oil paintings

The reproduction process - the different stages

STAGE 1: the sketch

It is very important to stick to the original procedure of the real painter. We try to reproduce the painting in a way that is identical to what the master himself would have done. First we sketch the contours before we start painting. Here we often use a diamond pattern or other specialised tools to ensure that the dimensions and distances of the reproductions are accurate. Over these contours that make up the painting's basis the different layers of paint are applied later.

STAGE 2: the first layer of paint

Now the first layer of paint is applied roughly. The contrast between the final result and the current stage of the painting is very large.

STAGE 3: the main outlines

Slowly the picture is becoming clear, you can see the progression. After each new layer the painter has to wait until the paint is nearly dry before he can continue.

STAGE 4: applying the details

The final result is becoming clearly visible. The master painter who is supervising the artist will now evaluate the painting professionally, possibly steering the painter and providing advice.

STAGE 5: final inspection

Once the finishing touch has been applied and the quality inspection by the master painter carried out, the work is finished. At this point in time, the photographs are made to be sent to you for approval. At this point the painting can still be altered. Adjustments, if any, will be applied at no extra cost. Photographs are made of the improvements and sent to yo by e-mail. Only when you are truly satisfied with the work and have given your formal approval we will send the painting to you by courier.

How much time does it take to make a reproduction?

Approximately 3 to 5 weeks. It depends on the size, style and complexity (for instance whether it has many people depicted on it) of the painting.

Can I keep up with the painting process?

No, unfortunately it is impossible right now. However, we are hard at work developing a system through which you can log into a special "OnlineArt-Studio" through your account. In this section the most recent photos of your work will be uploaded once a week.

Do we make the work look old?

Every painting needs a different approach. We do not apply an imitation crackle effect. Apart from it being too much of an effort it could give the

THE ORDERING PROCESS:

When you have found a product on Passion For Paintings that you like very much and would like to purchase click on "Add to Cart" to start filling your shopping cart with this item.

Note: If there are no products available in the cart it will display the message "Your Shopping Cart is Currently Empty". You can view your cart by clicking on the “Shopping cart” link located at the top of each page on the web site.

You can add as many products to your shopping cart as you like. If you would like to save certain products from your shopping cart – because you do not want to include them in your order right now - you can easily move them to your wishlist by clicking the ‘add to wishlist’ link displayed below the product in your shopping cart.

When you have finished shopping and are ready to complete your order, click on "Proceed to Checkout".

ADRESS DETAILS

The first checkout page is the address details page. Please fill out all the details on this page and continue to the “… > Payment” page.

There is also a feature for returning customers to login using the account information that was created during their first order placement. Just type you name and password and you will be logged into our system. Automatically you will be directed to the next page displaying an overview of your filled our details so that you can verify them.

Now select your payment preference. Passion For Paintings offers several payment methods.
For the fastest and most secure service, place your order on our Web site with the On-line Credit Card option to use our secure SSL payment gateway for processing your payment and take advantage of our security guarantee!

We accept the following major credit cards:
# Visa
# MasterCard
# American Express

Other available payment methods:
# PayPal
# Wire Bank Transfer

If you prefer to phone, fax or e-mail in your order please contact us

Once you have selected you payment method goto the next page. When selected credit card payment you can fill out your credit card information on this page. With either PayPal or Wire bank tranfer you will be directed to be connected to the PayPal system or to the page conaining instructions for finalizing your order and how to make the wire transfer to us.

If you have filled out you credit card details click on “Continue and complete payment >” to finalize you order. Our secure system will then check your details and approve and finalize the order.

Once you are finished with ordering the process, we suggest you print a copy of the page with your confirmed Order # and items. You will receive a confirmation email once your order has been submitted.

Please Note! You will receive an Order Confirmation e-mail that contains pricing information but the Packing Slip contained in each shipment does not. However every shipment contains an obligated separate proforma invoice for customs.

ORDER PROCESSING & DELIVERY EXPECTATIONS

Depending on the combination of items you order, the order processing time will vary. In order to maintain competitive shipping rates, we ship all items in one shipment. As soon as all the works are finished and approved by you we will ship your entire order.

Our standard processing time for all orders is approximately 15 - 25 business days. (Average delivery transit time based on orders shipping to addresses in the Continental United States) Therefore to get an accurate idea of the total delivery time for your order, take note of this simple equation:

PROCESSING TIME + SHIPPING TIME = DELIVERY TIME

ORDER VERIFICATION

Upon placement of your order we will forward you an electronic receipt via e-mail that will breakdown all charges and give you the total amount of your bill including all shipping charges and sales tax (if applicable).

MISLABELLING OF PAINTING NAMES

Passion For Paintings makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of product information on our website. However, on occasion there may be mistakes - a painting we attribute to Monet, for example, may actually have been painted by someone else. These kind of errors are rare, and merely an unfortunate result of having a catalogue of over two hundrey thousand of pictures (and growing).

