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Original Art and Limited Edition Prints – A Beginner's Guide
Everything you need to know about investing in the perfect type of art for your home
When it comes to buying art, you may wonder whether you should choose an original work or go for a limited edition print. Read on to dispel some myths, understand art-world terminology – and get closer to the art that’s right for you and your space.
Prints point 1: Consider your medium
Prints come in myriads of genres, styles and mediums. When buying, make sure to enquire about which type of print it is. Whether it’s an original screen print, it’s hand finished by the artist, a C-type or a giclée print (a high-quality inkjet print), this will indicate how much of the artist’s impression is evident within the work.
It’s also worth checking what type of paper it’s printed on – this will be reflected in the price of the piece and can influence how it will look when framed. A photograph printed on lustre paper is much more prone to glare and should be kept away from windows, while a matt print on Hahnemhüle paper will absorb the light and have a softer, richer finish. Always enquire with the artist – they will know best and may even be willing to take requests and print to order.
Prints come in myriads of genres, styles and mediums. When buying, make sure to enquire about which type of print it is. Whether it’s an original screen print, it’s hand finished by the artist, a C-type or a giclée print (a high-quality inkjet print), this will indicate how much of the artist’s impression is evident within the work.
It’s also worth checking what type of paper it’s printed on – this will be reflected in the price of the piece and can influence how it will look when framed. A photograph printed on lustre paper is much more prone to glare and should be kept away from windows, while a matt print on Hahnemhüle paper will absorb the light and have a softer, richer finish. Always enquire with the artist – they will know best and may even be willing to take requests and print to order.
Original art point 1: Set your budget
The clue is in the name: original pieces are one of of a kind. Although it’s a myth that ‘good art’ has to be expensive, it’s true that an original piece may come with a larger price tag than a print. When you’re looking to invest in a piece, do set your own budget and if you’re buying at an art fair, negotiate. Whether you can knock off the cost of delivery, or bulk buy from one artist to stretch your budget, every little helps. For works bought online or at an exhibition, the price can tend to be a little less flexible. This is where a budget comes in handy, helping you to set your sights and narrow your search. If in doubt, make use of rental or try-before-you-buy schemes that will let you live with the artwork at home before you commit to buying it – this way you’ll know for sure if it’s right for you. Although not always the case, size is often a factor when it comes to the price of an artwork, so consider the scale you want and what is going to look the best in your space.
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The clue is in the name: original pieces are one of of a kind. Although it’s a myth that ‘good art’ has to be expensive, it’s true that an original piece may come with a larger price tag than a print. When you’re looking to invest in a piece, do set your own budget and if you’re buying at an art fair, negotiate. Whether you can knock off the cost of delivery, or bulk buy from one artist to stretch your budget, every little helps. For works bought online or at an exhibition, the price can tend to be a little less flexible. This is where a budget comes in handy, helping you to set your sights and narrow your search. If in doubt, make use of rental or try-before-you-buy schemes that will let you live with the artwork at home before you commit to buying it – this way you’ll know for sure if it’s right for you. Although not always the case, size is often a factor when it comes to the price of an artwork, so consider the scale you want and what is going to look the best in your space.
10 times artwork shaped a room’s décor and how yours can, too
Prints point 2: Kick-start your collection
For anyone aiming to start their own art collection, investing in prints is a great way to begin. This diverse medium has plenty to offer in terms of sizing, price range and genre. From timeless pop-art prints to contemporary abstracts, you’re sure to find a piece to fall in love with. Online art galleries are especially helpful when it comes to filtering your search and making a beeline straight to the art you’re looking for. And, if you’re still not sure, there should be a curator you can contact to point you in the right direction and clear up any queries you might have.
For anyone aiming to start their own art collection, investing in prints is a great way to begin. This diverse medium has plenty to offer in terms of sizing, price range and genre. From timeless pop-art prints to contemporary abstracts, you’re sure to find a piece to fall in love with. Online art galleries are especially helpful when it comes to filtering your search and making a beeline straight to the art you’re looking for. And, if you’re still not sure, there should be a curator you can contact to point you in the right direction and clear up any queries you might have.
Original art point 2: Preview the work
When you’re making an investment like this, you’re going to want to be sure you’re buying an original piece that you will love for a lifetime. Online galleries will offer plenty of schemes to help you overcome any inertia, whether it’s shipping the work into a gallery so you can preview it before you purchase or allowing you to rent the work and try it at home for a percentage of the price. Capitalise on all of these schemes and you’ll know for sure that the piece is right for you.
When you’re making an investment like this, you’re going to want to be sure you’re buying an original piece that you will love for a lifetime. Online galleries will offer plenty of schemes to help you overcome any inertia, whether it’s shipping the work into a gallery so you can preview it before you purchase or allowing you to rent the work and try it at home for a percentage of the price. Capitalise on all of these schemes and you’ll know for sure that the piece is right for you.
Prints point 3: Think about the size of the edition
When buying a print, you should always consider the size of the edition. The price of the piece should be reflected in this, depending upon the stature of the artist. In theory, a print from an edition of more than 100 should be worth less than one of a smaller edition. Bear this in mind when you’re hunting for the works you want, and remember that the lower the edition number, the higher value it will be.
If it’s the bee’s knees of the print world you’re looking for, investing in an Artist’s Proof is well worth the money. This is a print the printmaker creates for the artist. It will be marked with ‘AP’ instead of a number.
