FAQs
(Frequently Asked Questions)


USER AGREEMENT: NO copying, NO hotlinking! Read the Licensing Info and contact us for permission to use any images or content. ©Dawn Schmidt Ventimiglia/All Rights Reserved
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Can I use Dawn's art for my website, for my tattoo, t-shirt or any other purpose?
Read the Licensing information and contact me to use my work (text or art) for ANY PURPOSE! Copyright violations WILL be prosecuted!
If you are looking for a unique gift with my artwork imprinted on it, we have many products available featuring the art, from clothing to fridge magnets in our Gift Shop.
Theft of any images or text for any use will be subject to usage fees and prosecution!

Do You Airbrush Helmets and Bikes  (Yes, we also airbrush t-shirts!)
After you've approved our sketches and your down payment has been received, we set a date for paint. Helmets are completed in less than 2 weeks. Price varies according to style of helmet and complexity of design.

Motorcycle parts take 2 - 3 weeks from prep to clearcoat, depending on the prep work involved and the amount of detail in the artwork. Price varies depending on prep work, type of paint, and complexity of design.

All of our bike and helmet projects are clearcoated with Glasurit products by the fine folks at
X-clu'sive Collision Center in Danville, Virginia. Glasurit is the recommended finish by BMW, Porsche, Mercedes Benz, Audi, VW, Jeep, Chrysler, and GM.

Acrylic on Canvas Portraits of your Home, Pet, Motorcycle, Boat, or Car
 I enjoy capturing the essence of all creatures. Send a few large, clear pics, and I'll paint a pet portrait of your dog, lizard, horse, llama, manatee, mammoth, fish, skunk, parrot...or your motorcycle, sports car or yacht! Please view the Commission Process for more information and examples of good reference photos.

Portraits are a WONDERFUL gift for an anniversary (or a birthday gift), and a home portrait is a great way to commemorate a life event or a mortgage burning party!

Single Subject: Pet, Boat, Car, Bike
18" x 24"............$175, FREE shipping!
Each additional subject: $75

The Commission Process - Please Read Carefully
 Due to the personal nature of commissioned art pieces, they are not returnable. Great communication is the key to a successful project! With everything on paper, there will be no question about the final product.

1. First, I request design, colors, size info in order to create a rough sketch and quote a price. Note: Due to the amount of time it takes to produce detailed sketches for large projects (murals or highly detailed custom motorcycle projects), they require a $100 non-refundable art fee for detailed sketches. This fee will be deducted from your final bill when the project is done.
   A.  If you are having bike parts painted, I will require info about the condition of your bike tins; any deep scratches, decals, vinyl pin striping, dings, dents, or other issues will incur additional prep costs. I may also ask for clear photos of your bike to assist me in the design process.
   B. If you are having a portrait painted, I will need large, clear reference photos of the subject I am painting for you.
2.  I will send a quote and rough sketches to you. If need be, I will "tweak" the design.
3.  Quoted price and designs are acceptable to you.
4.  In order to accept the terms, you sign a contract which stipulates scope of work, fees, shipping information, and timetable.
5.  You pay half of total fee as down payment (non-refundable) before work begins. We accept payments through PayPal, or you can send a check or money order directly to us. (Note: work will not begin until payments clear)
6.  I complete the project, sending photos to you for approval.
7.  You give final approval of the artwork, or I will make minor changes for approval.
8.  You send final payment plus shipping/insurance costs.
9.  After your payment clears, I then ship out the artwork.
10.  You receive your artwork, and enjoy it for years! :)

Why are down payments non-refundable?
 Because by the time you've made a down payment, I've invested many, many hours into creating design sketches to your specifications.

Imagine that you've worked many hours on a project for your boss, and then he changes his mind halfway through the project...he still gives you your paycheck for those hours, doesn't he? Thank you for understanding that my work time is just as important as yours, and that I deserve to put food on my table, too.

What if you want to make major changes halfway through the project?
If more than 2 minor adjustments are made to artwork already in the painting process, you will be billed a $75 hourly rate for additional time spent on the project. This RARELY happens, as we take pride in covering "all the bases" and getting everything approved on paper BEFORE we get to the painting stage.

