General Questions

• How long will it take to get my painting?
   

   

  Again, our process is.

  • 1) You send us your photograph - upload, email or regular mail.
  • 2) We email you the prototype design of the painting.
  • 3) You confirm the design or ask us to make changes.
  • 4) We create your painting.
  • 5) We email you a photograph of the painting.
  • 6) You agree with the result or ask us to make changes.
  • 7) We ship the painting to you as soon as it dries.

  Depending on how much work is stacked up for our designers, it will take 1-3 days to design the painting. The design state is a very important part of this process - it is where we make a lot of decisions with you about what we are trying to do with the painting. Once we have finished, we will email you an image of the design. Assuming you have no changes you want made, we can then start the painting. The good news is that we are much faster than Da Vinci. While he took 4 years to complete the Mona lisa, we rarely spend more than ten days on a painting and most of that time is waiting for a layer to dry. There are certain pigments that will dry more quickly but oils don't dry by evaporation they harden by a chemical reaction.

  While technology advances the first sketch and value study, the oil painting still progresses much as it did hundreds of years ago. I like to take the image and project it on a canvas and do a quick outline in charcoal or a very diluted color. Because I am most patient at this stage, I then do the focus of the painting. This can be a feature - eye's, hair, face - or some other line or shape. This is the part that determine's the success of the painting. Once this is nearly done, I approach the background elements and use them to draw the eye back to the focus. For portraits, we almost always get the portrait to look exactly like the picture. In our sports action and sometimes in our portraits we capture much more than just the image.

  Once we are finished with the painting, we will take a digital picture of the painting and send it to you for your approval. If everything looks ok to you and no changes are required, we will let the painting harden to the point where it is safe to ship. We have found that this is the most difficult stage and it requires discipline. We know you are anxious to hang the painting in your home and we are anxious to have a pleased customer. But if we rush it, we could ruin the painting. So depending on the pigments used, the thickness of the paint (like an impasto style for example) this will take 4-8 days.

  Once we have a painting ready for shipment, we do our final quality control and accounting check. (Our business manager doesn't like it if we ship paintings that haven't been paid for). If all is ok, we cover the painting with a protective layer and put it in a reinforced mailing tube. If you selected the optional frame or stretcher bars, these will be included at this step as well. Then depending on the mode of shipment you selected, your painting will arrive a few days later.

  We have thought of using other methods and mediums to speed up the process but we just didn't like what we would have to sacrifice to get there. Taking an extra few days on something that will last more than 100 years seems like a small price to pay.

• Can I make special requests to be done on my painting?
   

   

  Yes, you can. Just give our artists directions when you fill in the order form or by sending an email after ordering.

• Can I preview my painting before it is shipped to me?
   

   

  Absolutely! That is one of the steps in our process is to email you a photograph of your painting as we near completion. That way we will be able to accomodate any last minute changes you would like.

• What file format should my photo be in?
   

   

  We can handle most any digital format but we prefer Jpeg or Tiff. If you need to send some other format, please check with us first. You should send us the highest resolution image possible - 1024x768 pixels or greater.

• How long will it take to get my painting?
   

   

  Again, our process is.

  • 1) You send us your photograph - upload, email or regular mail.
  • 2) We email you the prototype design of the painting.
  • 3) You confirm the design or ask us to make changes.
  • 4) We create your painting.
  • 5) We email you a photograph of the painting.
  • 6) You agree with the result or ask us to make changes.
  • 7) We ship the painting to you as soon as it dries.

  Depending on how much work is stacked up for our designers, it will take 1-3 days to design the painting. The design state is a very important part of this process - it is where we make a lot of decisions with you about what we are trying to do with the painting. Once we have finished, we will email you an image of the design. Assuming you have no changes you want made, we can then start the painting. The good news is that we are much faster than Da Vinci. While he took 4 years to complete the Mona lisa, we rarely spend more than ten days on a painting and most of that time is waiting for a layer to dry. There are certain pigments that will dry more quickly but oils don't dry by evaporation they harden by a chemical reaction.

  While technology advances the first sketch and value study, the oil painting still progresses much as it did hundreds of years ago. I like to take the image and project it on a canvas and do a quick outline in charcoal or a very diluted color. Because I am most patient at this stage, I then do the focus of the painting. This can be a feature - eye's, hair, face - or some other line or shape. This is the part that determine's the success of the painting. Once this is nearly done, I approach the background elements and use them to draw the eye back to the focus. For portraits, we almost always get the portrait to look exactly like the picture. In our sports action and sometimes in our portraits we capture much more than just the image.

  Once we are finished with the painting, we will take a digital picture of the painting and send it to you for your approval. If everything looks ok to you and no changes are required, we will let the painting harden to the point where it is safe to ship. We have found that this is the most difficult stage and it requires discipline. We know you are anxious to hang the painting in your home and we are anxious to have a pleased customer. But if we rush it, we could ruin the painting. So depending on the pigments used, the thickness of the paint (like an impasto style for example) this will take 4-8 days.