When buying a print, you should always consider the size of the edition. The price of the piece should be reflected in this, depending upon the stature of the artist. In theory, a print from an edition of more than 100 should be worth less than one of a smaller edition. Bear this in mind when you’re hunting for the works you want, and remember that the lower the edition number, the higher value it will be.
If it’s the bee’s knees of the print world you’re looking for, investing in an Artist’s Proof is well worth the money. This is a print the printmaker creates for the artist. It will be marked with ‘AP’ instead of a number.
Original art point 3: Support emerging talent
When it comes to buying original art, prices can soar pretty quickly. One way to discover unique, original art that might not break the bank is to hunt out emerging artists by attending graduate shows, art fairs and pop-up exhibitions and contact the artists you love to enquire about their work. Not only will this help you access undiscovered works, but there’s the added potential of the work increasing in value over time – you may end up buying an investment piece without even realising it! This statement sculptural work is by one of our artists, Charlotte Jonerheim, a London-based Swedish artist who is making a name for herself in the contemporary art world. There’s a constant stream of fresh artistic talent to discover, so keep your eye out for new stars.
When it comes to buying original art, prices can soar pretty quickly. One way to discover unique, original art that might not break the bank is to hunt out emerging artists by attending graduate shows, art fairs and pop-up exhibitions and contact the artists you love to enquire about their work. Not only will this help you access undiscovered works, but there’s the added potential of the work increasing in value over time – you may end up buying an investment piece without even realising it! This statement sculptural work is by one of our artists, Charlotte Jonerheim, a London-based Swedish artist who is making a name for herself in the contemporary art world. There’s a constant stream of fresh artistic talent to discover, so keep your eye out for new stars.
Prints point 4: Try a print of an original
For the best of both worlds at a price that you can actually smile about, investing in a replica print of a favourite original is a great way to get the art you’ve always wanted up on your wall. Whether it’s a piece from a deceased established artist or a contemporary talent that’s just out of your budget, this kind of print will only set you back a fraction of the price of the original.
For the best of both worlds at a price that you can actually smile about, investing in a replica print of a favourite original is a great way to get the art you’ve always wanted up on your wall. Whether it’s a piece from a deceased established artist or a contemporary talent that’s just out of your budget, this kind of print will only set you back a fraction of the price of the original.
Original art point 4: Search offline and online
The blanket term of original art is expansive at best, covering the mediums of sculpture, painting, drawing and beyond. We advise looking online and offline in your hunt for artworks to suit your space and tickle your fancy. Walking around fairs or galleries will give you the opportunity to see works in the flesh, which is especially handy if sculpture or installation art is your thing, but with plenty of online galleries now offering you a glimpse of pieces in situ – be it in the home or at a gallery – you’ll still be able to get a good impression of how the work might suit your space.
The blanket term of original art is expansive at best, covering the mediums of sculpture, painting, drawing and beyond. We advise looking online and offline in your hunt for artworks to suit your space and tickle your fancy. Walking around fairs or galleries will give you the opportunity to see works in the flesh, which is especially handy if sculpture or installation art is your thing, but with plenty of online galleries now offering you a glimpse of pieces in situ – be it in the home or at a gallery – you’ll still be able to get a good impression of how the work might suit your space.
Prints point 5: Frame or not to frame
When buying a print, it’s always worth checking whether the work is already framed, or if you’re going to need to tackle this yourself. They are often available to purchase framed, which adds an element of ease, allowing you to get that work you love straight from the fair or artist’s studio onto your wall. However, if you’re investing in a limited edition of 100 or you’ve discovered a work from an artist living across the globe, there’s a good chance the work will arrive rolled in a tube. This means you’ll need to decide how you want your piece framed. Consider the mood and furnishings within your room because this will help you establish what material and colour of frame you should choose.
The next choice will be how you mount your work. Whether it’s a window mount to create depth or a float mount to highlight the edge of your work, there will be a correct mount for any piece – simply speak to your framer if you’re unsure.
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Do you own any original art or a limited edition print? Tell us what made you buy it in the Comments below.
When buying a print, it’s always worth checking whether the work is already framed, or if you’re going to need to tackle this yourself. They are often available to purchase framed, which adds an element of ease, allowing you to get that work you love straight from the fair or artist’s studio onto your wall. However, if you’re investing in a limited edition of 100 or you’ve discovered a work from an artist living across the globe, there’s a good chance the work will arrive rolled in a tube. This means you’ll need to decide how you want your piece framed. Consider the mood and furnishings within your room because this will help you establish what material and colour of frame you should choose.
The next choice will be how you mount your work. Whether it’s a window mount to create depth or a float mount to highlight the edge of your work, there will be a correct mount for any piece – simply speak to your framer if you’re unsure.
12 inventive ways to display your art
Do you own any original art or a limited edition print? Tell us what made you buy it in the Comments below.
Whether you’re looking for an original piece or a limited edition print, it’s worth investing a little time researching before you commit to a purchase. There are countless motivations that move us to buy a piece of art, which is why it’s a good idea to compile a checklist of priorities to make sure the work you find is right for you. Be it the candour of the artist, the sheer beauty of the piece, its collective value or purely its aesthetic, the piece needs to speak to you for all the right reasons. When your search is complete and you’ve found the artwork you love, check that it’s been signed by the artist, and numbered if it’s a limited edition print. This will guarantee the authenticity of the work and ensure that you’ll be happy with your piece for years to come.