Hello to all my visitors and art collectors.
- If the agreed upon commission artwork is Watercolor painting, all what is said below in the Terms & Procedures section about drying time DOES NOT APPLY. In case of watercolors and ink or watercolors or mixed media on paper, the artwork is always ready to ship within 48 hours after completion. Watercolors are not varnished. Large watercolors larger than 18 by 24 inch or wide panoramas may be shipped rolled. Shipping for watercolors is FREE.
- If you want a commission painting especially if you need a custom size/custom dimensions. I can do that. I will have a custom canvas stretched or custom size watercolor paper cut from my own large roll of watercolor paper. This is something we can discuss in step one. I did a very large tall oil painting for a client in 2019 and we worked with a custom canvas that was 9 feet tall. See blog post about custom canvas
Below are my updated Terms and procedures for commissioned artwork.
I needed to make my procedures more clear after a recent negative experience with a client.
The last 25+ years I never encountered a problem and I did many commission paintings, mostly oil but also many watercolors.
As a matter of fact all of them were a pleasure. The people were all very professional and I never had a problem with communication throughout the process.
I actually came to a point where I don’t really have any requirements anymore for accepting a commission. Not even a down payment. Now I will have to make things much more clear and firm from the outset.
Terms and procedures for commission artwork.
- Communication in writing via email only, for the part of the project where we have to agree on specifics. For instance what type of painting, what medium, colors, or anything else that client wants to see in the artwork, also a deadline. Based on that information, I will either agree to doing the commission or explain why I can’t agree and I will also quote a price.
I am more than happy to talk to a client on the phone. Especially in the case of a client who is a multiple repeat customer of mine! But it has to be at clients request.
Request would look like this by email “Ginette please call me at number XXXXX I have some questions”, something to that affect. - When we reach the agreement I will email a document with all the agreed specifics to sign and email back to me. I will require a 30% non refundable down payment or a 50% non refundable down payment for art larger than 30 by 40 inches. I will begin painting the artwork after down payment is received. I will issue an invoice for payment to be expected within a week, there will be the specific due date on the invoice. If I do not receive the down payment by due date, the agreement becomes void. The price discussed is not guaranteed at a later time.
- I will no longer offer free shipping on commission paintings. The cost for shipping the art will be determined about one week before shipping. I will email client the amount to be paid which will include the agreed upon price for the painting minus the down payment + shipping and Taxes. Payment of the full amount to be expected within 10 days after the invoice is issued. If payment is not received within ten days, I will reserve the right to contact client via email or phone to politely remind client that final payment is due BEFORE SHIPPING. It’s possible client missed the email, so I consider contacting client by phone a matter of curtesy. I will contact client twice in this manner and no more. If payment is not received after that, the agreement is null and void due to failure to pay in a timely manner. The painting will be posted on my website ginettefineart.com in the open market and the 30% or 50% down payment IS NOT REFUNDABLE.
- Oil Paintings take about one to 4 weeks to paint depending on size and topic. After that it takes up to four weeks to dry and another 2 weeks for varnish to dry. These dates are approximate, a painting with a lot of white for example will probably take a little longer to dry. Certain pigments have a different drying time. If you want the painting varnished, I use damar resin, it will take more time before the painting can safely be shipped. I can not guarantee a delivery within a very narrow time frame especially if it falls within a time not agree upon in original agreement.
- I live in central Georgia. So for that reason I have in the past offered personal delivery to clients in GEORGIA ONLY. This has worked great either at their home or at a meeting place. This way the client can receive the painting before it is bone dry and the client saves shipping cost. I will still offer that with one change, client must agree in writing vie email that he/she agrees to personal delivery and on which date at which hour. I will not do any more verbal agreements.
Client can always DEMAND shipping at a specific date but WHEN an oil painting can safely be shipped, is dry and ready, this knowledge lies in the purview of the artist. Some patience and yes even trust in the process is required. If clients adamantly demands shipment before that time, I will comply, but client will have to agree in writing that he/she takes full responsibility for the art and no refund/return will be done in that case for any reason.
Lastly. This point I though I would never have to make but there is a first time for everything.
- Agreeing to do a commission work does not include that the artist must take any abuse by client. A license to abuse is NOT included in the price. If client engages in abuse via email and or phone, is rude, belligerent, unprofessional and uses verbal insults toward the artist, artist reserves the right to terminate the commission agreement immediately without further communications. The artist retains all past communications. Any down payment is non refundable.
Thank you for you understanding. If you have any question about the above terms and procedures feel free to contact Ginette
