FAQ - Buying Artwork Online in Canada

FAQ - Buying Artwork Online in Canada at Zero Gravity Artwork

CANVAS & PAPER INFORMATION

What types of paper is your artwork printed on?

Paper Type	Description	Printing Technology	Quality Rating	Ready to Hang	Benefits
Photo Paper	Description: Smooth finish, semi-gloss	Printing Technology: Inkjet or Laser	Quality Rating: 3 Stars	Ready to Hang: (needs to be framed)	Benefits: Inexpensive, ships easily
Gallery Wrapped Canvas	Description: Textured, varnished, already stretched onto a wooden frame	Printing Technology: Giclée	Quality Rating: 5 Stars	Ready to Hang:	Benefits: Museum quality, protected from UV light & moisture, no framing required, minimal glare, lightweight

For more details on each paper type, please see the answers below.

What is "Gallery Wrapped Canvas"?
Gallery wrapped canvas is when the canvas is professionally stretched over a wooden frame to give it depth and is ready to hang on your wall immediately. All you need is your own nail or screw, as it comes pre-equipped with the necessary hanging hardware. Sometimes it is referred to as "stretched canvas", but often stretched canvas alone has staples showing on the sides and is meant to have a frame placed around its edges. Gallery wrapped canvas has the staples hidden on the back to create a final piece that looks great on its own.

Shipping-wise, the downside of ordering gallery wrapped canvas is that the shipping cost will be higher due to its bulkier size, particularly with larger art.
What is your photo paper like for posters?
Photo paper is a great alternative to canvas that is easier on the wallet.

It has a smooth, semi-gloss finish, is thicker and more durable than regular paper, and can be framed however you like.

Shipping-wise, the benefit of ordering photo paper is that the shipping cost will be lower due to its compact size and ability to be rolled up in a mailing tube, if necessary.
Does the canvas come varnished?
Yes - all canvas prints sold through this website come varnished. The coating helps protect against UV light and moisture.
What is "Giclée" printing?
Giclée printing is a process that creates museum quality, digital prints of fine art. Fade-resistant inks are used to create long lasting, high quality canvas prints. All canvas artwork sold through this website are giclée prints.
Why are posters a lot less expensive than canvas?
The canvas prints available for sale here are created using musuem quality, giclée technology, which very accurately captures the colours and details of the original artwork. When you add up the cost to use this technology plus the higher price of canvas paper and varnish, the end result is more expensive. Photo paper, on the other hand, is lower in price because it's printed with a laser or inkjet printer, and the paper stock itself costs a lot less. The colour accuracy and overall quality is still good, but not as superb in comparison to giclée canvas.
Where can I buy picture frames?
If you buy photo paper prints, you will probably want to get them framed. If you're looking for affordable plastic frames, I highly recommend Michaels Arts & Crafts because they have a large assortment of ready-to-use poster frames that are quite reasonable in quality for their price. They also offer custom framing services as well.
What if I want a different size of artwork than what you have listed?
I enjoy offering different sizes of artwork to accommodate various budgets and tastes. If you would like a different size than what I have listed for the product(s) you are interested in, please contact me for a quote and to see if that size is possible.

PRINT EDITIONS & ORIGINALS

What is an "Open Edition" canvas print?
An open edition canvas print means that an unlimited number of reproductions can be made of the artwork. There is no set amount of prints that can be produced.
What is a "Limited Edition" canvas print?
A limited edition canvas print means that there are a limited number of reproductions that can be made of the artwork on canvas. Once that limit has been reached, no further prints can be made, making the existing editions quite valuable. Each limited edition print is numbered and signed, and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Please note that the restriction only applies to canvas prints - the artwork itself may be further reproduced on other materials such as clothing, mugs, photo paper and brochures.
What is a "Certificate of Authenticity" (COA)?
For limited edition canvas prints, a certificate of authenticity (COA) is a signed document, stating that the artwork is distributed in a set number of canvas prints that is not to be exceeded. I include a COA with all limited edition canvas prints I sell - it details the print number you have, the total limit, the title of the piece, and other related information. It is important to keep the COA to prove its value if you ever sell it or give it as a gift.
Do you sell your originals?
For personal artwork such as portraits, yes. For subject requests and other custom artwork, it depends. For everything else, I hang on to the originals and instead sell high quality canvas prints and posters of my work. Please see the next answer about personal and custom artwork.
Do you take requests for custom artwork?
Yes, as long as I have a high-resolution photo to work from. There are 2 types of custom artwork as described below:

• Personal Custom Artwork (i.e. portrait of your child or pet - something that is personal to you and would not be sold to others)
• Artwork Subject Request (i.e. portrait of a celebrity or public figure - something that others may also be interested in buying)

Personal custom artwork is something that can only be sold once, and the buyer gets the original work. Please visit the Custom Art & Portraits page for full details.

