ABOUT MY OIL PAINTINGS
My paintings are created with professional grade oil paints on stretched canvas. I offer 3 standard size canvases: 11"x14", 14"x18" and 16"x20". Other sizes can be special ordered. Paintings are shipped unvarnished and unframed.
GALLERY WRAPPING
Each painting is done with what is called a 'gallery wrap'. What this means is that the image is extended around all four edges of the canvas. The result is a painting that looks finished and is beautifully suitable for display even without a frame.
HANGING THE PAINTING
Your painting comes to you wired and ready for hanging. You will also find the date of completion on the back of the canvas.
WHEN CAN I FRAME MY NEW PAINTING?
Deciding whether to frame your painting is a personal choice. But be prepared: properly-done framing is not cheap!
If you do choose to frame your painting, you should wait until it is completely dry - about 4-6 months.
If you cannot wait that long, I highly recommend the use of Volara Foam Rabbet Tape. It is used for lining the inside of the frame (called a rabbet) to provide a cushion between the frame and the canvas. Check with your framer if they can put Volara Rabbet tape on the frame for you.
WHAT IS VARNISHING?
It is purely a matter of personal taste whether or not you choose to varnish your painting. Your painting comes to you unvarnished. If you decide to varnish the painting, here are some points to consider:
Advantages: Varnishing provides a distinct finish (matte, satin or gloss) to the surface of the painting. It offers protection for the painted surface from atmospheric effects, and makes it easier to clean in the future. Varnishing can also bring up the vibrancy and richness in the colors.
Disadvantages: The painting must be COMPLETELY dry - about 4-6 months, depending on how thickly the paint is laid on the canvas, and other factors such as temperature and humidity. Another disadvantage is that some varnishes tend to yellow over time.
If you plan to frame your varnished painting, wait at least a week after varnishing, when the varnished surface is completely dry to the touch.
Varnish comes in 3 finishes: matte (no shine), satin (medium shine), gloss (high shine). Some varnishes are permanent; others are designed to be easily removable with solvent, and then re-applied. This would be useful if the varnish were to become yellowed or stained over time.
Varnishing is best left to someone with experience in varnishing oil paintings.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO COMPLETE A PAINTING?
It takes around 3-6 weeks for me to complete a custom painting, depending on how large the canvas is, how complex the subject and background are, and how much deviation from the reference photo is required.
Once a painting is completed, it will take another 2 weeks to be dry enough for shipping. This is important to keep in mind if the painting is needed by a specific date.
Because oil paint dries from the surface down, it takes between 3-6 months for an oil painting to be completely dry. This is important if the painting is to be framed or varnished. For this reason, I always put the date the painting was completed on the back of the canvas.
WHAT ABOUT THE REFERENCE PHOTOS?
My paintings are all done using digital reference photos provided by the client. It is incredibly important that the reference photos be good quality: they must be high-resolution, very clear, with good lighting. I always tell my clients, the more photos you can provide, the better! Photos from a cell phone usually work well, and are easily emailed.
In some cases, I can make modifications to achieve the desired result, often using multiple photos as references. However, there are limits to this, and I will always be honest with a client about whether a photo will simply not work as a reference.
I spend a lot of time working with clients to ensure we select the photos that are most suitable for a beautiful painting.
NOTE: Please ensure the photos are NOT copy-right protected. I cannot use professionally-taken photos without written permission of the photographer