TLDR: Hand-embellishing is me drawing w/ archival metallic paint pens on AP (artist-print) posters

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Long version in-depth:

Generally APs or "Artists Prints or Artist Proofs or Artist Editions" are very limited and rare. They are given to the artist in addition yet as part of the full run of limited regular band prints sold at shows for the artist to sell. When I hand-embellish each artist print I use professional grade archival acid-free metallic Posca paint pen markers from Japan, etc. I subtly hand-draw gold, silver and other metallic colors onto the prints. I am very deliberate when I do this, but I also like to keep it kinda loose too like I'm painting, but focused and will add gold to things like cymbals or say a crown, and silver to things like cymbal stands, drum tension rods/lugs, or tuning pegs on guitars, etc. Or metallic green grass on grass, yellow on light bulbs, etc. I will get surreal as well sometimes and add gold to guitar knobs, entire guitars, plug outlets, little things, etc. But I try not to ever over-do it. The final product ends up looking more like a hand-made/drawn hybrid foil poster.

To me this also highly increases the value of these already rare artist prints. As they are being hand-drawn on by the artist and not just printed by the printer. I honestly think I could/should sell them for $100+ but I'm not trying to take ppls money, I'm just trying to make rad and special art for you all. - I've had many other ppl ask me about what "hand-embellished" means exactly so I’m glad I could share this with you all here!

I also sign and number the print with pencil (more archival than pen) and will write over the "AP" (artist print/or sometimes “artist proof”) mark in gold and also add a palette swatch of dots next to the AP signature so you know what to look for.

FYI- “Artist Print” is a more general term whereas an “Artist Proof” is a little bit more specific for a print that was checked first by the artist before printing so could be considered more rare especially if not perfect kind of like a “test-print”. 99% of my prints are considered “Artist Prints”. Some people also call them “Artist Editions”.

In the future I am going to look into getting stamps, embossing stamps, certificates of authentication, etc.

CHEERS!!! Hope this helps!

^^^I may update this page with better horizontal videos later! but you get the idea! Thanks! - Chris