paper designed for longevity and resistance to deterioration. Made from pure cellulose fibers, it is free from lignin and other chemicals that can cause yellowing and brittleness over time. Archival paper is often used in fine art & photography where preserving the original condition is essential. It meets specific standards for pH balance and durability, ensuring that it remains stable and does not degrade for decades or even centuries. This makes archival paper ideal for artworks, museum collections and legal documents that require long-term preservation.
What paper does Ohara Prints use?
Having tried many different papers over the years, our favourites here at Ohara Prints are the Canson Infinity range of fine art papers. Of these, the one we love the most, and the one we use to make our prints, is Arches BFK Rives.
Arches BFK Rives is a high-quality, archival-grade paper manufactured at the Arches paper mill in France - one of the oldest papermakers in Europe. It is made from 100% cotton rag using a time-honoured manufacturing process, giving the paper exceptional durability, longevity, and resistance to yellowing or deterioration over time. Despite its substantial weight and thickness - 310gsm - it maintains a very soft and supple feel. The paper has a natural white tone and is completely free of any optical brighteners (OBAs), allowing for superb colour rendition and deep blacks.
What are pigment inks?
Pigment inks are a type of ink often used in fine art printing, photography and archival-quality prints because they offer superior longevity, rich colours, and sharp detail.
Pigment inks contain tiny, solid colour particles suspended in liquid, which sit on the surface of the paper, offering excellent fade resistance and longevity. In contrast, dye inks are water-soluble and penetrate the paper fibers, resulting in less resistance to light and moisture. Dye inks are typically used in everyday printing where colour brightness is prioritized over longevity. Pigment inks are preferred when print permanence and colour accuracy are essential.
Which inks do Ohara Prints use?
We use Canon LUCIA PRO inks which are high-quality, pigment-based inks designed for professional printing. They offer a wide colour gamut, deep blacks, and excellent durability. These inks are ideal for fine art & photography, providing long-lasting, vibrant prints with accurate colour reproduction and enhanced resistance to fading.
What printers do we use?
We use Canon imagePROGRAF printers to make all our prints.