I ventured into this art gallery here because a couple paintings in the window caught my eye - nice cityscapes built around that allure of glowing lights juxtaposed with the more rough and harsh dark outlines of streets and buildings - I like that sort of thing.
They also had some interesting pieces inside... a couple of small sculptures, and other pictures reminiscent of the ones in their window display, but to be honest, I didn't pay too much attention, because shortly after entering in the store, I looked at the little card next to a picture and realized it was a giclee - that nouveau form of printmaking where paint is sprayed onto canvas to make it look as if it's an original - when actually there are usually thousands more out there exactly like it.
So I admit, I'm something of an art snob, but what can I say, I like *originals* - and especially since one of these claptrap giclees is going to run you well into the thousands of pounds anyway... unless you're absolutely madly in love with a particular image, I say, let the galleries keep their giclees, and use the money you would have spent to invest in a piece of original art that may actually hold or increase in value down the road. read more