  Once we have a painting ready for shipment, we do our final quality control and accounting check. (Our business manager doesn't like it if we ship paintings that haven't been paid for). If all is ok, we cover the painting with a protective layer and put it in a reinforced mailing tube. If you selected the optional frame or stretcher bars, these will be included at this step as well. Then depending on the mode of shipment you selected, your painting will arrive a few days later.

  We have thought of using other methods and mediums to speed up the process but we just didn't like what we would have to sacrifice to get there. Taking an extra few days on something that will last more than 100 years seems like a small price to pay.

• What is your return policy?
   

   

  Please note that you will receive an email just as we are completing the painting so there shouldn't be any surprises when we finally ship to you. If however, for some reason you don't like the painting, we will refund the full payment (less shipping) when you return the painting to us.

• What kind of payments do you accept?
   

   

  We use Paypal as our backend on-line payment processor. YOU DO NOT need to be a Paypal member to pay for your order. Non-Paypal members can pay using most 'recognized' credit cards. Paypal members can pay us using any of the payment methods that are available to their Paypal account. Please note that Paypal eCheck payments MUST clear before we can process your order. This is a Paypal policy that we strictly adhere to.

• Does the painting come with a frame?
   

   

  We can deliver your painting in one of three ways. The first is as a rolled canvas shipped in a tube. This is actually the safest way to ship. The second way is for us to stretch the canvas over a wooden frame as a gallery wrap which is suitable for hanging on your wall as it is.

  The final presentation of your painting is framed. We only provide black floating frames for our paintings.

• Do I receive confirmation of my order?
   

   

  Once you have placed your order, we will forward you an electronic receipt via e-mail which will breakdown all charges and give you the total amount of your bill. If you do not receive verification, it may be your order was either not processed or that you are unable to receive emails from us (are we in your spam or junk folder?).

  We will ask that you provide us with alternative methods of contacting you.

  You will receive an email from us:

  1. When we receive the order.
  2. When we present you with a design to approve.
  3. When we start painging.
  4. When we are nearly done painting
  5. When your painting is drying.
  6. When your painting is being shipped.

  .

• What methods of payment do you accept?
   

   

  We use Paypal to process your order. They will process your American Express, Discover, Master Card or Visa credit card. We will never have your credit card number so your transaction will be very secure.

  You also do not need a Paypal account to order - we will send you a Paypal invoice which will walk you through the process very quickly.

• How much does a painting from a photo cost?
   

   

  We are not at the low end.  We will provide you with  a quality product that will last you many years.  We also don't charge extra for more figures in the painting.  Our prices run from $195 to well over $1,000.  Please see *prices* for more information.

• I dont have a scanner. Can I mail you my photos?
   

   

  You bet.  Just send them  along with your ordere number on the outside to:

      Pearl Mountain Studios

     223 West Main Street

    Collinsville, Illinois 62234

   

  Be sure to mark them "Do Not bend or Fold" and support them with cardboard or other firm backing.  If you want the photograph returned, please indicate in your mailing.

• How good does my picture have to be?
   

   

  For Photo-to-Canvas you should have a good image both in terms of contrast, resolution and focus. As a rule of thumb, most 3 megapixel and up cameras along with a scan of a photo at 300dpi should assure a good quality printing up to 20x24in (60x90cm). You can always email the picture to us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and ask us to size it for you.

  For an oil painting, we can do much more with less quality. For example, here are images of the original picture taken through a backstop screen and the resulting painting.

• Can I send two pictures?
   

   

  Many of our portraits are made from multiple pictures - especially children. A picture of two children almost never is good of both children. If you're doing three children - the odds against finding that perfect picture are astronomical. Our upload is configured for one file so you may either put multiple pictures in a zip file or just email them to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

   

  Note: While our portraits do include a surcharge for multiple subjects, we may need to add on an additional charge if there is a lot of work on the design of the painting. For example, if one picture shows the subject in bright sunlight and another in the shade we would have a bit of work to do. However, we will always advise you in advance if we feel an additional charge is necessary.

• I can't decide which photo to send. Can you give me some suggestions?
   

   

  For some samples of our previous works, check out our portrait gallery.

  Our most popular requests are paintings of:

  • Wedding
  • Anniversary
  • Business Portraits - Officers, Board Members , Founder
  • Friends, Family, Children
  • Beautiful scenery
  • Homes, Building, Cars, Motorcycles
  • Pets

  
  If the photgraph is of something special, then it's likely the image to get painted.

• What style can you paint my photo in?
   

   

  I personally prefer the impressionist or expressionist style of painting where the details are suggested.  But doing the same kinds of paintings would get boring so we will entertain any style you wish.

  I have a network of artists that do work with us and we can pretty much find an expert in any style you might suggest.

   

  We have had occasions where people request the painting in "Monet” or "Neiman" style. If you have a request like this, enter it in the special instructions text box. If there is a painting that you would like yours to look like, please send us a copy of that painting as well (or provide the artisst and title)

• What sizes of painting are you offer?
   

   

  Our standard sizes are 16x20, 20x24 and 20x30, 30x36 and 36x48. We can do any customized size. We stock canvas up to 60" x 18 feet.