Are Limited Edition Prints Worth Anything? (2021)
Are Limited Edition Prints Worth Anything?
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In this blog blue green girl creations demystifies all your choices with wall art. There are so many options to choose from; original paintings, limited edition prints, reproduction prints and more. We are ask the question; are wall art prints worth anything?
And we match up original art vs limited edition prints!
Before we talk specifically about Limited Edition Prints and their value, I need to set the scene so things are relatable.
Have you been to an art market or an art gallery and you see the most sublime painting?………………
You can’t take your eyes off it; it’s your favourite subject, and the colours are breath-taking.
The painting would be a perfect choice for that empty space. You become emotionally invested as you mesmerizingly stare into the depths of the painting. Your trance is suddenly halted when you see the price and tragically realise that you just can’t afford it because the piece is an original painting.
You question in your head, “Why does this painting cost so much?”
The answer to this question is layered, involved and sometimes controversial.
The artist has spent many hours creating and nurturing this painting. Additionally, people often don’t consider, the countless hours that the artist has been honing their craftsmanship and developing their style.
Furthermore it is the unpaid work of behind the scenes of business fundamentals and the unpredictable seasonal income that an artist earns. All of these components make up the price of an art piece.
Your mind focuses again in the gallery and you then realise that there are copies of this painting for sale, they are “limited edition prints.” You still can get your perfect art for your wall, but you ask yourself,
“What are these prints?”
What are limited edition prints?
These are art prints that are produced by or for the artist from an original painting or artwork. When purchasing artwork, it is important to distinguish what type you are buying and what that entails. Ask yourself, is that man in a red beret on the Paris back streets selling originals like he told me or are they copies? There are 4 different types of 2D artwork that can be bought.
Gum Blossom Limited Edition Prints
Hop on over here to see all the print size options of this Australian Flora print from my original oil painting.
Types of 2D Artwork associated with Limited Edition Prints
1. Original art piece – e.g. Painting or drawing
2. Limited edition prints – These are a limited number, reproduction print made from the original art piece, by an artist. There are other prerequisites that make this reproduction differentiate from the other types of prints that will be discussed later.
3. Reproduction prints – These are prints made by an artist of the original art piece but with no limit to the amount of prints. Plus, they don’t include a signature.
4. Poster prints – Poster prints are produced without number restrictions and are mass produced with quality issues.
If you have the money to invest in an original art piece, it is always recommended to buy the original painting over the limited edition print. Emerging artist’s original wall art, can be purchased for reasonable prices before their popularity increases. I (Natalie Blackman - artist behind - blue green girl creations) am continually producing original paintings and they can be found here. The investment of an original painting will yield a better outcome and the quality and appearance will be superior. There is nothing like a statement oil or acrylic painting hanging on your wall.
The prestige of owning an original art piece cannot be surpassed.
original painting vs limited edition prints
However, if you cannot afford an original art piece , investing in a limited edition print or wall art print is the next best thing. You still, get to see this sublime artwork in your space. While the outcome of the investment will not be as much as the original piece, a limited edition print usually retains or increases in value.
There are certain qualities that make this print, a limited edition print. Without these stipulations, the print will be known as a reproduction or a poster print. These prints are not worth as much as the limited edition and in some cases such as the poster print; not worth the original purchase price once you take possession of it. Poster prints are mass produced by multinational companies and lack quality and are not unique because of the great numbers that are produced. They may be found in many houses and work places around the world but, they don’t possess any uniqueness. Even though the characteristics of the different art categories justify the pricing of art, art in any form has a positive effect on the brain.
If, the framed painting that your 2 year old son lovingly created brings you joy, then the happy chemicals are flowing and results in mental calm.
All art is good for mental health, even children’s art
How many prints in a limited edition?
The piece of art is classed as a limited edition print, if there are only 200 or less reproductions of the original artwork. This will be indicated on the front or back of the art piece. It is also considered that the value of your print is worth more if it is a lower number in the print run. The print run for Blue Green Girl Creations “Gum Blossom” print is an Australian botanical print that has a lower than 200 copy run. I sign and number my prints on the back of the artwork. My aim in creating this art piece was to create a feeling of calmness. Click here to see if this artwork evokes this feeling for you.
Where is the art print signed on the limited edition print?
With regards to a limited edition print, the artist can sign and number the print on either the front or the back of the artwork. Some artists will date the signature as well.
How are limited edition prints made?
The artist reproduces the print from the original art piece, either in-house or out. The artist will photograph or scan the piece and either print out on cardstock in studio or outsource to a printing company. Quality of the materials and inks are always considered with the finished product.
Are limited edition prints valuable?
Yes, limited edition prints are more valuable than a reproduction print or a poster print. They are of value, if the art print are signed and numbered on either the front or back. Additionally, they need to be 200 or less in number. Also take into consideration the quality of materials used to reproduce this art piece. Limited edition art prints usually hold or increase their value. If you purchase an emerging artist’s print, that value will increase more greatly over time and could be a wise investment.
At the end of the day, when you purchase a limited edition print, you are supporting a small art business directly.
When comparing Homo sapiens and animals, they say that art is one of the most obvious differentiating factors . Art and culture viewing and creating is like a natural drug, your mental health will thank you for it. Don’t forget to immerse yourself in art regularly.
According to Katie Tipton who wrote in her blog How does art affect us? – Arts on the Brain (emory.edu) May, 2020. The brain produces “dopamine when shown art via a study at Emory (Eastman, 2011)………So, looking at art may actually be a reward from our brain’s point of view!”
Decorate your space with the art that you love; originals or limited edition prints.
Thank you for reading right to the end. Tell me in the comments, do you have an original painting or limited edition print that you love and where is it hanging? What special meaning does it hold for you? If you would like to find out more about me - the artist and author of this blog, click this word!
Have a creative day.
Gum Blossom Limited Edition Print by Natalie Blackman Blue Green Girl Creations - Copyright