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[ prints specs ] [ methods of payment ] [ shipping ] [ returns policy ]


[ original painting specs ] [ paintings to order (commissions) ]

[ electronic reproduction ] [ copyright ] [ framing ] [ privacy policy ]



Original Watercolour Painting Specifications


What are the measurements of the original paintings?

What is the paint used (medium) of the original paintings?

What constitues a 'watercolour / watercolor' painting?

What is the difference between painting mediums (eg. oil, acrylic, watercolour, gouache)?

What paper do you use?

Do original watercolour paintings fade?

Does the painting have a number, like the prints?

How do you package paintings for shipping?
  Are original paintings signed by the artist?

What is the difference between a painting and a print?

Is an original painting a good investment?

How should my painting be framed?

How do I know if my painting is an authentic Sue Dickinson painting?

Is it true that watercolour is the most difficult painting medium to use?

How do I protect my painting against damage?

Can you ship a framed painting?


What are the measurements of the paintings?
Standard size: 54 x 72cm (about 21 x 28 inches). Small size: 38 x 28cm (15 x 11 inches). Extra-large size 150 x 100cm (60 x 40 inches).

Does the painting have a number, like the prints?
No, the original watercolour paintings are not numbered.  Some artists number their originals as 1/1, but this is not common practice.

What constitutes a 'watercolour / watercolor' painting?
A watercolour painting is one that the artist has painted using water-based media.  There is considerable debate about this topic.  Purists believe that ‘true’ watercolours are painted with transparent watercolour paint only.  Others believe that water-based media can include opaque, water-based paint.  All of the paintings on this site are ‘true’ watercolours, with certain white highlights, like whiskers, painted with opaque white gouache.

How should my painting be framed?
It is very important for your painting to be "Conservation Framed". This framing method uses acid-free board, tape and glue. Any reputable framer will know about Conservation Framing. It is suggested that the prints be framed behind glass. It is customary to leave a small margin of white space between the printed area and the edge of the framing mount board. This margin of white space is where the signature and number of the print appear. Please!  NEVER use non-reflective glass.  It makes watercolour paintings appear dull and murky.
See FRAMING below for more information.

Is it true that watercolour is the most difficult painting medium to use?
This is a subjective question but …  Watercolour is a very unforgiving medium because once the paint is on the paper, it’s there for good.  If still wet, a small amount of paint can be mopped up or lifted, but there is almost always a faint residue.  For watercolourists there is no white paint.  Any white in the painting comes from the paper itself, where no paint has been applied.  Opaque white gouache can be used very sparingly over dark colours, but this tends to look chalky.  So, yes, watercolour is difficult.  Oil and acrylic painters can scrape off paint, or overpaint virtually limitlessly.

Can you ship a framed painting?
Yes.  The painting is protected as much as possible against the glass breaking with bubble wrap, then a custom-built crate is made for freight shipping.  South African orders are sent via courier to most addresses.  Please note that shipping costs are higher.

 

 

 



 


What paint is used (medium)?
Artists’ watercolour paints. Watercolour paints are available in two grades: "Artist" and "Student". Artist quality paints are richer in colour and produce vibrant mixes. Student grade paints have less pigment, and often are formulated using two or more less expensive pigments. “Artist” paints are more expensive but many consider the quality worth the higher cost. Sue uses only Winsor & Newton Artists’ quality watercolour paint for purity, quality and reliability.

What paper do you use?
Saunders Waterford paper, 300 or 600 g/m2. HP surface (medium rough texture).  Saunders Waterford Series is the finest watercolor paper, is a 100% rag mould-made paper, acid free and buffered against atmospheric contamination giving archival permanence. The natural white sheet contains no optical brighteners, thus having excellent colour stability and surface strength.

Does the painting have a number, like the prints?
No, the original watercolour paintings are not numbered.  Some artists number their originals as 1/1, but this is not common practice.

How do you package paintings for shipping?
Paintings are sent flat between 2 sheets of polystyrene.

