*A WATERCOLOR is painted on heavyweight paper with transparent watercolor paints which gives it a fresh, crisp look. Because it is painted on paper, you will need to protect it with a mat and frame with glass front. Framing finishes a watercolor beautifully and makes the entire art piece larger.

*An OIL PAINTING is painted on canvas with oil based paints. It has texture and a rich look. I paint the side edges of the canvas so you don't need to frame it unless you wish to. I ship oil on canvas paintings in special boxes to protect them. Since oils take 1-2 weeks to dry, keep your freshly painted custom oil in the box for a week or two until completely dry to the touch. At that time, you may hang it with the enclosed wire.

To keep the colors bright, I use acid-free materials and professional permanent colors for my original paintings. Prints are made at a professional lab using the highest quality archival inks and papers.
This means that the prints will not discolor over time. Original paintings will last for generations! You can be confident that your art piece will bring you a lifetime of satisfaction.

*WATERCOLOR paintings and PRINTS on paper will stay looking their best when enclosed in an acid-free mat and backing and then framed with a glass front. Keep artwork out of direct sunlight.
*OIL paintings with painted edges do not require a frame. If framed, no glass is needed. They may be varnished with spray varnish made for oil paintings found at arts and crafts stores. Varnishing is optional, but it adds a layer of protection to keep the painting clean and bright.
**For new oil paintings, wait at least 6 months for the oils to fully cure before varnishing. However, the painting may be hung and/or framed as soon as it is dry to the touch. Oil paintings may be cleaned with a soft cloth which is slightly dampened with water if necessary.

Contact me with your ideas and the approximate size you would like. I will give you a price and time frame for completion. A 50% deposit or full payment (your choice) is required before work is begun.

When needed, a sketch or digital mock-up will be made for you to approve before I begin the painting. Upon completion of the painting, I will send you an image before final payment. At either time, you may request changes if needed. I want you to be happy with your painting!

Let me know you wish to do a deposit and the size you'd like. I will set up a deposit option in the custom order listing for you to select when you check out.
Once the deposit is paid, I will put your painting on my schedule or begin it right away if my schedule allows.

When the painting is completed and you have approved the image that I will send you, the balance will be due. After the balance is paid, I will ship your artwork.

YUPO® is a synthetic paper that I have recently started using for some of my watercolor paintings. I like the spontaneous effects and brilliant color that result with this paper. I also like the fact that it is non toxic even during production. All paintings on this substrate are identified as YUPO paintings in the description.

This tree-free paper is made from inorganic compounds and is 100% recyclable. It is waterproof, so it does not buckle when wet as ordinary watercolor paper will during the painting process or when displayed in humid conditions. The paper is produced without the use of toxic materials that can harm the environment. Its primary raw materials are carbon and hydrogen, so it does not emit toxic chlorine gas.

Taking care of the environment is important to you and me! To do my small part, I have eliminated most single-use plastics from my packaging materials except for 100% recycled plastic film used to protect watercolor paintings. Oil paintings are adhered inside a protective box made of cardboard for small paintings and super rigid Eagle Cell paper board boxes for large oil paintings. All paintings are shipped in either rigid cardboard mailers or boxes secured with paper tape or cellulose tape. If needed, I may re-use air bags from boxes shipped to my studio (rather than trash them). Prints are wrapped in paper and either shipped flat in rigid cardboard mailers or rolled onto a cardboard tube inside a long shipping box.

I ship original paintings from my studio in Connecticut, USA.
For international shipments, there may be additional customs or tax fees due when the paintings arrive to you.

Prints shipped to the USA or Canada come from my print lab in New York. Print orders to the EU, UK, Australia and other countries are shipped from my print labs in the UK or Australia depending upon your location.