How Can A Print Be An Original Piece Of Art?

14 August 2023

One question I am often asked is whether a print is really an original artwork. People hear the word ‘print’ and assume it involves a labour-saving mechanical process. One where hundreds if not thousands of copies of the same image are printed all at once.

An original print is something quite different. Let me shed some light on this intriguing subject. As an artist specialising in creating contemporary landscape and seascape art prints.

Are you the kind of person intrigued by the creative process of making art? Is the artist's involvement from start to finish an important part of your purchasing decision? Selecting art is very personal. You want to find pieces that resonate, that tell a story or evoke an emotion. Art creates a sense of place and identity in your home.

But what exactly makes a print different from an original painting or drawing? The answer lies in understanding the intricate nuances of the printmaking process.

Printmaking is a fascinating art form in itself. It involves skill, passion for the art form and experience. The artist creates an image on an original matrix or plate. That is then transferred onto paper or another substrate. Most printmakers choose a printmaking media that is their favourite to specialise in. These include monotype, collagraph, etching, lithography, screen printing, or linocut. The printmaker inks up by hand and interprets the marks they have made on the plate with coloured inks. The artist imbues their vision and skill in the resulting print.

So, is a print an original? The answer is, YES! If the artist makes printed artwork from concept to completion. The artist's print is a unique. It has its own character, influenced by the medium and the choices the artist makes during the printing process.

There is also a distinction between an original print and a handmade limited edition. Some original prints are one-off works of art like a painting. A limited edition is a set number of prints made from the same matrix or plate. The artist inks up a plate by hand each time. The artist aims to replicate the same image with the same colour palette by hand. This is a very skilled and time-consuming process.

Occasionally, a limited edition is called a variable edition. Despite using the same plate to make a print, the artist creates unique prints each time. One that the artist cannot repeat exactly even when they use the same colour palette. This is the way I work. The artist signs and numbers each print, adding a level of exclusivity and authenticity. The total number of prints created from the original plate is limited, to maintain the value of each individual print.

When you choose to bring an original print into your space, you are not acquiring a reproduction. You are investing in a unique work of art. You're supporting the artist's creative journey.

You can explore my detailed process here and here. I hope you gain a deeper understanding of the care, skill, and intention that goes into each print I create. Whether it's the choice of materials, the selection of colours, or the way I capture the wild beauty of the West Coast of Scotland, or the Northumbrian landscape, every step is a deliberate effort to create something meaningful and evocative.

You might also wonder how you can tell an original from a reproduction. One indication that a print is an original is the fact that there is a slight indent around the edges of the image. This is where the plate came in contact with the paper under pressure. Some prints will not have this indent if the image has been printed to the edge of the sheet of paper. It will usually have a deckled edge rather than straight machine-cut edging though.

The question of whether a print is an original boils down to how we define originality in the context of art. It's about recognising the value of a printmaking process. Next time you consider adding a print to your space, remember that it's more than a piece of paper with colours on it. It's a bridge between the artist's vision and your appreciation.