Is an original painting a good investment?
Sue’s paintings sold for R1 500 in 1994.  Their value has increased to R22 500 in 2007.  The price will continue to rise and, perversely, will increase dramatically when Sue dies.

How do I know if my painting is an authentic Sue Dickinson painting?
Only buy an original painting from a reliable source.  Sue keeps a record of every sale, so you can authenticate a painting through her.  It is difficult to tell the difference between a painting and a print because print technology is so advanced.  If you need to differentiate between the two, view the paint with a magnifying glass.  A print will have a very small dot pattern.  An original will not, though some watercolour paints do have a grainy appearance.  If in doubt, get the help of an expert.

How do I protect my painting against damage?
Frame behind glass, using Conservation Framing. Spray the wall on which the painting is hanging regularly with insecticide.  Fish moths love watercolour paintings! Hang the painting out of direct sunlight, and away from any source of condensation like a kettle or bath.

Are the original paintings signed by the artist?
Yes, always.




 

 

Painting Commissions

How do I commission a painting?
Send a PRIVATE message to Sue in the Guestbook.
Supply your contact details (your name, email address and/or a telephone number).
Sue will contact you within a day or two to discuss exactly what you have in mind.

What if I don't like a completed painting?
There's no obligation to accept a painting until you are 100% satisfied with it! (Within reason)

How do I specify the subject-matter?
Sue has an extensive image library, but if you have your own photographs of any specific subject, you can send copies to Sue for her reference purposes. Not all photographs are suitable.

Can I specify the style?
Please note that any painting commissioned will be in Sue's distinctive, clean style.

 

How does payment for a commissioned painting work?
A price will be agreed upon and 50% deposit is payable before the painting is begun. Sue will provide payment options. When you approve of the completed painting, the balance of your payment is payable.

What methods of payment can I use?
Payment can be made using MonsterPay Secure Payments, PayPal or electronic funds transfer. Sue will provide you with her banking details.

Do I approve the painting as it progresses?
Yes. You and Sue will communicate throughout the process. Sue begins by drawing her subject in pencil, and then sends you a progress photo for your approval. Several progress photos can be sent in the course of creating a painting. Sue sends you a photo of the completed painting.


 electronic reproductions

Electronic Reproduction

Electronic reproduction on this site is done with the best technology available. However, there is a reduction in the quality of images. The scans used on this site have been compressed as much as possible so that their download time is fast, while remaining as close as possible to the original artwork.

However, if you are in any way dissatisfied with your original painting, please do not hesitate to contact me. Your 14-day return guarantee means that you can return paintings if they do not meet with your expectations. Paintings must be securely packaged and returned in their original condition and will then be subject to a full purchase price refund.





 chicken

 
Copyright

All artwork on this site remains the copyright of Sue Dickinson and is protected by South African Copyright Law.

No image may be reproduced in any way whatsoever without the express written permission of the artist.

Copyright and Licensing enquiries - please use the GUESTBOOK

Please note that copyright is NOT transferred if you buy an original artwork. The copyright is always retained by the artist. Reproduction of an original artwork is not permitted.





Framing

How should my print be framed?
Should my framer use glass, plexiglass or non-reflective glass?
How much space should be allowed around the print for the mount board?
What colour mount board should my framer use?
Should my framer use an inner mount board?
How wide should the mount boards be?
What kind of frame moulding should I choose?


How should my print be framed?
It is very important for your print to be "Conservation Framed". This method utilises acid-free board, tape and glue. Any reputable framer will know about Conservation Framing. The two enemies of any artwork are acid and UV rays from the sun. Standard board, standard sticky tape and glue have a high acid content, which can destroy a painting or print.


Should my framer use glass, plexiglass or non-reflective glass?
Glass is my first choice, then plexiglass. Watercolour paintings should NEVER, EVER be framed with non-reflective glass - it just deadens the natural luminosity of a watercolour.


