There are several ways to buy a painting today: online galleries, local artists, art fairs, or a canvas print from a furniture store. The first decision is always the same one — a print, or a genuine hand-painted painting. If you are looking for a genuine hand-painted work of art on canvas — not a print — the question of where to buy hand-painted paintings has essentially three answers: specialist online galleries, local artists, and art fairs. This guide explains each option briefly, with the emphasis on how to recognise genuine hand-painted work and what to expect in terms of price, dimensions and delivery.
Why hand-painted and not a print? A hand-painted painting has texture and depth — every brushstroke is unique. A print is only a photographic reproduction on a smooth surface. That is exactly why it is worth knowing how to recognise genuine hand-painted work before you buy.
Specialist online galleries
The fastest route to a hand-painted painting is a specialist online gallery that guarantees 100% hand-made work. The advantages are a wide choice of motifs, the option of custom dimensions and painting to order, and delivery to your door. You can write to us in English or in your own language — customer support replies in the same language.
SvetSlik.si is a European online gallery that has offered exclusively hand-painted paintings on canvas since 2009:
- Reproductions of famous painters — hand-painted works by masters such as Van Gogh (The Starry Night, Sunflowers), Klimt (The Kiss), Monet (the water lilies), Modigliani (the portraits) and Kandinsky; hand-painted studies and interpretations of works by modern masters such as Picasso are also available.
- Modern and abstract paintings — single-panel and multi-panel abstract compositions for contemporary rooms.
- Paintings to order — any motif, an adjustment of the colours, or an entirely new painting from your photograph, portraits included.
- Custom dimensions — every painting can be painted in the measurements that suit your wall.
Before you buy you can try the frame in a 3D tool (more than 60 frames in real time), and we place the painting digitally on a photograph of your wall, free of charge. Before dispatch we send you a photograph of the finished painting for approval. Paintings in stock are dispatched in about 6 days, paintings to order in 15–45 working days. We ship to Slovenia, Croatia, Italy, Austria, Hungary and Germany.
Browse the full range of reproductions of famous paintings and modern and abstract paintings at SvetSlik.si.
Buying directly from local artists
If you want a unique original work and direct contact with the person who makes it, you can approach local artists. Many accept commissions and sell through their own websites or social media. The advantage is the personal approach and being able to agree every detail; the drawback is that the choice is not immediate, and a unique original work often costs more than a reproduction.
Galleries, fairs and markets
To see paintings in person, visit commercial galleries in larger cities, or the occasional art fairs and markets. There you can look at a painting close up, meet the artist and buy an original work. The limitation is the narrow selection and the dependence on when the event takes place.
What determines the price of a hand-painted painting
The price of a hand-painted painting is not arbitrary — it depends on a few factors:
- Dimensions — a larger painting takes more time and more material.
- Complexity of the motif — detailed realistic motifs and portraits take more hours of work than simpler abstractions.
- Technique and number of layers — oil in several layers is slower than quicker acrylic techniques.
- Number of panels — multi-panel compositions are more extensive than single-panel ones.
Smaller paintings start at a few tens of euros, while larger and multi-panel compositions run into several hundred. A price well below that is a sign that it is probably a print.
How to recognise a genuine hand-painted painting
Whichever route you take, the same rule applies: make sure it is genuine hand-painted work and not a print on canvas. Three quick checks:
- Texture. A hand-painted painting has raised layers of paint — brushstrokes you can see in raking light. A print is smooth.
- Description and price. Look for the statement “100% hand-painted” and “oil/acrylic on canvas”. A genuine hand-painted painting in a larger size under €50 effectively does not exist.
- Delivery time. Painting to order takes weeks; a print is made in a day.
Where to hang the painting
A hand-painted painting is the accent of a room, so hang it where it can come into its own — above the sofa in the living room, in the dining room or in the bedroom. Above a sofa the painting should cover roughly two thirds of its width; for larger walls consider a multi-panel composition. Modern and abstract paintings often work best without a frame, while classic reproductions are given extra emphasis by one.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy a hand-painted reproduction of a famous painting?
From specialist online galleries that guarantee 100% hand-made work. SvetSlik.si has been hand-painting reproductions of works by famous painters (Van Gogh, Klimt, Monet, Kandinsky and others) on canvas since 2009, in any dimensions.
How much does a hand-painted painting cost?
It depends on the dimensions and the complexity of the motif. Smaller paintings start at a few tens of euros, while larger and multi-panel compositions run into several hundred. A price well below that is a sign that it is probably a print.
Can I order a painting in any size?
Yes. With hand painting to order the dimensions are not limited to standard formats — we paint the painting in the measurements that suit your wall.
Can I order a painting from my own photograph?
Yes. Specialist suppliers will paint a painting or a portrait from your photograph or to your wish.
How long do production and delivery take?
Paintings in stock are dispatched in about 6 days, and paintings to order in 15–45 working days.
Where do you ship?
We ship to Slovenia, Croatia, Italy, Austria, Hungary and Germany.
Where can I buy a painting?
It depends on what you are looking for. A canvas print is the cheapest option, but it is not a real painting. For a hand-painted painting — a reproduction of a famous painting, a modern piece or a commission — specialist galleries such as SvetSlik.si are the place to look. An original, on the other hand, you buy directly from the artist or from a selling gallery.