What is Semi-Original Art? (And Why It Might Be Exactly What You Need)

One of the questions I get asked most is: what exactly is a semi-original? I love this question because the answer is one of my favorite things about what I do.

Here is the simple version: a semi-original starts as a high-quality fine art print of one of my original paintings. But that is just the beginning. I then take that print and work on it by hand — adding layers of real paint, texture, and gold leaf until it becomes something entirely its own.

The result is a piece that has the soul and texture of an original, with a warmth and dimension that you can only get from actual brushstrokes and real gold leaf catching the light. It is not a poster on a wall. It is a painting with depth and life.

I started offering semi-originals because I kept hearing from people who fell in love with a piece but the original was either already sold or out of their budget. And I understood that feeling completely — when a painting speaks to you, you want it in your home. Period.

So I thought — what if there was a way to bring that same feeling into more homes? Not by mass-producing prints, but by creating something with real artistry and care? That is how the semi-original was born.

Here is what makes them special: because I am embellishing each one by hand, I can customize the colors to match your space. Maybe you love my “City of Old” painting but your living room has warmer tones — I can adjust the palette. Maybe you want more gold, or a slightly different mood. We can do that together.

Every semi-original is different, even if it starts from the same print. The way I apply the paint, where the gold leaf catches, the texture of my brushstrokes — none of that can be replicated exactly. So while it is more accessible than a full original, it is still genuinely one-of-a-kind.

I think of it this way: an original painting carries one story. A semi-original carries two — the story of the original piece, and the new story that is created when I sit down and bring it to life all over again for someone specific. For you.

If you are curious about a semi-original of any piece in my gallery, I would love to talk about it. Just reach out — this is the kind of conversation I enjoy most.