How much space should be allowed around the print for the mount board?
It is customary to leave a small margin of white space between the printed area and the edge of the framing mount board (approximately 1cm). This margin of white space is where the signature and number of the print appear. This doesn't apply to original paintings.



What colour mount board should my framer use?
I recommend an off-white colour, as close to the actual print paper as possible.


Should my framer use an inner mount board?
Because several of my paintings and prints have no "background", it looks good to have a dark inner - a width of about 1cm - surrounding the print. This can be in the form of a dark mount board, or a slip.


How wide should the mount boards be?
Please allow the print to breathe! The paintings and prints are shown to their best advantage with a surrounding mount board of about 10cm (4 inches) or more.


What kind of frame moulding should I choose?
This is really open to your taste and where the framed painting/print will be hung. Fashions also change. At the moment a wide, flat moulding is very popular and looks good in a dark mahogany colour. The moulding shouldn't be too narrow because this can look odd. There are so many great frames available and I've seen my prints looking good in some almost Baroque frames.


Please contact Sue via the GUESTBOOK if you have further queries.

For further infomation about prints, see here.

 





tortoise

Privacy Policy

Under NO circumstances will I share information that has been submitted to me on this site with any third party. If you would like to receive notification of any changes and additions to this site, please sign my Guestbook or join the free Newsletter mailing list.

You can be certain that I am the only person who will see your information. I will send you mail only if you have given me permission to do so.

Sue

 

 


Cheetah spoor

Prints Specifications

What are the measurements of the Prints?
What is a Giclée Print?
How does the printing process work?
What paper do you use?
Will my Giclée Print last forever?
What does the print's number mean?
What does 'Limited' mean?
Is a Limited Edition Print as valuable as an Original Painting?
What is the relative value of different types of prints?
Does Sue hand-sign each print?
What is the difference between a painting and a print?
Is a print a good investment?
What is the size of the prints?
How should my print be framed?
How do I know if my print is authentic?


What are the measurements of the Prints?
Small - 45 x 30cm (18 x 12 inches)
Large - 60 x 45 centimeters (24 x 18 inches)


What is a Giclée Print?
The word giclée, pronounced "zhee-clay" is a French word that means "to spray". A giclée print is made by using a highly sophisticated and very expensive ink jet printer. Its drum based technology creates prints that are almost identical to the original artwork. It is a large printer, capable of printing to extra-large sizes.

Its proprietary ink/ink calibration system results in virtually continuous tone prints. This means that the dot pattern which can be easily discernable on ordinary prints, is much finer, closer together, more random and more precise. The combination of specially formulated inks and unique pre-print system produces museum-quality prints.

The reproduced colours are rich and accurate - a feature particularly visible in both very dark or very light areas. A giclée print falls between a serigraph and a lithograph in quality and economy.


How does the printing process work?
The first step in creating a giclée print is to convert the original art into a digital file. Saved at an extremely high resolution, each file size is very large and is saved to a Zip Disk or CD. Once the art is in a digital format, it can be touched up and perfected in the software program and closely viewed as any corrections in color or clarity are made. It is essential at this stage for the artist and printer to work very closely, ensuring that the digital image is as close to the original painting as possible.




The print paper or canvas is wrapped around the drum of the IRIS, spinning at a high speed. Eight nozzles, each containing a separate color (CMYK) travel along the drum, spraying ink and forming the image. The micro drop size and 1800 dpi resolution compose unquestionably high-quality prints. The time it takes to run off just one giclée print could be as long as 1 hour.

Giclées are appearing in the finest galleries around the world. Understanding this process is becoming a necessity for everyone who wants to be up-to-date on the current state of the art world.


What paper do you use?
Museum quality water colour paper is a heavy porous stock with little or no acid content. Acid is the enemy of art prints, and, with sunlight, is the cause of yellowing and fading. The paper's pores absorb the acrylic inks and cure with highly saturated brilliant color for life-like detail. The giclée prints on water colour paper are best displayed matted and framed behind normal glass, as you would a fine art photograph.


