Andrew Scanlan Art | Winner of the World Art Dubai Emerging Artist Award

Fine Art Prints: What to Look For When Buying Online

Art is everywhere. While many artists still exhibit and sell their work through art galleries, others have decided to venture into the booming online art market in order to reach a significantly larger audience. Social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest have become key sources of inspiration for everyone from art collectors to stay-at-home mums, when looking to purchase art. Artists are now searching for ways to make their work more accessible through the online marketplace. One such way is selling fine art prints based on their original artworks.

Now, it’s important to understand that fine art prints are distinct from generic prints easily available online. Fine art prints are often created by the original artist themself (or with their consent) and are of a higher quality than standard prints. Purchasing fine art prints is an impactful way to impart the same effect of a fine art painting but in a significantly more affordable manner.

Purchasing a fine art print can be a fantastic option for you if:

Your budget is limited
You don’t want to commit long-term to a piece of art
You are searching for unique quality and character (unlike many mainstream prints available online)

Convinced to purchase your first fine art print? We’re sharing with you a few tips and tricks to look out for when buying fine art prints online.

Purchase From the Original Artist’s Website (if possible)
There are quite a few reliable vendors when it comes to purchasing fine art arts. Large art platforms such as Saatchi or Fine Art America offer a huge variety of fine art prints as well as original art, all with the consent of the original artists. What’s great is that these platforms provide security in terms of payment, delivery, returns, etc. However, artists have to pay these platforms commissions for each sale. They are a great second option for purchasing your prints, but perhaps you should check out if the artist has their own online platform beforehand. Often, artists display their newer work on their own website first. By purchasing directly from the artist website, you’re providing superior financial support for the artist and you also might save some money due to lack of commission fees! Moreover, if you have any questions or customizations you can communicate directly with the artist instead of a chatbot or customer service representative who will most certainly not possess the same scope of knowledge.
Ensure Quality & Resolution
With the wide variety of prints available online, you should be vigilant of the artwork’s source. Use only reliable art platforms or original artist websites to ensure you are purchasing a fine art print and not a generic print. Fine art prints will be created in higher resolutions. Also, look out for the brand name of canvas/paper used. If you have any doubts, e-mail artists directly to procure the right information before your purchase. Look for acid-free paper (to avoid discoloration) with a thickness of 190g/m2 or higher. Hahnemuhle, Epson, and Canson are all well-known paper brands. For canvas prints, look out for brands such as Epson, Breathing Color and Jacquard. Many artists use Epson printers and canvas in conjunction so produce sharp prints that stay true to the original colours of the artwork.
Frame It Yourself
Many artists provide the option of purchasing prints with the frame. Of course, this is the easiest option as your print will arrive ready to use. However, by choosing to frame it yourself you can save costs. Firstly, you can save on shipping costs. Online platforms give us access to artists globally so your print may be arriving from halfway around the world. Rolled prints are more cost-effective to ship and less likely to suffer any damages through the journey, particularly for internationally shipped pieces. For locally delivered pieces, you may prefer prints stretched on canvas, ready for use. Furthermore, you may want to select a frame that fits with your interior décor. Picking your own frame ensure you will control the price and frame design of the print, while also minimizing the change of transportation damages.

Unique fine art prints are accessible right here in Dubai! Homegrown Dubai artist Andrew Scanlan has lived in this city for over 20 years. His draws his inspiration from characters he encounters and depicts them in his unique ‘cellular art’ style. Discover his top quality fine art prints, shipped both locally (stretch on canvas) and internationally (rolled and sealed):