You can build your own gallery of works without investing too much in the cost. Although it’s true you’re better off with originals you can flaunt to guests, a collection of the sought-after pieces are either too costly or impossible to acquire. You don’t really need the real thing to appreciate its visual elements (although some are lost in reproductions, sad to say); you’re not settling with prints because the same qualities are closely preserved. The best part about prints is you can rub your thumb on the surface all you want and you won’t have to worry about any paint peeling or smudging.
Sorting for Handpicks
You’ll find great art to print in plenty of places, and it all starts with selecting the pieces to complement your preference. It’s like hosting your own exhibit, with the difference that you’re choosing to showcase works, some created by others, some printed out of digital images you’ve sorted from your stock. Note that your choices shouldn’t depend on the wall space you’re supposed to “fill”, but on the number of pieces you’ll be willing to display. If you’re planning to convert a room or studio into a small (private) gallery, then ten to thirty pieces of prints should be enough, depending on the dimensions and your discretion.
Have a Theme in Mind
It pays to have a theme in mind when you’re selecting art prints. Whether you’re conscious of it or not, you’ll be drawn to certain styles, orientations, and dimensions. Pick pieces and place these in different folders. You may think you’re picking prints at random but you’ll see the similarities soon enough. You may be attracted to abstract, modernist, or impressionist paintings, or you may prefer certain subjects, like portraits of people, landscapes, or still life. It’s better if you pull in someone with a second opinion while choosing so your preferences are fleshed or evened out. You don’t want to end up with a gallery of Rembrandt-style portraits, all somber, foreboding and whatnot.
Identify the Standout Pieces
There’s also the approach of choosing champions in your gallery, pieces that best identify your artistic sensibilities. Once you’ve handpicked the pieces to meet your quota of thirty, narrow these down to a handful you’re willing to highlight as the best works. Your theme comes into focus if you base it on this handful of picks. You’ll likely whittle your choices down to ten before you’re through, but what’s important is you showcase quality instead of quantity.
Choosing prints and reproductions is a lot like sorting through your own works, to hang at an exhibit. It’s true that there are more criteria to consider and you’ve only gleaned a few in this post (including intellectual property rights), but you should know how to rough-cut collections at the outset, you won’t have to obsess over the details. Choose pieces for poster art or prints first, and then determine if your choices complement or add volume to your venue. It’s easier to adjust when you’ve settled on the essentials. Art prints are the way to go when you want to build a collection on a budget, and everything’s forgivable once everyone’s witnessed your artistic taste firsthand.




