comparison of original hand painted watercolor of a mountain landscape with a fine art print of the same painting.

Watercolor Art Prints Vs Original Paintings: What is the Best Choice for You?

By Krystal KennedyMay 27, 2025

Are you a collector/customer trying to decide whether to invest in an original paintings or to buy a high-quality art print? Or are you an artist trying to decide the best method for selling your art? Either way, knowing the key differences between art prints and original pieces is important for making the right decision.

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

An original painting is truly one-of-a-kind. Even if the artist recreates the painting many times, each one will be slightly different due to the nature of painting. There will ultimately be different brush strokes, slight differences in color, scale, etc. It will never be an exact match. Because they are one-of-a-kind, an original painting has more value, and is typically a larger investment.

On the other hand, a print is a reproduction of an original piece of art. There are many different types of prints, but they are all more affordable than an original. Some prints resemble the original so closely, that it can be difficult to tell the difference between the two. Other times, the differences are much more obvious, whether intentional or not.

Side by side comparison of an original painting and a fine art print of an open book on a windowsill with landscape view out the window.

This is an example where the color of the print is noticeably different from the original. While they are very different, I like both. I love the softness and the glow in the original, but the sharpness in the print gives a different feel.

Here's an example where the original and print are a closer match in color, etc. You can see more of the paper texture in the original, though the print will have some texture since it will be printed on textured paper. The original is also signed, while the print is not.

For the Customer/Collector: Pros and Cons of Original Paintings and Art Prints

Value - Original Paintings are more valuable and Art Prints are more affordable

Original paintings are one-of-a-kind and more of a collectible. If you want to own a unique, on-of-a-kind painting, you can expect to pay quite a bit more for it. You are not only paying for the time the artist took to create that painting, but also all the time they have spent up to that point, building their skills and crafting their unique style. There is great value in owning the original piece of art with the artist's brush strokes and texture.

There are many different types of prints, and the value of a print depends on the materials and processes used to create the print. A good-quality print will use high-quality paper and archival inks to create a long lasting print. Regardless of how they are made, art prints are a much more budget friendly option for supporting artists and adding unique art to your home or gift giving. Art prints are considerably lower in cost than an original painting.

Accessibility - Original Paintings have lower inventory and Art Prints can reach more customers

Original paintings are truly one-of-a-kind Once sold, it's gone for good. You may be able to find similar paintings or prints of the original, but there will only ever be one true original.

Art prints are more affordable and are therefor accessible to more people. You may find a piece that you love, but the original painting is far out of your budget. A high-quality art print is a great way to support that artist and get a piece of art that you love without having to break the bank.

How are art prints created?

The original art is scanned or photographed to create the print. Usually, some minor editing is required to get the image as close to matching the original painting as possible. This is not always an easy process. Especially with watercolor, it can be incredibly difficult for certain colors and values to pick up on a scan or photograph. Some of my prints look so much like the original, I can't always tell which is the original and which is the print at first glance. Other times, the print is noticeably different from the original, though not necessarily in a bad way. Sometimes, a print may have variation in color on purpose. When creating a reproduction of the original, artists can make adjustments to the color, shape, etc to create a more unique piece of art based on the original.

When purchasing an art print, be sure to check the description, so you know exactly how your print is created. Some artists have their prints created at a professional printing company. Some print their own prints at home with a high end printer that uses the same pigment-based inks that professional printers use. Others may print their prints at home using a regular dye-based inkjet printer. Depending on what you are looking for, all are fair options, but it is helpful to know what to expect. A high-quality, long-lasting print typically uses archival pigment-based inks. There is nothing wrong with dye-based inks, but they don't typically last as long, and you should expect to pay less for those prints than one made with longer lasting pigment-based inks.

My prints are all currently printed with a professional printer who prints high-quality, archival Giclee prints. (Giclee just refers to the process of printing that results in high-quality print using high resolution, archival paper and pigment based inks). I have my pieces printed on textured paper that closely resembles my watercolor paper. This ensures that they give the same feel as an original might. They are created to last a long time and are a higher quality print than some, which is reflected in their cost.

Open Edition Prints, Limited Edition Prints, and Embellished Prints

Another thing to be aware of when deciding whether to purchase prints is the difference between an open edition print run, a limited edition print run, and embellished prints. Open edition prints are prints that are made indefinitely, for as long as the artist wants. There is no limit on the amount of prints that they can/will sell. If they sell out of what they have available, they can print more. These types of prints are the most affordable. Limited Edition prints are limited in the amount of prints available. The artist decides how many prints will be available for purchase and they are typically numbered. Once the limited number of prints are sold, no more can/will be sold. These are more valuable than open ended prints, because of the limited quantity available. Finally, embellished prints are those that have hand-painted touches added to them. A common use for embellished prints is to add metallic or glitter elements. These elements do not typically translate well in a scan

A comparison chart of original art and art prints from a buyers perspective.

