Terms & Care

Commissioning Terms & Artwork Care

Thank you for choosing Portraits by ShawnaLee! It is an honor to share my life’s work with you, creating a piece of fine art for your family to enjoy for generations. Investing in an original portrait is a unique collaborative experience. To help you protect and enjoy your investment, please review the studio agreements, copyright guidelines, and archival care instructions below.

I. Terms of Agreement

• Artistic Excellence: Every portrait is hand-rendered exclusively by me using premium, professional-grade artist materials backed by a lifetime dedication to the fine arts.

• Project Commencement: Your commission officially begins on my easel once we have mutually agreed on the design and your first non-refundable custom commission payment has been collected alongside your reference materials.

• Timelines & Reference Photos: Please book well ahead of your deadline, as studio volume and wait-lists fluctuate. If you provide professional reference photographs, they must be accompanied by a signed release from the original photographer.

• Review & Revisions: A clear photograph of your finished portrait will be shared with you for your approval. Within reason, up to three minor adjustments are gladly made. Introducing entirely new reference materials or demanding significant layout changes after work has begun will require a new commission agreement and an additional non-refundable upfront payment.

• Final Delivery: The remaining project balance is due in full prior to your artwork shipping or being picked up locally from my Middlebury, Connecticut studio. Framing and shipping fees are calculated separately.

II. Copyrights & Fair Use

• Copyright Protection: To protect the sustainability of fine artists, all artwork created by ShawnaLee W. Kwashnak remains under strict copyright protection. The artwork may not be photographed, published, altered, or reproduced (including creating personal prints or cards) for any personal or business purpose without ShawnaLee’s explicit written consent.

• Fair Use & Sharing: You are warmly invited to share snapshots of your completed portrait in its new home on social media! When displaying the work online, it must remain completely unaltered. Please credit the source by tagging "Portraits by ShawnaLee" and include the studio website link: shawnalee.com.

III. Archival Care for Your Artwork

• Traditional Oil Paintings: Your oil painting will be dry to the touch upon delivery, but oil paints require significant time to fully cure. Please allow the canvas to cure for at least six months before placing it in a frame, or ensure your framer applies small spacers at the corners to prevent the curing paint from sticking to the frame over time. The painting may be safely varnished after one full year of curing. For general care, dust the surface gently using a clean, soft-haired brush or micro-fiber cloth.

• Charcoal, Pastels & Dry Media: Dry media pieces must be professionally framed behind glass as soon as possible to protect against dust and smudging. I highly recommend utilizing acid-free museum board matting and backing boards alongside non-glare, UV-protection glass (glazing). This shields the work from environmental pollution while allowing you to enjoy your portrait from every viewing angle.

• Environmental Safety: Never display original oil paintings, charcoals, or watercolors in direct sunlight, and protect them from sudden temperature or humidity swings during travel.

Thank you for being an informed patron of the arts and respecting original copyrights!