Requesting a subject for a new piece of art that you would be interested in buying is something I take into consideration. For example, I get many suggestions to do more worded ink drawings of various bands and celebrities. If I like the suggestion or feel that it would be popular enough to sell, I may add it to my to-do list of future art projects - however, it can take years before it gets done. I accept $100 request fees if you want your choice bumped up to the top of my list and therefore done in a reasonable timeline that we agree upon. On the other hand, If I don't feel like your request would be popular enough to sell multiple copies of, I will consider selling you the original as a commissioned piece instead.

ORDERING & METHODS OF PAYMENT

What ordering options do you have?
• Shop & pay online, then have it delivered or shipped to you
• Shop & pay online, then pick up your order
• Email in your order for pick up or delivery, then pay with cash (in-stock items only)

Free delivery and pickups are done in Edmonton, AB. Shipping is worldwide.
What do you use to securely accept payments online?
PayPal is used to securely and conveniently accept payments through this website. They are one of the leading companies for online transactions and are very well known and trusted across the globe. The payment process is done on their servers, and your information is always encrypted and protected.

The checkout process is very efficient if you already have a PayPal account, but you don't need one to checkout. You can still checkout as a guest and simply enter your billing information manually instead of retrieving it from your account.

PayPal is a free service for making payments - buyers are not charged any fees. (Instead, the seller pays the fees.)

If you would like more information, please visit the PayPal website.
What methods of payment do you accept?
For ordering online, I accept PayPal, as described in the above answer. They accept the following methods of payment:

• MasterCard
• Visa
• American Express
• Discover
• Bank Withdrawal (Only if you have a PayPal account and have added your banking information)

If you prefer to pay with cash, you can do so if you are picking up any in-stock items. Please contact me to arrange a pickup date and time at my home studio in Edmonton, Alberta.
What is the process for using the shopping cart and checking out?
1. When you find a product you would like to buy, click on the "Add to Cart" button on its detailed product page.
2. A popup comes up with a sizing chart. Select your size by clicking on the circular button next to it to instantly add it to your cart. A success message will appear, giving you the option to view your cart or keep shopping.
3. When you view your cart, you'll see all the products you've added. You can adjust the quantities or proceed with the checkout process.
4. If you proceed with the checkout process, you will be taken to a delivery options page. You can select free delivery if you qualify, free pickup in Edmonton, otherwise choose to have it shipped to you.
5. If you need it shipped, you will enter your shipping location and press the "Calculate Shipping" button to retrieve your available options. Click on one of them to proceed.
6. You are then taken to a review page that shows the subtotal, shipping costs, and grand total. Press the "Checkout with PayPal" button to be transferred to PayPal's secure server where you enter your billing details and complete the transaction.
7. When PayPal instantly approves your transaction, you will be redirected back to a thank you page on this site, confirming that your order has been received.
8. You will be updated throughout the process of completing your order, so please check your email regularly.

PRICING, SHIPPING & DELIVERY

How do you price your artwork?
I price my prints based on the cost of getting the print made, whether it's on museum quality canvas or photo paper. The bigger it is, the more it costs, because it uses more ink and material. I only calculate this cost after the original has been scanned and adjusted to a digital format. The scan and adjustment of artwork is an expense I do not add in to the price, but my goal is to make up for that cost by selling enough prints after those initial steps. I also do not factor in the time it takes me to do the original art.

For optimal quality, I get my canvas prints made using advanced Giclée technology. This is the reason why my art may be more expensive than buying art at a store that has been mass produced using cheaper methods. Most prints are made to order to keep costs down, but I do keep some in stock.

For custom, personal artwork, the pricing is based on the time it takes to create the original art.
How much are the shipping costs?
This depends on the dimensions, weight and quantities of what you're ordering, as well as your shipping address. To find out exactly, add your desired item(s) to the shopping cart and proceed to the shipping options page. Once you enter your shipping location, the rates for various speeds will be displayed for you to pick from. (If you have a delivery address in Edmonton, you qualify for free delivery!) Anyone in Canada can qualify for free shipping - learn more.
How can I get free shipping?
If your subtotal is $200.00 or more, and you have a delivery address in Canada, a free shipping option will be available to you when you enter your shipping address during the checkout process. It's Expedited shipping by Canada Post, and comes with a tracking number.
What shipping carrier do you use?
Canada Post. If you would prefer to use a different service for your order, please contact me to make arrangements.

