When it comes to purchasing art, our minds immediately wander off to the astronomical prices that collectors pay at highly publicized auctions. Well, the world of making and collecting art and the amount of artwork produced is incredibly diverse with what it has to offer and the price range at which you can get it for. One of the offerings that can be taken advantage of is acquiring a limited-edition version of an original artwork that you appreciate. Let us take a deep dive into the world of limited edition artwork information and find out what the difference between original artwork and limited edition paintings. 

What is limited editions artwork? 

Limited editions are specific number of prints that are produced of an original artwork during a one off session of printing, after which these special edition artwork are then introduced to the art market.  

You must be wondering what the difference is between the reproduction of a unique artwork and its limited-edition version. When we come to reproductions, they are the exact facsimiles of the original work, usually of drastically lower quality as they are not created from the same medium that was used for the original. In their production the artist is barely involved, and the numbers of the reproductions can be considerable as they can be mass produced. Examples of reproductions include posters; T-shirt prints and even stickers.  

While with limited editions, the artist is very much involved in their creation ensuring that each piece in the edition is a viable representation of the original work. In most limited editions, each artwork has unique qualities and slightly varies from one another while keeping the main components and themes similar. The number of limited editions is carefully decided by the artist, as no more can be created after they are sold. Limited edition sizes are critical to the value of the artworks within the edition. As evidence of this, each artwork in an edition is signed by the artist and labelled with a distinct number along with the total size of the edition (eg. 1/10 or 4/20). Usually in the art market, the smaller the size of an edition, the more valuable the individual artworks become in that edition because of their rarity. 

Why should I buy limited edition paintings?  

• Limited editions make for affordable art 

With the general perception being that art is for the elite and wealthy, limited editions help counter this view as they are more economical in price and allow for a wider demographic to have access to art. The concept of limited editions is commonly associated with contemporary art, as classical artworks cannot be recreated into limited editions, and this makes it possible for young buyers or collectors of contemporary art to acquire artwork for a fraction of the price of the original painting. 

• Options, options and more options 

Limited edition prints can come in different types, quality, finishes and textures. You are spoiled for choices as you can have prints that could be lithographs, woodcuts, engravings, linoleum cuts, etchings or giclee. Each offering a different finish and medium for a collector to enjoy. Some collectors choose to collect limited editions produced from specific printmaking techniques, while other collectors like to have a diverse collection of limited editions made of various prints. When you buy paintings online, you should look into the details that the art sellers are providing to see what kind of printmaking techniques they use. 

• They are still original artworks 

As I had explained earlier, limited editions are created by the artist themselves with each piece being unique and hence being considered an original work of art. They are not reproductions of the original canvas paintings; they are artworks which are made in the form of prints by artists. Therefore, despite what some contemporary art snobs would like to believe, limited editions are original pieces of art. 

As a contemporary artist, I have produced numerous limited editions as a way of providing affordable art to people who appreciate what I do and to also expand my understanding and skillset of the printmaking medium. Even with my new collection, Psychomachia, I will be producing a series of limited editions of the paintings that I believe people will connect with the most. With all of its numerous benefits, limited editions provide an incredible option to collectors and for artists likewise. 

Shop my artwork collection here.

Check my digital artwork collection here.