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Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some common questions and answers. If you still have questions contact us.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL PAINTINGS, CANVAS PRINTS AND POSTER PRINTS?

Original Paintings are 100% hand painted on canvas. I use acrylic, oil paints and other mediums to add plenty of texture.
Canvas prints are the result of images printed on canvas and have no texture. Wide format professional giclee printers are used to create these prints.
Poster prints are the result of images printed on heavyweight high quality archival photo paper.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STRETCHED CANVAS AND UNSTRETCHED CANVAS?

Stretched Canvas is where the canvas wraps around the sides of the stretcher bars (typically wooden bars), and the painting is ready-to-hang.
Unstretched Canvas is where the stretcher bar or strainer bars are missing and the artwork needs to be either stretched or framed in other to be hung.

ARE YOUR PAINTINGS ORIGINALS OR PRINTS?

All my paintings are originals.

DO YOU INCLUDE A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY?

Yes, every Original Painting includes a Certificate of Authenticity signed by me, embossed with my logo and includes a Registered Number.

WHERE ARE THE STAPLES ON THE CANVAS?

The staples are on the back. The borders of the canvas are painted, so you don’t need decorative frame. However, if you prefer, you can have it framed.

WHAT IS AN “OVERSIZED” PAINTING?

It is a painting larger than 48″ on a single canvas. Carriers would usually charge an additional fee for shipping.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GLOSS AND MATTE VARNISH?

Glossy Varnish tends to richen the colors, is very shiny, and has the highest reflectivity. Matte Varnish has no sheen, creates less glare, and colors are dull. I usually add one or two coats of glossy varnish to all original paintings and one coat to canvas prints. However, if you prefer a matte finish look, please contact me before purchasing the artwork and I’ll be glad to add matte varnish for you.

DO CANVAS PRINTS HAVE TEXTURE?

No, canvas prints don’t have any texture.

WHICH MEDIUMS AND CHEMICALS DO YOU USE TO CREATE YOUR ORIGINAL PAINTINGS?

I mostly use acrylics and sometimes pastels and oils (professional grade). Other mediums like molding or modeling pastes and gels are also applied to some of my artwork. I use high gloss varnish to protect the paintings for years. Some amount of mineral spirits, turpentine or turpenoid can be found on most of my paintings. If you are allergic to any of these mediums and/or solvents, please contact us before purchasing the artwork. For more information, click on Commom Issues and Safe Handling Tips.

ARE THE BORDERS OF THE CANVAS PAINTED?

All Original Paintings on gallery wrapped canvas have painted borders. Sometimes the painting continues on the sides of the canvas and in other cases the borders are painted with a solid color like black or dark brown, depending on the artwork. If you need information about the borders of a particular painting, contact us any time.

CAN YOU MAKE A CUSTOM PAINTING FOR ME?

Yes, I accept commissions for custom Paintings. You may select a painting and the colors you are interested in. I will paint an original from scratch based on your request. Remember, each original is unique, and never an exact duplicate of another. For information about how to order, click on Commissions.

HOW DO I ENSURE THAT MY PAINTINGS WILL LAST?

Original paintings have a coat of varnish to protect against dust, UV light, etc. As long as you treat your painting as fine art, avoiding extreme temperatures, humidity, etc., your painting will last for years in its original condition. For more information, visit Fine Art Care Guide.

WHY DID MY PAINTING ARRIVE WARPED?

Since all my original paintings are stretched using natural wood, they are affected by environmental conditions. I check every painting before I paint, and sometimes there is a minimal dent in the wooden bars. Wood is inherently susceptible to fluctuations in moisture, cold and heat. A canvas that may have been perfectly square at the manufacturer warehouse or my studio, it may arrive warped at its final destination if during the shipping process; it was exposed to heat, cold, and/or humidity. For information about how to fix a warped painting, click on Commom Issues and Safe Handling Tips.

HOW DO I FIX A DENT OR CANVAS SAG?

Spray the backside of the canvas with warm (not hot) water and as the water evaporates the canvas shrinks back into shape. DO NOT over-saturate. It is better to repeat this step several times in intervals of 1 hour, rather than over saturate it the first time.