However, rest assured that the picture you order will be delivered to you – our product codes match the images, not the product name, so if you like the look of something and order it on that basis, that is exactly what you will get.

GUARANTEED FIRST CLASS QUALITY

We take quality very seriously. Every painting is checked by a Master Artist prior to being shipped, and if the painting is not completely satisfactory we will not send it. In fact, customers are welcome to get involved in this process, and can request to have photos sent of the finished painting to review. Any improvements required will be done at no extra cost; we want our customers to be nothing short of delighted with the art they receive.

We are committed to deliver you a top quality painting and in doing so your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed!

Our Quality Guarantee seal:

You expect to purchase a high quality, professionally painted reproduction. But who's inspecting the painter? Who's watching to ensure that you really are getting a quality product?
Our Quality is based on the foundations of our seal of “Quality Guarantee”, which is the Quality Tool that we use to offer its customers a recognisable and guaranteed Quality certificate. The guidelines for this Seal are fully defined in our internal Regulations and Procedures, drawn up by our Quality Council. The Seal of Quality Guarantee is our trademark and is externally audited by advisers.
This is why this Quality System differentiates us from our competitors and also enhances the prestige of our company.

Since we are confident you will be completely satisfied with your purchase we also offer a money back guarantee. If for any reason you are not satisfied, send it back and we will issue a full refund. This is our way of putting our money where our mouths are? You may return it within 30 Days of receipt and receive a full refund for the paid price of the product. Shipping charges will not be refunded.
For detailed information on returning any item you have bought from us, please check the Returns and Exchanges section and contact us. Please make sure you pack the item in the original (undamaged) tube or box and include the completed Return Instructions form which you will find on the back of the Packing List included with your order. Be sure to specify the reason for the return, and what action you would like us to take: Free Replacement or Refund.

Please see our returns and exchanges policy for more information.

QUALITY MATERIALS:

To make sure that the reproductions are true to the original, apart from a talent for painting it is essential that the materials used are of excellent quality. We use several types of oil paint and canvas. Every painting is different and can require different materials to reproduce it.

CANVAS:

For the most part we use several types of high quality cotton canvas. In exceptional cases other types of canvas are used, for instance when the work should look older we can use canvas that has been made to look old.

OILS:

We only use paint of high quality, and we select only the best brands for our use.
The specific type of paint is the painter’s own choice. Depending on their expertise our painters have their own preferences. The painter who creates old masters uses a different paint than for instance a painter who paints impressionist works.

CARE FOR YOUR PAINTING - MAINTENANCE

The paintings we use are works of art that will be valued family possessions for many years to come. There are some aspects you can take care of yourself in preventing your painting to get damaged and to absolutely minimise the natural aging process. Proper care will guarantee the work remains a significant work of art for you yourself and for future generations.

DIRECT SUNLIGHT:

The first aspect you should take into account is the location you will hang the painting. Direct sunlight is best avoided since the UV radiation fades the paint and has it become cracked even in the course of time. If you had your painting varnished, direct sunlight could colour your work darker in some places.

HUMIDITY AND HIGH TEMPERATURES:

High levels of humidity and high temperatures also could damage your painting. We advice you to do everything possible to keep the climate constant in the room where the painting is hung or being kept. In rooms with a humidity exceeding 70% bumps occur which could seriously damage or weaken the painting and make it more vulnerable to future damage. The ideal temperature for an oil painting lies between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Please keep in mind that fluctuations in both temperature and humidity caused by airconditioning systems being switched on and off at night or in the daytime could seriously damage paintings. This causes the paint to lose its elasticity in the course of time. The shrinkage and expansion caused by differences in temperature and humidity can lead to the paint coming off and getting cracked. Also, the frame can be damaged by a constant rise and drop of the room climate.

Never place your work in a room where the air is greasy such as near to the kitchen or in other places where unwanted leakage of greasy air could occur such as near ducts or pipes.

REPAIRS AND CLEANING:

Although cracking of the paint can be treated with special solvents, we do not advise you to apply any sort of fluids to your paintings. Even cleaning it with specially developed cleaning agents can cause irreparable damage when not properly applied.

In due course it is advised to clean your painting in the following way A soft cotton cloth is suitable for cleaning the frame. Use a soft short haired brush to dust the painted canvas. Never clean a work with a damp cloth since this could leave a white layer that cannot be removed by you yourself. Prevent dusting of damaged places in the work where the paint is cracking or coming loose.

If your painting is damaged or if you want to apply a special type of lacquer please contact a local specialist for a thorough advice or repair services. We advise against the use of solvents or lacquers since these can damage the works when applied wrongly.

FRAME YOUR WORK:

Not only does a frame make your painting look finished and more distinguished, it also serves to have the canvas stretcher keep its shape and not damage the canvas. A canvas mounted on just the canvas stretcher could rent apart if the canvas stretcher were to get out of proportion.

We are convinced that you will take good care of your long-term investment in one of our hand painted master works and that it will remain a continuous source of creative expression for you.