Will my Giclée Print last forever?
Preservation and Longevity - it is not advisable to hang any art in direct sunlight, as this will eventually damage the work (this applies to artwork in any medium, including oils). A certain amount of fading will occur over a period of about 30 years. Provided your prints are not hung in direct sunlight and are correctly framed or stored, they should last you a lifetime.The digital art is sealed with a clear topcoat glaze that protects the vibrant colors from ultraviolet light.


What does the print's number mean?
Each print has two numbers, which appear like this on the print:

limited edition

The bottom number (in this example, 400) refers to the number of prints in the edition. The top number (26) means that this is the 26th print in a series of 400 prints. Once the stated number of a limited edition has been reached, no more prints are made from that original image. Both the artist and the printer destroy all high-resolution scans of the image, ensuring that no more prints are made. An OPEN edition means that there is no limit to the number of prints produced from the same original image.


What does "Limited" mean?
Limited refers to the bottom number of the print. Once that number is defined, which it must be before the series is printed, more copies of the print cannot be made. The print has had its quantity LIMITED, or prescribed.


Is a Limited Edition Print as valuable as an Original Painting?
No, an original painting is more valuable because it is one of a kind - literally the ORIGINAL.


What is the relative value of different types of prints?
A LIMITED edition is usually much more valuable than an OPEN edition.A smaller limited edition (eg. 40) is usually more valuable than a larger limited edition (eg. 4000) Prints that have the artist's original signature are more valuable than an unsigned or mass-printed artist's signature edition. As always, it depends upon supply and demand.

prints

Does Sue hand-sign each print?
Yes, each print is individually hand-signed and hand-numbered, in pencil, on the bottom of each print. The number appears on the bottom left; the signature appears on the bottom right. If you lightly run your finger over the signature, the pencil should leave a faint residue on your finger.


What is the difference between a painting and a print?
With the sophistication of modern printing methods, it can be difficult to differentiate between an original painting and a print. Under a magnifying glass, you should be able to see the fine dot pattern that is distinctive for a print. The original painting will not have a dot pattern.


Is a print a good investment?
Yes. The investment value of these prints is enhanced by their limited number and by the artist hand-signing and hand-numbering each individual print which is produced. They are not as valuable as the original painting, but will still be a valuable collector's item. In most cases, a limited edition print will increase in value in the same way as an original. For example, a 1984 limited edition print by wildlife artist Terry Redlin sold for $600. Now the same print sells for $2,800.


What is the size of the prints?
SIZE OF LARGE PRINTS
Paper size = 60cm wide by 45cm high (± 24 1/2 inches by ± 18 inches) - slightly larger than A2.
Printed area = 54cm wide by 40 cm high (± 21 inches by ± 16 inches)
SIZE OF SMALL PRINTS
Paper size = 45cm wide by 30cm high
Printed area = 41cm wide by 26 cm high


How should my print be framed?

It is very important for your print to be "Conservation Framed". This method uses acid-free board, tape and glue. Any reputable framer will know about Conservation Framing. It is suggested that the prints be framed behind glass. It is customary to leave a small margin of white space between the printed area and the edge of the framing mount board. This margin of white space is where the signature and number of the print appear.


How do I know if my print is authentic?
If you are in any doubt about the authenticity of a Sue Dickinson limited edition print, please contact the artist directly via the GUESTBOOK. A record of ownership is kept by the artist, with details of the original purchaser of each numbered print. In this way, the prints' "provenance" (or source history) can be traced.

Sue will supply you with a Certificate of Authenticity if required for insurance purposes (please request this when ordering), but if the authenticity of your print is in doubt it is highly likely that your Certificate is a forgery too.

