One of the questions I am asked most often is the difference between buying an original painting and buying a print of it. The answer is more interesting than most people expect.

What an original painting is

An original alcohol ink painting is made on yupo paper where the inks moved in their particular way on that particular day. That movement cannot be recreated. Each original is genuinely unique not as a marketing claim but as a literal fact of how the medium works. To understand why the medium works this way, read my post on what alcohol ink art is and why it feels different to live with.

What a fine art print is

A fine art print is a high-quality reproduction made using archival inks on archival paper. My fine art paper prints are printed on 310gsm cotton rag paper using pigment inks rated for 200 years of light fastness. For a full comparison of canvas prints vs paper prints, read my canvas vs paper prints guide.

The practical differences

Price is the most obvious difference. Originals are priced at £300. Fine art paper prints start from £45 and canvas prints from £32. Availability is the second difference. Each original exists once. Prints can be ordered at any time in multiple sizes. For sizing guidance, read my room by room size guide.

What is the experience of living with each?

People who buy originals consistently describe a quality to living with them that they did not anticipate. People who buy fine art prints describe a similar experience, particularly with larger prints on quality archival paper. You can read real collector stories in my post on the paintings that found their homes.

Which should you buy?

If an original is within your budget and there is one that calls to you, buy it. If budget is a consideration, fine art prints give you access to the same work at a price that makes it possible to make your whole home feel the way you want it to feel. Read my post on why homes feel flat for more on how a painting changes a room regardless of format. There is no lesser choice here. The right painting on your wall, in whatever form brings it there, is what matters.

Explore the full collection of canvas prints, fine art prints and originals here. I cannot wait to see you there.