3 Reasons to Buy Original Art
Around our house we have scores of original art. A major bonus of marrying an artist. Portraits, landscapes, abstracts and more fill our walls. Each piece has a story. Each piece calls the viewer to discover the story being told. Some of the stories a work of art tells comes from how it is made. Questions like; “Oils or acrylic? Wood or canvas? Print or original?” These questions help to add more to the story of a piece. The question of “print or original” significantly changes the story. In this article I will explore the key reasons to buy original art and how embracing original work may actually change the way you understand creativity.
Rare Beauty.
For something to be beautiful does it need to be rare? This is the heart of original art. An original is like no other. The work of art is unique, limited, mysterious, and dare I say beautiful. A work of art that may not be particularly visually appealing gains beauty or a gaze of appreciation by being rare. Art museums are not filled with prints, they are filled with treasure. Aye! Treasure is mysterious and rare. This is the nature of original artwork. The logical end of the creative process is what is revealed in original work. There is nothing else like the beginning inspiration that the artist creates. This is a much different story than a wall print from a Hobby Lobby. The print work is perhaps unrecognizable from the original. In the face of mass production original art says, “I am enough.” The viewer may enjoy the piece right where the artist left off and that brings us to the next reason to buy original art.
Sacred Presence.
If there is something beautiful about originality there is something spectacular about the presence of the master in the room. An original work of art has “beheld the master’s face” as the artist works their craft. The actual piece hanging in the room is the piece the artist spent hours developing. The sacred presence of the artist has touched the work with the gift of creative expression. Several years ago I stood in front of “Woman with a Parasol” by Claude Monet. This was Monet’s original work and I could sense the presence of the master in the room. The great gift of original artwork is to participate in the continued story of the piece. The story does not end when the artist makes their last mark. The story of the art continues in the hands of the patron. A connection is made between the artist and the lover of art. This brings us to the final reason to buy original art.
Essential Relationship.
What is art without connection to the creator? A worthy question to ponder. Original artwork connects you with the soul of the piece. This happens because you are connecting with the creator of the artwork themselves. In our digital age it is essential to reclaim our creative inspiration. “Creativity begets creativity”-Anonymous (okay, it was me.) Knowing an artist personally and enjoying their original work may just inspire the creative life in you. As mentioned above, you also become part of the piece’s story. You may own an original that you pass down for generations and have wonderful stories to tell along with it. This is all possible when investing in original art.
A few final notes before I conclude:
There are also secondary reasons to buy original art. For example, the texture and color preserved in print will not be like the original. Even if the print was nearly identical the question is not about looking like the original but is it the original? If you are purchasing a print painting there is especially a high chance the brush strokes will not be represented and the colors will be “off.” Even with new technologies capable of highly detailed prints there is nothing like the careful detail and wear of an original piece.
Additionally, because originals are one of a kind they are also more valuable. Yes, they are typically more expensive than your basic print but the benefits of an original are worth the cost. You may purchase a print for $20 and then moment you walk out of the store it is worth $10. Original artwork holds its value. Some original work may even appreciate in value as an artist progresses in their career. Make yourself a real investment and buy original.
Conclusion
The next time you consider, “print or original?” I hope you will see how the answer can change the story. Original work is beautifully rare, full of sacred presence, and essentially relational. Owning original work may seem intimidating at first but the benefits are immense. Local artists love to hear from curious buyers even just to learn about the world of fine art. Find a piece that touches your heart and take a step to own an original. You may discover inspiration hanging on your walls very soon.
God speed,
Carson