 


Methods of Payment

 

www.monsterpay.com
Use the shopping cart on individual pages

 

 

www.paypal.com
Use this page to order

 

 

Electronic Funds Transfer

Contact Sue for Bank Details


 oxwagon

Shipping


How long does it take you to dispatch an original painting?
How long does it take you to dispatch Limited Edition Prints?
How long does shipping take?
What does shipping cost?
What is the cost of shipping for more than one item?
How do you package paintings and/or prints?
How do you ship paintings larger than standard size?
Is there a handling fee?
Will my parcel be insured?
Will I have to pay taxes or duties?
What happens if I don't like the painting when I see it?
Which countries can you ship to?

How long does it take you to dispatch an original painting?
Original paintings are shipped within 24 hours if they are in stock. Please note that some original paintings are on exhibit in galleries, but are still available for sale. In this event, Sue will contact you with a more exact time frame for dispatch. It is advisable to contact Sue before purchasing an original painting, to check availability.


How long does it take you to dispatch Limited Edition Prints?
If the prints are in stock, they will ship within 24 hours. However, if the prints are not in stock - which is often the case - they are ordered from Sue's printer within 24 hours. After that, it normally takes about 4 additional working days for Sue's printer to print the order and ship it back to Sue for signing, numbering and dispatch. Please bear this in mind when ordering. With shipping dispatch time included, you can expect your print from within 14 working days (in stock), and up to 25 working days (special order).


How long does shipping take?
Regular Parcel Airmail takes from 5 to 21 working days, depending upon your location. To USA - about 10 days. To Europe - about 7 days. Please contact Sue via the GUESTBOOK if you would like specific shipping times.


What does shipping cost?
Shipping from South Africa is expensive. Please allow for this when ordering. The average cost of shipping from South Africa to USA is ZAR115.60 (approximately $18.00); to Europe ZAR143.10 (approximately EUR19.00 ). The good news is that this shipping rate applies to orders of up to 12 prints. See details below. This is because packages are shipped on their volumetric size, not their weight.


What is the cost of shipping for more than one item?
If you order any limited edition print or standard size painting, you can add further prints/paintings with no additional shipping cost. FREE! You pay for shipping only one print/painting, up to a maximum of 6 items. For orders exceeding 6 items, please contact us at info@suedickinson.co.za for a shipping quotation.


How do you package paintings and/or prints?
Paintings and prints are packaged in the same way. They are packed flat (not rolled), between 2 thick pieces of polystyrene. In this way they are protected against damage.


How do you ship paintings larger than standard size?
Paintings larger than 72 x 54cm (standard size) are shipped in a special way, depending upon their exact size. Please contact us for a specific quote for your location.


Is there a handling fee?
Handling and packaging are factored into the price of shipping.


Will my parcel be insured?
Yes. Insurance is automatically included in the price. In the unlikely event of a painting/prints being damaged or stolen in transit, you will receive a full refund or replacement of your order.


Will I have to pay taxes or duties?
This varies from country to country and also depends upon the value of your order. Please contact your country's Customs and Excise Department for further information


What happens if I don't like the painting when I see it?
You can return a painting within 14 days if you are in any way dissatisfied with it. See Sue's GUARANTEE for full details.


Which countries can you ship to?
All countries worldwide. Unless there's a civil war going on.

 



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Returns Policy

It is sometimes difficult to choose a painting or print on the internet. If you order a painting/print and it does not meet with your expectations, you may return it within 14 days. If you would like to return a painting, please notify Sue first via the GUESTBOOK

Please provide the following information:
- your full name and address
- your telephone number
- your reason for returning the painting/print.

IMPORTANT: Please notify Sue BEFORE returning an order.
Please place the original documentation in the package and re-wrap securely. Return postage must be prepaid and insured - C.O.D. returns cannot be accepted.

Send the painting/print to:
SUE DICKINSON
P O Box 8151
SONPARK
1206
Mpumalanga Province
South Africa

For your protection, please use Insured Parcel Post for return shipment. Shipping costs can only be compensated if the return is a result of our error.

We do everything we can to ship your order safely and securely, and we're proud to report that an order has never gone missing or been returned.