Original Painting or Limited Edition Print? How to Choose

Here's my honest answer: it depends on the wall, the room and the budget, not on which one is "better". An original is the one and only, with every layer of paint you can see up close. A limited edition print gives you the same energy and colour for a fraction of the price.

Let's work out which one is right for you.

What's the real difference?

An original is the painting I made with my own hands, layer by layer. There is only one, and once it's sold, it's gone. You can see the ridges of paint, the tiny details and the base layer peeking through.

Photo above: Building up the layers of an original painting in my studio.

A limited edition print is a museum-quality reproduction of that painting, printed on archival canvas or cotton paper. Mine are limited to 10 per size and come with a certificate of authenticity.

How do the prices compare?

My originals are usually around two and a half to three times the price of a limited edition print of the same artwork. For many people, that's the deciding factor, as budgets are determined for personal reasons.

Choose an original if...

• The art is going in your most visual space: the entry, the lounge, above the dining table
• You believe in true art collection: wanting something nobody else in the world has
• You love texture and want to see the brushwork up close
• You'd like a piece that tells your story (that's where a commission comes in)

Photo above: Anna with the original "Wild Child".

Choose a limited edition print if...

• You love a painting that has already sold as an original
• You're dressing several rooms at once, like bedrooms or a study
• You want the right size for your wall, since prints come in several sizes
• Your budget is stretched after a renovation (very normal, by the way)

Photo above: "Avalonia Sunrise Full Landscape" above an extra wide sofa.

Can I mix originals and prints?

Absolutely, and it's what many of my collectors do. A common approach: one original as the statement piece in the lounge or entry, then limited edition prints in bedrooms and quieter spaces, picking up colours from cushions and bed linen. The whole house feels connected.

Photo above: A limited edition print of "A Sepia Sanctuary", framed and ready to hang.

What if my favourite original has sold?

This happens a lot. Most of my sold originals are available as limited edition prints, in a range of sizes. Depending on where you live, I can sometimes hand embellish a print with extra paint and texture, so it becomes a one-off. Just ask via email at hello@annalohe.com.

Can I pay it off?

Yes. Afterpay is available at checkout for eligible orders, so you can split the cost into 4 equal payments.

Quick answers

Is an original painting worth more than a print? An original is one of a kind and costs more. A limited edition print offers the same artwork at a lower price, in a strictly limited number.

Should I buy an original or a print for my living room? If it's your main statement wall and the budget allows, an original. Otherwise, a large print.

Can I get a print of a sold original? Usually, yes. Most of my sold originals are available as limited edition prints.

Browse original artworks or limited edition prints.

Not sure which artwork suits your space? Send me a photo of your wall, its width in centimetres or inches, and the artworks you're considering to hello@annalohe.com. I'll send you a free mockup so you can see it in your room before you decide. Anna x

Anna Lohe is an Australian contemporary artist working from her studio in Palm Beach on Sydney's Northern Beaches. She paints joyful, expressionist botanical artworks, sold as originals and limited edition prints, and ships worldwide. Read Anna's story or email hello@annalohe.com.