So, you’ve decided that you want to buy some artwork. Great! With the internet gaining traction as a primary way to buy art, there seem to be endless options for building your collection. If you are looking at 2-dimensional artwork, you’ve probably looked into buying paintings but have also seen an option to buy a print of the original painting. What’s the right choice for you? Well, there are a few things to consider. First, let’s talk about what the difference is between the two.
What is an original painting?
Most people probably think of the original painting when they think of artwork. The original is the actual painting hand-created by the artist using whatever medium they chose. For example, my original paintings are created with acrylic paint on canvas material that has been stretched onto wooden stretcher bars. There are many different options for painting mediums, though!! You can find original paintings made from oil paint, watercolor, acrylic gouache, ink, mixed media, and encaustic art, and they can be created on different surfaces, including linen, paper, wood panels, and metal. There is only ONE original painting, and it usually comes with a certificate of authenticity to document this. This differs from an art print in this regard. Original artwork is almost always more expensive than art prints and can increase in value over time as the living artist’s career grows (or after an artist passes and their body of work becomes finite). This can make original artwork a financial investment that can be resold when the value increases or passed down to future generations (there is much more to the ins and outs of art investment that won’t be covered here, so do your research if this is your goal). Another great benefit of owning an original painting is the joy and satisfaction of owning a handcrafted piece of art that you know the artist poured their heart and soul into. For a lot of collectors, owning original art is a wonderful emotional experience.
What is an art print?
An art print is a reproduction of the original painting. After an artist has created the original artwork, they may then photograph (or scan) the original to create a digital copy of it. This digital copy is then used to create printed replicas of the original painting. There are typically 2 forms of art prints:
Limited edition: only a finite number of limited-edition art prints are created. Often, they are numbered and may even be hand-signed by the artist. Once a limited-edition run is gone, no more are created. Limited editions tend to be more expensive than open editions since their supply is limited.
Open edition: there are as many prints created as the artist wants. Open-edition prints may get “retired” by the artist but have the possibility of being offered again in the future. I currently offer open-edition prints for my work.
And just like there are many medium options for original paintings, there are many options for art prints as well! This can include:
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Paper prints: there are many options for paper weight, texture, and finish.
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Metal prints
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Acrylic prints
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Canvas prints
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Wood prints
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And more!
What about giclée? What is a giclée art print?
Giclee gets thrown around a lot when talking about art prints. Giclée refers to the printing method; it has nothing to do with the paper type. Giclée, or Gicler, is a French word meaning “spray” (well, more like gush, but spray sounds better). This refers to how the ink is sprayed onto the paper. Giclée refers to the printing method that the inkjet printer uses to create the print. Not all art prints are giclée prints. Typically, giclée art prints are high-quality archival prints that are a good marker to look for when collecting. That being said, just because an art print isn’t giclée doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get one! Many other printing methods also create high-quality archival prints that will last!
Now that we’ve discussed the difference between original paintings and art prints, let’s talk about what questions to ask when considering which type of art is right for you.
What are your art collecting goals?
The first thing to figure out when deciding whether to buy an original painting or an art print is to understand what your goals are as an art collector. There are many reasons to collect art (hint for a future article… join the mailing list to get notified!) and really, none of them are right or wrong! What matters is finding out why YOU want to collect art. Are you looking for an investment? Do you want art that elicits an emotional response? Are you interested in decorating a certain area of your home or other space? Figuring out your why will help you determine your long-term art collecting goals as well as your short-term goals to reach them.
Knowing what your goals are can help you decide whether you should buy the original painting or an art print of an artwork you like!
What’s your art collecting budget?
Knowing your budget will also help you decide what to get. I strongly recommend setting a budget for art collecting and sticking to it. Typically, buying original paintings will be more expensive than buying art prints. This does vary based on the value of the artist’s work. For example, an art print by a larger artist may be more expensive than an original painting by a smaller artist. The type of print and size of the original painting can also affect the cost. Be mindful of what you want to spend and how each artwork can help you reach your art collecting goals. Also, keep in mind that you don’t have to only collect original paintings or art prints. It may work best for you to have a mix to meet your art needs!
Where will you keep your art collection?
Another important factor to keep in mind is where you want to display or store your art. Buying original art is a larger financial and upkeep investment. Ideally, original paintings should be stored in a climate-controlled area with stable humidity. You should also avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. This will help protect your painting from damage. If you are looking for artwork to put in a room that fits these conditions, then an original painting would be a perfect fit! If you want to put some artwork in your bathroom, 4 Seasons room, or another non-ideal location, buying an art print might be the way to go! That way, if damage happens, you won’t be damaging the original painting. Planning out WHERE you want to put your art can help you decide which option to choose.
What kind of art aesthetic do you want?
Last, but certainly not least, it is important to figure out what kind of aesthetic you want when choosing artwork. Do you want something that pops off the wall? Then an original canvas painting or canvas print might be the right option. Keep in mind that original paintings and other canvases can have different depths. For example, my older paintings have a ¾ in depth, while my newer paintings have a ⅞ in depth. This creates a slimmer profile, while many other artists may use a 1 ½ in depth or larger.
Maybe you want art that blends more seamlessly into the wall. A paper art print or an original painting created on paper (like watercolors) might be the right choice. An art print may also come in more size options to fit your needs. Make sure to also look at the height and length of any art print or original painting and measure it out in the space you’re looking at.
You’ll also want to consider what framing options you want. Different frames have different depths (or Rabbets) that determine what type of artwork can be used for them. You may also decide that you don’t want a frame! And would rather hang the canvas or paper work directly on the wall.
Finally, consider what feeling you want to get from your artwork. While art prints are a great option for all of the reasons mentioned above, there is a different feeling you get when displaying original artwork. The colors are purer, the texture of the brushwork can dance off the painting, and the spirit of a one-of-a-kind item shines in any room.
Think about how you want your artwork to look and feel, and that will help you decide!
