FAQ
frequently asked questions
ORIGINAL ARTWORK
What is mixed media art?
The medium is the material used to create a work of art, like oil paint, or collage...but when an artist mixes two or more different mediums together to create their work, it's called mixed media art. Most of my work is mixed media, created by layering different materials like fabric, or collage, or found objects. Then I seal the layers and paint over them with oils, and sometimes encaustic (beeswax and resin). So it's the combination that makes it mixed media.
What is encaustic?
Encaustic painting, also known as hot wax painting, is an ancient form of art that uses heated beeswax to which colored pigments are added. The liquid or paste is then applied to a surface—usually prepared wood, though canvas and other materials are often used. The simplest encaustic mixture can be made from adding pigments to beeswax, but there are several other recipes that can be used—some containing other types of waxes, damar resin, linseed oil, or other ingredients. Pure, powdered pigments can be used, though some mixtures use oil paints or other forms of pigment.
Metal tools and special brushes can be used to shape the paint before it cools, or heated metal tools can be used to manipulate the wax once it has cooled onto the surface. Today, tools such as heat lamps, heat guns, and other methods of applying heat allow artists to extend the amount of time they have to work with the material. Because wax is used as the pigment binder, encaustics can be sculpted as well as painted. Other materials can be encased or collaged into the surface, or layered, using the encaustic medium to stick them to the surface. (reference)
How does one care for an original mixed media painting?
As with any original artwork, a painting should never be hung in direct sunlight. The fabrics in my paintings have been sealed with a UV protective varnish, but it is still best, for longevity, to keep them out of direct sun. The unique challenge with paintings on sealed fabric is the texture of the stiff fabric that can collect dust, which can turn into dirt stains in the crevices of the texture if wiped with a damp cloth, or, if the wrong type of cloth is used, the texture of the fabric can catch and collect fuzz or lint from the cloth. The best form of maintenance then, is regular air dusting, with the type aerosol air can used to clean computer keyboards. This prevents dust build-up. If a painting is left undusted for a period of time and needs to be cleaned more after air dusting, a dry, clean, knit cloth should be used (like an old t-shirt) to gently wipe the painting down.
Work in encaustic should be cared for as you would for any fine art piece. Work can be stored, wrapped in waxed paper and bubblewrap (be sure to face the bubbles out so they don’t make imprints in your work) at room temperature and out of any direct sunlight. Encaustic can be wiped clean with a soft cloth or paper towel. If the piece is especially dirty, it can be wiped with a water-dampened cloth. (reference and more info)
REPRODUCTIONS
Are your paintings available as prints?
My paintings are available as Archival Giclée Art Prints (on either paper or canvas), which are signed and numbered, limited edition reproductions of original paintings. Each painting is professionally photographed for a high resolution image. The image is then color corrected to exactly match the original. It is printed with high quality giclée technology, using pigment inks and archival paper or canvas, for light-fast permanence.
Each print comes with a signed Certificate of Authenticity and a description of the painting.
Paper prints come packaged flat, in an archival sleeve with an archival backing board for protection. All canvas prints come sealed and archivally mounted onto an 1/8" panel for durability and ease of framing (no risk of puncture, no expensive deep frames required).
What size are your prints?
Paper Giclée prints come on 13″ × 19″ or 8.5″ × 11″ paper, with the exception of a few narrow paintings. The dimensions given indicate the full size of the paper. Each print has a white boarder for ease of framing under a matte. For the large square prints, the images are 11.5″ × 11.5″ on 13″ × 15″ paper. For all others, the actual image sizes on the paper vary depending on the proportions of the original.
Canvas Giclée prints are all the full size of the original and the dimensions given are the actual measurements, and the size frame required.
To ensure fielty to the original painting, I do not crop my images to accomodate standard frame sizes. Some do fit nicely in the premade mattes and frames, but others require custom framing.
What kind of framing do the prints require?
Giclée paper prints need to be framed behind glass, with matte board between the print and the glass, for the protection of the print. The width of the matte should be at least the standard 3" wide on all four sides, for an even, balanced display of the artwork
Canvas prints are sealed and do not need glass or matte, which saves on framing costs. Because they are mounted on thin panels, they can be framed with normal frame molding and don't require expensive, deep molding.
Although Giclée prints are lightfast, it is best not to hang them in direct sunlight.
What is a Giclée Print?
Giclée (pronounced Gee’clay) is a French term meaning "to spray", which is how inkjet technology works. However, Giclée printers are not the same as standard desktop printers, and they are much larger. Giclée art prints are archival, with varying degrees of longevity, depending on the inks used. My prints are produced only using Epson pigment based, light-fast inks, which deliver outstanding image quality and print permanence, and have a lifetime estimated at 80 to 200 or more years.
My prints are available either on archival canvas or archival paper, both of which are specially coated for lightfast permanance.
