Buying affordable art: how to choose an original for max. €50
Buying affordable art is also an option if you are looking for an original painting. In my Affordable Art collection, I create unique, hand-painted acrylic works for max. €50. So you don't automatically have to choose a reproduction if you have a smaller budget.
I am Jordy Koumans and I paint from my studio in Carré, Tilburg. In this guide I will help you choose: what is the difference between an original and a print, how do you assess a small artwork online and what should you look at besides the price? With two of my own works I will show what a budget of €50 can concretely mean.
Your first original, without a large budget
My Affordable Art collection consists of small, original acrylic works for max. €50 per piece. I ship worldwide. When choosing, also check the shipping costs and whether you need a frame.
What is affordable art?
Affordable art is art that fits within your budget. There is no fixed price limit that applies to everyone. For this guide I will keep it concrete: small original works for max. €50, with prints as another accessible option.
An original is a one-off work. A print is a printed version of an image, which can exist in multiple copies. Both can be a good choice. It is about what you consider important: the layers of paint and the unique object, or rather the image, the size and the possibility to combine.
Why can a small painting be affordable?
The accessibility of my Affordable Art works lies mainly in the smaller size. I do not need to develop every idea on a large canvas. A compact composition gives room to explore color and texture, and makes a first original accessible without immediately spending hundreds of euros.
That does not make it a less serious choice. You are simply buying a different size and a different experience. Do you specifically want a work that carries a large wall? Then you can also view my collection of original paintings and compare sizes.
My starting point: do not choose the largest work that fits within your budget, but the work you want to keep looking at. A small painting in the right place can do more for a room than a large work that you mainly bought to fill the wall.
An original painting or an art print?
Choose an original if you value the unique object and the physical surface. Choose a print if you are mainly drawn to the image and want more choice in the available editions. Neither is automatically the better purchase.
When I would choose a small original
If you like to look closely. On a small work, paint layers, edges and material differences stand out. A niche, a narrow wall or a place near your desk can be more suitable for that than the largest wall in the house. You do not need a collection to start: one work is enough.
When a print might fit better
If you are looking for a specific image, want to combine different works or an available print size fits your space better. View my art prints and compare the dimensions and execution on the product page. A print is not a failed original, but its own way to bring art into your home.
So do not let your choice depend only on the word 'original'. An image that you really feel something about deserves preference over a unique work that does little for you.
What do you get for €50? Two examples from my studio
To make it tangible: Surge and Loam are both original works of 20 × 20 cm with a price of €50 per work at the time of this update. I use acrylic paint on canvas with separately applied silicone layers for relief. The painted edges make an extra frame unnecessary.
They are unique works. Check on the product page whether a work is still available and what the current price is. These examples remain useful even after sale to compare size, material and appearance.
Surge: blue, purple and visible relief
In Surge, deep blue blends into purple. The surface gives the color extra depth. This is an example of a small painting that does not need many different colors to still be strikingly present.
I would view this work for a place where you regularly walk past it closely. Then not only the color, but also the relief remains part of the experience.
View Surge and the product details →
Loam: earthy colors and diagonal movement
In Loam I combine ochre, terracotta and moss green. Diagonal strokes give the work movement. Where Surge mainly has a blue-purple color world, Loam shows how different earthy shades come together within the same small format.
Do not compare those two only on 'which color fits my sofa?'. Also ask yourself if you prefer to see a calmer color transition or rather more movement and color differences.
View Loam and the product details →
How do you choose the right size for your interior?
A small painting works best if you give it a conscious place. A work of 20 × 20 cm can look modest on a large empty wall, while on a narrow wall it is just enough. The ratio to the surroundings makes the difference.
Test the size before you buy
Cut a piece of paper to the size of the work and hold it on the place you have in mind. Look from your usual seating place and also from close up. This is how you assess the scale without a product photo unintentionally making you imagine a larger work.