When will I receive my order?
The estimated shipping date is provided to you during the checkout process when you choose your shipping speed. If you qualify for free delivery or pick up your order, you can get it any time after your order is ready.

Estimated Order Preparation Time

In Stock Items	Made to Order Poster Prints	Made to Order Canvas Prints	Made to Order Canvas Prints (DECEMBER ONLY)
In Stock Items	1 to 2 business days	Made to Order Poster Prints	3 to 4 business days	Made to Order Canvas Prints	4 to 6 business days	Made to Order Canvas Prints (DECEMBER ONLY)	6 to 12 business days due to the Christmas rush

(Prior to shipping, delivery or pickup.)

You will receive email updates throughout the process of completing your order. When your order is shipped, a tracking number will be sent to you so you can monitor when your package will arrive.

Do you ship internationally?
Yes. However, due to restrictions on shipping sizes outside of Canada, some of my larger artwork cannot be shipped if it's gallery wrapped canvas. After adding items to your cart, the shipping calculator will inform you if it's too big or heavy to ship to your desired location. If this happens, I suggest that you change your order to Photo Paper instead, as they can easily be shipped in compact mailing tubes to cut down on the overall size. Another option is to use a different postal carrier altogether - contact me if you would like a quote.
Do you offer personal delivery to Edmonton?
Yes - if you make your purchase online, or if you are paying with cash for items currently in stock. If you have a delivery address in Edmonton, Alberta, I offer personal delivery of your order to save you from paying shipping costs. I can deliver to your workplace, your home, or whatever is most convenient for you. When your order is ready, I will contact you to arrange a delivery time and date. I'm open to delivering at just about any time of day, including evenings and some weekends.

As you go through the shopping cart process, it will ask you which delivery option you would like. Simply select "Free Delivery within Edmonton".
If you request free delivery without having an Edmonton delivery address, you will be billed the shipping fee, or you can choose to pick up your order instead. Your order will not be sent out until all payments have been made.
Is the delivery really free?
Absolutely! As long as you have a delivery address in Edmonton, Alberta, and make your purchase online (or want to do an in stock cash sale), I will be more than happy to deliver your order directly to you. Please see the above answer for more details.
Can I pick up my order instead?
Sure! Order pickups can be made at my home studio in the west end of Edmonton, Alberta. Please note that if you are paying with cash, only in-stock items can be picked up on a first-come, first-serve basis. This is to prevent unnecessary costs of ordering made-to-order prints if the customer hasn't paid yet and then fails to show up. However, if you purchase online, your complete order will be available for pickup and will be immediately reserved for you. You will see a "Free Pickup in Edmonton" option during the shopping cart's checkout process.
Can I pay in a different currency?
Yes. PayPal accepts multiple currencies and will automatically convert the total purchase price of your payment during the transaction. For more information and to view a list of PayPal's currently accepted currencies, please visit their Multiple Currencies page.

SATISFACTION GUARANTEE

What is your satisfaction guarantee?
Art is subjective and cannot be equally captured through online pictures in the same way it can move you in real life. However, the photos and close-ups of my artwork featured on this website give you a good idea of what to expect. Chances are, your reaction when you receive your new artwork in person will be even better than when you decided to add it to your shopping cart.

As an artist, I take great pride in providing artwork that pleases the eye and enhances any environment. It's important that my customers are also proud to have my artwork on display. If, after receiving your artwork, you are not completely satisfied, please contact me within 3 days to resolve any issues. You can return the product for one of the following options:

• Full refund of total purchase price
• Exchange for another product
• If the new product is of lesser value, you will get the difference paid back to you
• If the new product is of higher value, you will be billed the difference
• Store credit for the total purchase price

If you decide to return your product, please return it in its original packaging. If the reason for return is of a subjective matter, you will be responsible for the return shipping costs. If I made an error with your order, I will refund your return shipping fees once I receive the order back.

Your business is greatly appreciated and I truly hope you enjoy your new artwork.

Modern Artwork & Photography

Based in Edmonton, AlbertaHand-Drawn Word Art, Paintings & Sketches