WILL THE COLORS MATCH WHAT I SEE ON MY MONITOR?

Photos are taken with a high resolution digital camera to ensure accuracy. However, colors vary from monitor to monitor. If you need an exact color match, you can purchase a small poster print or contact us for color information.

IF I NEED MORE INFORMATION OR I HAVE A QUESTION, HOW CAN I CONTACT YOU?

For further information read the terms and conditions, or contact us.

WHAT DO YOU INCLUDE WITH THE PURCHASE OF AN ORIGINAL PAINTING?

A Certificate of Authenticity, general information about the artwork, tips to display, preserve, handle and hang paintings. Stretched paintings are supplied with the appropriate hardware.

WHAT IS PAYPAL?

PayPal uses SSL technology which guarantees a safe purchase transaction. You do not need to have a PayPal account to purchase, you only need your credit / debit card or bank information to purchase the artwork. PayPal protects the buyer’s information with industry-leading security and fraud prevention systems, and the buyer’s financial information is not shared with the seller. Once your payment is complete, you will be emailed a receipt for the transaction.

WHAT ARE MY PAYMENT OPTIONS?

Master Card, Visa, American Express, Discover, Bank Withdrawal through PayPal. For more information, visit Paypal.

HOW SAFE IS THE INFORMATION I GIVE YOU?

Very safe! We do not rent, trade or share your personal information with any third party. Your privacy and satisfaction is very important to us. We do not collect any debit, credit card, bank account or any other payment information since the checkout process is made through PayPal. The only information we receive from PayPal is the buyer’s name, email and shipping address for contact and delivery purposes. PayPal protects the buyer’s information with industry-leading security and fraud prevention systems.

HOW DO I TRACK MY ORDER?

After your order has been processed. We will send you an email with your order and shipping information. You will be able to track your item visiting the carrier web site (USPS, UPS, Fed Ex, etc) and check your status.

WHAT IF I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THE ARTWORK WHEN I RECEIVE IT?

If you don’t love it, return it! Please contact us to let us know. Read our returns and refund policy for more information.

WHAT IF THE PAINTING WAS DAMAGED DURING THE SHIPPING PROCESS?

If your work of art is damaged during the shipping process, please retain the box/tube, artwork, all packaging materials and documents, as they will be needed to process the insurance claim with the shipping company. Contact us as soon as possible.

WHY THE COUPON CODE IS NOT WORKING?

If a painting is already “On Sale”, any other discount or coupon will not apply. Also, only one code may be used per transaction. These promotional codes apply to original paintings with retail price only and not to print products such as canvas and posters.

ARE YOUR GIVEAWAYS/CONTESTS ONLY OPEN TO UNITED STATES RESIDENTS?

No, everybody can participate but international winners are responsible for shipping and handling.

HOW ARE THE PAINTINGS PACKAGED?

Each painting is carefully packaged in a corrugated box with additional protective material such as polyfoam and/or bubble wrap depending on the painting. Extra large and oversized paintings will be shipped rolled in a sturdy tube. For more information visit the shipping page.

DO YOU SHIP TO MY COUNTRY?

We ship Worldwide! It takes approx. 3-15 days plus your local custom’s time for international shipping depending on destination. We are not responsible for shipping delays or omissions caused by the carrier or your country’s customs. In some cases we cannot ship to certain countries due to customs regulations.

WILL YOU NOTIFY ME WHEN MY ORDER HAS BEEN SHIPPED?

Yes, we will email you with the carrier information and tracking number after the item has been shipped.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TAXES AND DUTIES COSTS?

Import duties, taxes and charges are not included in the item price or shipping charges. Buyer accepts responsibility for all taxes and duties costs – for the US and Canada “Original Artwork” is duty FREE. Please check with your country’s customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to buying. These charges are normally collected by the delivering shipping company or when you pick the item up. We do not mark the merchandise value below value or mark items as “gifts” as it is illegal according to US and International Government regulations.
North Carolina Residents pay Sales Tax.