What is the difference between an original painting and a print?

"Arteon"; a stag print.

I'm often asked what is  the difference between a print and an original.
Sometimes the quality of a print is so good, it looks like an original.
What do artists even mean by an original?
So this blog is here to help. 
Don't let the terms artists and galleries  use put you off buying something you love.
Here's my guide to help you understand exactly what you're buying.

Printing processes are so sophisticated now that if you've seen one of my prints, you'd be forgiven for thinking they are paintings. 
So I thought it was time to explain what's what?

What is a print?
A print is a reproduction or copy of an original work of art.
In my case, the printing company, or publishers, take my original oil painting and scan it. This gives them a much much higher resolution image that a photograph.
They send painting back to me and I can choose to keep it in my own collection or sell it. (more on this later).
From their high resolution scan they create sophisticated copies of the image.
The image is an accurate reproduction of the painting.

So what is meant by an original?
An original painting is the painting created by the artist.
There is only one original of any image.
I can paint as many different stags as I like, but every single painting is unique. 
If I paint a particular stag, and this gets turned into a print, every print will be the same, but the original is how it started. There is only one original painting, and it is unique.

So this can get confusing, as what if you want to buy the original of a print you've seen?
There's only one. So if it's already sold, or not for sale then you can't have it! 
But you could commission me to create an original painting. I never copy my own work, as you have leave some space for the magic to happen, but if you want a painting, not a print, that is possible. It takes time and it costs a lot more...but that's part of the joy of having an original painting.

 What if I can see your signature on it, does that mean it's the original not a print?
No.
The signature is included in the reproduction process, so it will be on the print as well as on the original

I can see the brushstrokes, does that mean it's the original?
No.
The reproduction process can include very sophisticated finishing gels which create a brushstroke effect

So how can I tell if what I'm about to buy is an original painting not a print?
​This isn't necessarily the case for every artist, but here are couple of things that will help and is true of my work.
1. How much is it?
My most popular print is Hugo the colourful elephant. The biggest version of Hugo as a print is 116cm square, in a frame and he retails for around £250 including the frame.
Original paintings of mine, over 100cm square are usually in excess of £1500. 
My much smaller prints at say 40x40cm are usually under £50, a painting at that size would be closer to £500.
So price can be a big indicator.

2. Where is it?
I supply only a handful of galleries with my original paintings, whereas my publishers supply my prints across the UK and Ireland.
If my images are in a garden centre, a department store or a furniture store, it will be a print.

So is having a print a bad thing then?
Absolutely not. It's a great way of having a striking piece of art at a fraction of the price.
My prints are beautifully produced and presented, they are highly decorative and great value for money.
If you love an image and the only way you can afford it is to have a print then go ahead and buy it and enjoy it. 

I've heard people talk about giclée prints. What are they and are they better?
Giclée is a french term from the verb gicler and literally means to squirt or splatter. So it's just an arty term for inkjet!

So if the print is so good, why do people buy original paintings which are way more expensive?
An original painting will last a lifetime.
Actually more than a lifetime.
My oil paintings, if taken care of, will outlast you and me. They can be become family heirlooms.
Some people want ‘the one an only’. So even if you have the original painting of something that exists as a print, you still have the one.
Some people are investing in art, or want their painting to have re-sale value. 
Even though I love the quality of my prints, there is still something quite magical and special about original artwork.
When you buy an original painting you are part of the process; the artist has worked on the painting for weeks, even months sometimes and you are completing that very special process. You are part of the magic.

This is my publishers stand at the Spring Fair at the NEC in 2020 just before the pandemic hit. Everything you see here is a print!

This is my stand at Windsor Art fair. There is a framed print at the front on the left, and some prints in the browser on the right. But all the big paintings on the wall are originals!