We want you to be happy with the final artwork - just keep in mind that making changes will add time and expense to your project.  Great communication from the beginning prevents costly and timely problems later.

Reference Photo Examples
Photos sent to us for portraits need to be CLEAR AND COLORFUL, not grainy and dull! If you have "bad" photos, but like the position of the subject in them, then it's okay to send them, as long as you send additional clear photos of the subject.

Example of Bad Photo Reference for Portraiture
BAD PHOTO!  
Does NOT show detail or color.
Do NOT send this type of photo!		 An "okay" photo reference if combined with more photos."Okay" PHOTO

This photo shows a bit more color, but not much detail. You can send this type of photo if it is sent with additional, clearer photos.

Remember... if you send large, clear photos, the better your painting will look when it's finished!

Also, sending multiple photos helps me "get to know" the subject. More photos = a better final result!

A good reference photo for a pet portrait!BETTER PHOTO!  The large photo at right is large, colorful, and clear -  send this type of photo! I really need close-up photos of the subject's face, too, so that I can paint the eyes right. Parrot ParadiseThe eyes are the window to the soul! You can email us as many photos as you like - I did a parrot portrait of 5 parrots, and we used over 100 pictures for references!

One more note about photos: if you need to send old photos via "snail" mail, PLEASE don't send the originals!!! Make COPIES, and send them with a signature required for delivery. I will send your photos back after the painting is completed, but I can't guarantee how the USPS handles them.

The BEST thing to do is to scan old photos at a high resolution and then email the files to us; then you don't have to worry about precious memories getting lost in the mail.

(c)Dawn Schmidt Ventimiglia. All Rights Reserved.  PRIVACY POLICY

Care of Your New Art: Acrylic paintings can be "dusted" with a slightly damp cloth - water only! It is best if you hang your artwork where it will not get direct sunlight, as bright light will fade a painting's color over the years. If you must put glass over the artwork, be sure to put spacers between the art and the glass!

How to keep your helmet or bike looking brand new after it's been painted...

  • Wash the bike using only clear water for the first 30 days. After 30 days, you can use a mild dish detergent or soap and water to remove road film. Avoid harsh detergents.

  • Rinse with clear water. Dry with a chamois or soft cloth.

  • It's unlikely that your Glasurit finish will ever need wax. If you choose to use wax, avoid doing so for at least 3 months.

  • Avoid spilling gas on the finish. In the event of a spill, allow fuel to evaporate for 1 hour. Then clean with mild detergent and water. Rinse.

Payment Options - How Do I Pay For My Purchase?
 If you order from the Gift Shop, the ordering & payment process is secure through that site's payment system.
Solution Graphics
If you order items directly from us, or wish to have motorcycle parts painted, we accept payments through PayPal. We are a verified PayPal merchant, and you can securely use your credit card, debit card or bank account to make a payment. We will send an invoice and you don't even need a PayPal account to make your purchase.


For all commissioned works, we require 50% down payment upon your acceptance of the contract terms, and the final payment plus shipping before we will send your artwork, motorcycle parts, or helmet to you. Please view the Commission Process  for more information.

SHIPPING 
Please note: we no longer ship outside the continental U.S.A.!

For bike parts coming directly from our studio, we ship via UPS or FED EX and all items will be insured. If you are sending motorcycle parts to us for painting, you MUST insure them and pack them in very sturdy boxes! We will re-use the same boxes to ship the parts back to you. Please use a bigger box with lots of packing, or better yet, use one box placed inside another with packing between them.

Smaller items from our Eclectica shop are sent insured via the USPS.

Damaged Items: If there is any damage to the package when it arrives to your home, make note of damages with the carrier, take pictures, and PLEASE keep all packing materials to make a claim! If the shipper can't see how the items were packed, or how the package was damaged, you may not be able to collect on your claim.

UPS and the UPS brand mark are trademarks that are used with permission by the owner, United Parcel Service of America, Inc. All rights reserved.
NEWS!
March 2010: Our Eclectica Shop is now OPEN! Purchase ORIGINAL artwork by Dawn, including canvas works, pinstriped items, and airbrushed T-shirts, or browse through some unique and unusual items for sale, including BIKE PARTS!

Or, visit our new EclecticDawnArts GIFT SHOP!