What's an Original?

What's an Original?

In the photographic arts, what is an Original to me?

In the digital age, there's a conundrum of what exactly is the original when you're dealing with pixels and computers anywhere in the creation process of art. Some people say it’s the digital file, some people say it’s print #1. 

Well, in my case I’ve got an even bigger conundrum. I work on film, which could be considering the original, but I scan my film into a digital file and then continue to manipulate it there to meet my artistic vision. Then it’s digitally resized, and then printed digitally as well. 

So, what’s the original? The frame from the roll of film? No, because that image is not complete to my vision. So, is it my completed digital file on my computer? In my opinion, no. Because that’s not artwork, it hasn’t taken any physical form yet. 

To me, the original is the first piece that I print in the form that I envisioned it to be. The color is exactly what I wished, and the form, whether that be a framed paper print, a canvas, or some other material, is exactly the way that it's supposed to be. 

So, what does this mean for you when you order an artwork of mine in a custom size and material? It means that you are creating your own unique piece, every time!

Each of my artworks from film will only ever be printed 22 times. So, there is the original that I create to my own vision, and then the next printed version, whatever form that may be, would be Print #2, labeled as such and so on. Once 22 pieces of that same image have been made, it will never be printed again. If someone wanted that image, they would have to contact one of the current investors/owners of the artwork (that's you!).