What is a Print v. an Original?

Can you tell which is a print and which is an original piece? Let’s find out.

First, let's define "original."

An original piece is a handmade, final iteration of a work of art.

For me, this means I’ve sourced and authenticated a bag, cut it to size, mounted the canvas, sketched the shape, applied gesso, sanded the surface where the painting will go, and then painted, sealed, and finally framed it.

In the end, I’ve created an original piece of art.

Okay, but what is a print?

A print is a reproduction of an original piece. This can mean different things to different artists. For me, I create my prints in-house on archival Hahnemühle bamboo paper, which is (most often) true to the original size.

This means I’ve photographed my original piece, edited it in Adobe Lightroom to make it as close to perfect as possible, and then printed it on archival, museum-quality premium paper. (Honestly, I go through anywhere from 5 to 10 edits and tests before I get a reproduction I’m happy with.)

When framed, my prints are practically identical to the originals—only lacking the original texture.

Did you figure it out?

The artwork featured is my Ornate Bella Moth Original. There are no prints available for this piece (this is a test print for blog purposes). 

Please message or email me if you have any additional questions - I am happy to help! 

xo,