Choose a place where you really see the work
Think of a quiet corner near your desk, a narrow wall or a wall above a small piece of furniture. If you want to combine multiple works, compare the outer dimensions including any frames. Equal dimensions can provide cohesion, but are not a requirement.
Let color connect, not determine everything
A color from the work can return in your interior, but does not have to match exactly. Also pay attention to the atmosphere and the way your gaze moves through the painting. Are you looking for words for what appeals to you? My guide to abstract art for beginners helps you look without having to know art history first.
Checklist: what should you look at when buying affordable art online?
My most important advice is not to look only at the main image and the price. Check these six points before your purchase:
- Original or reproduction? Read what you are actually buying. 'Art' or 'artwork' alone does not yet tell if it is a painting or a print.
- Size and medium. Look at the dimensions in centimeters and the material: paper, canvas or panel. Check whether the stated size is with or without a frame.
- Material and surface. Look for a clear technique description and detail photos. With relief or visible paint layers, an extra photo helps to assess the surface.
- Information about the maker. Who made the work? Are their name, background and contact options clear? A signature or certificate can give additional information, but is not in itself a guarantee of quality.
- Total costs. Add any frame and shipping costs to the work price. A painting of €50 and a total budget of €50 are not necessarily the same.
- Delivery and conditions. Read how the work is packed, what delivery time is stated and what return conditions are stated by the seller. Ask for an explanation if something is not clear.
Are you unsure between two works? First note where it will hang, how much space you have and what your total budget is. That often makes choosing easier than looking at even more images.
Where can you buy affordable original art?
You can search directly at artists, online or during an open studio and art market. Direct contact gives you the opportunity to ask questions about the material, the creation and the dimensions. On online platforms I would check per provider who the maker is and what edition you get.
With me you will find small originals in the Affordable Art collection for max. €50. If you want to compare with other formats first, view my original paintings. I ship my work worldwide.
You do not have to immediately become a collector. Start with one work that appeals to you, in a place where you see it daily. That is a full-fledged first step.
Find your first original artwork
Small size, own character and handmade by me, Jordy Koumans. In Affordable Art you will find original acrylic works for max. €50 per piece, with worldwide shipping.
Frequently asked questions about buying affordable art
Can you buy an original painting for max. €50?
Yes. In my Affordable Art collection I make small original acrylic works for max. €50 per piece. Surge and Loam are examples of works of 20 × 20 cm. Check the current offer and take into account any shipping costs.
Is affordable art always a print?
No. A hand-painted, unique work can also be affordable. 'Affordable' describes the budget; 'original' and 'print' describe what you buy. Therefore always look at the technique and product description.
How do I know if a small painting fits on my wall?
Make a paper example in true size and view it on the intended place. Take into account surrounding furniture and the distance from which you look. A small work can come to its rights better on a narrow wall than in the middle of a large empty wall.
Do I need a frame for an original painting?
That depends on the execution. Surge and Loam have painted edges and can be hung without an extra frame. For other works a frame can be necessary or desirable. Check this per product, so that you take it into your budget.
Is a certificate of authenticity necessary?
A certificate can give information about the maker and the work, but does not in itself tell how good a painting is. I would mainly pay attention to a clear origin, an understandable material description and the possibility to ask the artist questions.
Can I give affordable art as a gift?
Certainly. Pay attention to the taste of the recipient, the available size and whether another frame is needed. If you are very unsure about the work itself, you can choose together with the recipient instead of only going by the price.
Does KOJO Art also ship outside the Netherlands?
Yes, I ship worldwide. View the available shipping options and costs for your destination in your order.
Related articles
- Abstract art for beginners: learning to look and choose
- Ombre art: color transition in abstract paintings
- What is Colour Field Painting? From Rothko to modern interior
About KOJO Art
KOJO Art is the brand name under which I, Jordy Koumans, paint and sell. From my studio in Carré, Tilburg, I make abstract paintings and work with color, composition and texture. Besides my original works you will find art prints and the monthly Print Club. I ship worldwide.