Before an original painting is sold, I have it professionally lighted and photographed to create a high resolution digital image, which is then color corrected to exactly match the original when printed. I personally approve the color match of each print.
All prints are made in limited editions of 100, which makes them more valuable since they are not mass produced. They come numbered and signed by me, with a signed certificate of authenticity.
What is a Litho Print?
In the early days of printing, a lithograph print was a highly valued reproduction of an artist's work, but with the advancement of technology, offset lithographic printing has become the standard commercial printing method of mass printing production. The advantages are brilliant quality and low cost for high volume printing. The disadvantage is that litho prints are not archival and will fade over time. This is fine for most print applications, where longevity is not necessary, but this is also why true fine art prints are now made with Giclée technology, not lithography (a litho art print would be considered a poster).
The greeting cards of my paintings were printed on an 8-color offset Heidelberg lithograph press. Most commercial printers use 4-color presses. I was also present at the beginning of the print run to check the test sheets for color accuracy and to sign my approval before they began production.
By making my cards with lithography, I'm able to give you excellent color at a very low price, so you can enjoy and share small images of my paintings, in a form that doesn't need to last 100 years. I've also made most of the cards in standard frame sizes of 5x7 and 5x5 so you can easily frame them. If I offer already-framed cards in my store, I will always indicate that they are litho prints.
Offset lithography operates on a simple principle: ink and water don't mix. Image information (art and text) is put on thin metal plates which are dampened by water and ink by rollers on the press. The oil-based ink adheres to the image area, the water to the non-image area. The inked area is then transferred to a rubber cylinder or "blanket" and then onto the paper as it passes around the blanket. The process is called "offset" since the image doesn't go directly from the plates to the paper, but is offset or transferred to another surface as the intermediary.
What are the sizes and contents of your greeting cards?
Depending on the proportions of each original, the cards are either 5”x7”, 5”x5”, or 4”x9”.
All cards are blank on the inside, with the title and description printed on the back.
Envelopes are included.
Unless you request square envelopes, 5×5 cards come with 5×7 envelopes, because the US Postal Service charges an extra 20 cents to mail a square.
The cards come individually packaged, or in progressively discounted sets of 8, 25, or 100.
ORIGINAL ARTWORK
REPRODUCTIONS
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Are your paintings available as prints?
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What size are your prints?
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What kind of framing do the prints require?
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What is a Giclée Print?
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What is a Lithograph Print?
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What are the sizes and contents of your greeting cards?
ORDERS
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Which Countries Do You Ship To?
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Will I be charge a duty or customs fee on international orders?
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Is your work available for wholesale?
ask a question...
Read my frequently asked questions below for fast answers. If you don't find what you're looking for, please feel free to contact me using the form.
ORDERS
Which Countries Do You Ship To?
I ship worldwide. (International customers: please read about customs fees below.)
What payment types do you accept?
I accept all major credit cards, and also Paypal. All orders are processed securely and your payment information is never stored.
How long will it take to receive my order?
Please allow 2-5 days for your order to be processed before it is shipped.
See below for shipping option delivery times.
All orders are shipped from my storehouse in Escondido, CA USA.
Local customers are welcome to save on shipping and pick-up orders at the storehouse.
At checkout, select "Customer Pick-Up" ($0.00) for shipping. You will receive a call to arrange a pick-up time.
How will my order be shipped?
Within the United States, all small orders are shipped via USPS Priority Mail with Delivery Confirmation (1-3 days). Large orders within the U.S. are shipped UPS ground (1-3 days).
Greeting cards, postcards and calendars are sent USPS 1st Class Mail (1-3 days).
Books are sent either by USPS Media Mail (6-10 days) or Priority (1-3 days).
International orders are shipped via USPS 1st Class International, or Priority International mail depending on the size of the order (delivery time varies by country).
I do not provide express shipping options. Standard shipping only.
Will I be charge a duty or customs fee on international orders?
I do not collect any customs fees when you place your order. Any customs fees, taxes, tariffs, duties, etc. that may be incurred at the time of delivery would be at the discretion of your country’s tax regulations. I have no way of calculating how much these fees would be, should they occur, and Rachel Pearsey Fine Art is not responsible for those charges. For any additional information refer to your local customs agency. Returns will not be accepted due to customs fees. Also, I am required by law to mark your package as “merchandise”.
What is your return policy?
I want you to be completely thrilled with your order. If you are not satisfied, please contact me within 10 days of receiving it and I will replace it (in the event of damage during shipment) or exchange it for an item/items of equal cost. You will be responsible for returning items in their original condition, as well as covering return shipping costs.
I do not offer refunds.
Is your work available for wholesale?
I welcome your wholesale inquiries. Please contact me for pricing, quantities, and details.
2010 - present
2010 - present
Have more questions?
Please send me a message with the contact form at the top.