Have you been thinking about buying some art? That’s fantastic.
And perhaps you’re wondering, “should I buy original art or a print?”
That’s a great question. And there are lots of good reasons to go either route.
I’ll start off with a disclaimer: I’m an artist! I want you to buy art!
I wholeheartedly believe art enriches our lives; both our physical lives and intellectual lives.
You deserve that. I deserve that. The cranky person on the bus this morning deserves that.
Now that’s out of the way, let’s get started!
Although you don’t need a specific reason, there are lots of amazing reasons why you might buy art.
Maybe you are looking for a piece of art to be the focal point of your living room, or something soothing and thoughtful for your bedroom, or nostalgic for your office. Maybe you’re looking for a unique gift for someone special. Perhaps you’ve opened a new office, retail space, cafe or restaurant, and need to decorate the walls.
Sometimes you see a piece of art that stops you in your tracks. If that happens to you, I highly recommend you investigate bringing it home.
The purpose of the art plays a role in deciding whether an original or a print is the better choice.
What’s the difference between an original and a print?
Note: There are links below to artists who illustrate the art form listed. I highly encourage you to check them out!
For our purposes, I’ll limit us to the visual arts. Think of this category as containing things you can see and touch, made by another person. (We’re leaving AI out of this conversation. There’s room for it elsewhere.) An original piece of art is usually handmade, and usually one of a kind, although technology is stretching our definitions of both “handmade” and “originals.” Original visual art can include paintings, drawings, sculpture, ceramics, calligraphy, craftwork (a broad category, deserving exploration in its own right), and so many other things that I will surely miss something if I try to list them all.
Prints are reproductions of original art. It could be an art print of an original painting, or a high quality photograph of something 3 dimensional (sculpture, ceramics, etc.). Here’s where the performance arts can be turned into visual art. Because a print is a reproduction, it can be replicated many times. Some artists offer limited edition prints, meaning only a set number of prints are available.
In between are printmaking, photography, and digital art. They exist in the physical world as “prints” by their nature, and can be replicated. There is a strong argument for them being original art all the same.
Is an original painting worth it?
The short answer is yes.
An original painting is an investment in your own sense of beauty, in your own aesthetic and intellectual growth. It will be an item of discussion for as long as you own it. When guests visit, they will ask you about it. When you move through the room that houses it, you’ll glance at it each time. It becomes a part of your life.
An original painting is also likely to increase in value over time, making it a financial investment as well.
Depending on the kind of painting, an original can display textures, reflections, and nuances that a print cannot. It may look different depending on how the light hits it.
That’s certainly true for 3 dimensional work like sculpture, ceramics, or fiberarts. No matter how beautiful the photograph, it does not compare with seeing the item before you, or touching it.
Is a print worth it?
As it turns out, the answer is also yes!
Prints can be as beautiful as original pieces of art. They will bring beauty and discussion into your spaces just as well.
They may also be more sturdy than an original, which you want to take special care to not damage. Of course, you still want to take care to not damage your prints, but if you did, the option exists to purchase a replacement.
Prints also allow for small or fragile pieces of original art to be enjoyed at much larger sizes; or even for large paintings to be enjoyed at a smaller size! I have a postcard of Tom Thompson’s The West Wind that I adore.
A really wonderful thing about prints is they give collectors the opportunity to own art without breaking the bank. Because they are affordable, you can quickly grow a collection by acquiring several prints from the same artist, or different artists.
The exception to prints being more affordable than originals is fine art photography and printmaking.
Both of these art forms may be more costly than reproductions of paintings.
Should I buy original art?
If you’re looking for a unique piece of art that you’ll keep for a long time, an original might be for you.
If you can afford the price of the original, then yes, wholeheartedly you should buy it.
I was at an outdoor art show one summer when a painting caught my eye. I beelined to it. I spent quite a bit of time drinking it in, but felt I couldn’t afford it. So I kept going…and found myself circling back. I did this dance a few times before I realized that I had fallen in love with the painting. It now hangs in my bedroom and is the first thing I see when I open my eyes every morning.
Should I buy an art print?
If you’re looking for a beautiful piece of art, or several pieces of art, but don’t have a large budget, prints might be for you.
There is an artist I admire who makes beautiful images from pressed flowers. I have drooled over her images for a very long time, but couldn’t decide which ones I loved most. One day, I finally saw one that tilted me over the edge. Her originals are fragile and therefore she sells prints.
I purchased a large print (larger than the original piece), which is now framed and hangs in my bathroom where I admire it every time I brush my teeth.
How do I decide whether to buy an original or a print?
Don’t worry, friend. I got you.
Here’s a handy checklist!
Buy an original if…
✅ You can afford it.
✅ It’s something you want to have as part of your home and life
✅ The texture and nuance are hard to reproduce.
✅ You’re looking for an investment piece.
✅ It’s a piece you can’t take your eyes, or heart, from.
Buy a print if…
✅ Your budget is limited.
✅ You need many pieces of art all at once.
✅ You need something that will withstand wear and tear, humidity, etc.
✅ The artist only offers prints.
✅ You can’t decide on just one of the artist’s pieces.
And you can absolutely have a mixture of both!
I wish you much success on your journey as an art collector!