For the Artist: Pros and Cons of Original Paintings and Art Prints

As an artist, you may be trying to figure out what is the best way to sell your art. Do you want to focus on original paintings, high-quality prints, or a combination of both?

Value - Original Paintings are more valuable, but more opportunity with Art Prints

Original art has a higher value and higher price point. You will make more per painting. These may appeal more to collectors and serious buyers of art.

Art prints are lower in value than an original painting, but there is an opportunity for scalable income from one painting! When you have multiple pieces, this increases exponentially.

Audience - More connection with original paintings, but larger audience with Art Prints.

When selling originals, each sale may feel more personal and meaningful. You may have the opportunity to talk with your customer about what drew them to that painting and why they have to have it. It makes the sale more special.

Art prints allow you reach a larger audience with lower price points. Many people may want to support you and your art, but they can't always afford the investment of an original. That doesn't mean that they don't understand the value of your work. It may just be out of reach for them. Selling high-quality prints gives them the opportunity to support your art in a way that is more affordable for them.

Inventory - Limited inventory with Original Art, but more options with Art Prints at a price.

When selling original paintings, you can only sell what you have available. If your paintings take a considerable amount of time to paint, you will have less opportunities to sell your art. There is also only one of each painting. Once it's sold, it's gone. Your inventory is limited to what you are able to paint. You can't sell what you don't have.

With Art prints, you have many more options for inventory. You can reproduce an original painting in an assortment of sizes. You can have open ended print runs or you can limit them to create some exclusivity. Creating prints also opens the door for adding your art to merchandise and creating passive income. You can use print on demand sites or work to get your art licensed and placed on an assortment of products, though you have less control over the quality of the final product if you go this route.

Added Costs - What are the costs of creating/stocking prints for sale?

Another thing to consider when deciding whether to add prints to your inventory is the upfront cost. Depending on how/where you are selling your prints, you may need to have inventory on hand. For example, I sell my art at vendor events and like to have a couple of each print on hand to display and sell. I don't buy 20+ of each print (that adds up quickly!), but I like to have 1-3 of each print until I see which ones sell the best.

You will also need to consider whether you can/want to print your prints at home or outsource to a professional printer. When deciding whether to print at home or outsource, be sure to research the different methods for creating prints. A good high-quality print uses archival, pigment-based inks, which are not typically used in standard inkjet printers. There are several high end printers that use pigment-based inks and can be useful for creating high-quality art prints. There is always the option of using standard inkjet printers and dye-based inks, but the value of those prints will be much lower, and the price should reflect that. Depending on the amount of ink cartridges in your printer, you may also struggle to get the correct colors in your prints. High-end printers typically use a larger variety of inks for their prints, allowing for more accurate colors.

Printing at home allows for better quality control, and makes it easier to make any necessary adjustments. It also gives you the ability to print on demand when someone places an order instead of guessing how many prints you may need at any given time. I currently outsource my printing to a professional Giclee art printer, but I hope to one day get a high end printer to print at home. The cost per print is higher with a professional printer, and it does take several weeks for prints to arrive if the professional printer is not local to you. Purchasing a high end printer for home use has a higher up front cost. These are all things to consider when deciding which route to go.

Different Types of Prints - Open Edition, Limited Edition and Embellished Prints

When creating your prints, you can choose between open ended print runs, limited print runs, and embellished prints, or some combination of these. Open ended print runs allow for an unlimited amount of prints to be created and are typically the lowest priced print option. Limited print runs are limited in the number of prints available. You, as the artist, will decide how many prints you want to include in the limited print run, and they are typically numbered. Once you've sold those limited prints, they are gone. This is a great option if you want to create exclusivity, similar to that of an original painting. Limited print runs typically have a higher value because of the limited amount available. Finally, you can also offer embellished prints. These are prints that you hand paint or embellish in some other way which makes each piece unique. I've often used embellished prints when adding metallic or glitter accents that don't translate well when printing. The added embellishments add value to the print, making it closer to an original in value.

A comparison chart of the differences between original art and art prints from an artists perspective.

Final Thoughts

There is no right or wrong choice. It is all dependent on your goals and needs. As a buyer, you may choose to invest in an original painting if the piece speaks to you on an emotional level or if you want a unique, one of a kind piece of art for yourself or someone close to you. A print may be more suitable when looking for home decor, gifts, and/or budget friendly ways to support an artist you like.

As an artist, originals can help build your customer base and reputation. If you want your art to be more accessible, you may want to include options in various price tiers. A combination of originals and different types of prints may work best in that situation. Ultimately, it is up to you and what your goals are. I know several artists who only sell originals. Some sell originals and limited run prints. Some, like myself, sell a combination of original paintings, open ended prints, cards and more.

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Do you have a preference of original paintings or art prints? Are you a buyer or an artist...or both?

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