What you’re buying with an original

An original is the actual piece I painted. The marks, the surface, the little changes of direction along the way: they’re all there on that one physical artwork.

I paint on different surfaces, including canvas and paper, usually starting with black. In person, you may notice the texture of a brushstroke or the way matte black gesso and slightly shinier black acrylic catch the light differently.

Those details are part of the original. There is only one of that particular painting.

If you love the physical object as much as the image, the original might be the one for you.

What you’re buying with a print

A print is a reproduction of an artwork. It lets you enjoy the image without buying the original painting.

That can be a lovely option if the original has sold, if a different size suits your wall, or if you’d simply rather spend less.

A print won’t reproduce every bit of texture or every change in surface sheen. It’s a different object, made from an image of the painting. But the composition, the character and the story can still be there.

Print quality matters, especially with my work. There can be a surprising amount happening between black and white, and I want those greys and shadows to read properly. That’s why preparing and checking reproduction files is important.

Neither choice needs defending

I don’t think there’s a correct way to be an art buyer.

Some people love owning the one original. Others want an image they can enjoy at a price and size that makes sense for their home. Plenty of people own a mixture.

And you don’t need to start collecting art with a grand plan. You can start with one thing that makes you stop and look.

A few practical differences

If you’re comparing an original and a print, check the details of the particular listing rather than assuming they’ll be identical.

Look at the size, the surface or paper, whether the work is framed or unframed, and what is included. An original acrylic painting on canvas will be presented differently from a print on paper. An original painting on paper may need framing too.

It’s also worth checking the exact image shown. Some paintings are offered as originals, some as prints, and sometimes both options are available.

The price difference reflects more than the number of hours I spent painting. With an original, you’re buying the one physical artwork. With a print, you’re buying a reproduction that can be made available to more than one person.

So which would I choose?

I’d choose the one I wanted to live with.

If the original is the thing you keep coming back to, and it’s within your budget, wonderful. If a print is what works for you, equally wonderful.

I make paintings because I enjoy seeing an idea become something physical. I also love the thought of an image finding its way into somebody else’s home, whether that’s as the original or a print.

You don’t need to justify the choice. You just need to like looking at it.