Back in October I received a message via Fine Art America from a potential customer. She had praise and she had questions.
She wrote:
I love your work. Everything is so beautiful! I am thinking of buying Sunstorm no. 2. I am wondering whether you would advise that I choose canvas or acrylic. I am trying to decide between 24x24 or 30x30. Thank you for your time. And thank you for your beautiful art.
Now, who wouldn’t love to get a compliment like that?
So I went to see which image she was talking about. Here’s what I wrote back to her:
Good questions.
First of all, regarding size… I always read the “buyer reviews” that FAA posts. (There’s a link to them down at the very bottom left of their pages.) This way if there’s a problem with a particular product from FAA, I’ll know about it. I also see the buyer remarks in general about the buying process. One comment I see a lot is that customers often wish they’d bought the next size up. The pictures always look smaller when you receive them than you thought they’d be. So if you are wondering about 24x24 versus 30x30, I would suggest the larger of the two. And please know that I’m not trying to increase my profit here — I genuinely think that sizing up when buying online is generally a good recommendation.
However . . . You know the space you’re thinking about, not I. Would the larger version crowd things for you? If it were me, I’d tape together some pieces of paper to both the 24x24 size and the 30x30. Hold the taped-up paper on the wall where you’re thinking about hanging the picture and see what you think. The 30x30 might just be way too huge; the 24x24 absolutely perfect. I just know I’ve never read a buyer’s comment saying, “I wish I’d gotten a smaller version of the picture.”
Now, acrylic versus canvas. There’s a bit of sheen to the acrylic that, if the picture is facing bright light, might not let the color come through cleanly. And, frankly, the picture’s all about the color and simple design. If you opt for canvas, glare will be reduced, but the picture might appear to lose some of its crispness and vivid color. Soft landscapes, romantic scenes, etc. lend themselves to canvas. Sunstorm 2? Not so much.
Here’s another option: metal. The photographs that went into making this montage were all taken at a boat yard on the Oregon coast. The boats were metal. The colors are vivid, bright, bold. I’ve heard nothing but good reviews about the metal prints that FAA sends out, no complaints. And the next item I order from them for my house will be a metal print. They are sleek and really lend themselves to images such as Sunstorm. Anything that has a sort of industrial vibe, or super-bold colors looks amazing on metal. I believe the cost for metal is less, too, which makes the 30x30 size, if you wish it, more affordable. There’s the potential for glare, however.
Brief aside: I was recently in Nova Scotia and bought a framed print that was super-colorful. It’s behind glass. Had it shipped home. When I received it, we put it on a wall that faces a huge wall of windows. I was super-concerned about glare. But the only time we see the glare is if we are standing parallel to the picture; when we move a little to the right or left, the glare disappears. You might try putting a framed picture on the wall you’re thinking about to see how the glare reacts there. I just know I was surprised to see that glare wasn’t a problem at all, as long as I was at a slight angle.
I hope this answers your questions. It’s probably way too much info, in fact. But I do want you to be happy with your purchase.
Let me know if you have any more questions.
I put a lot of thought into my response to her. Maybe more than she needed. I wanted to make the sale, but I wanted to make the sale AND have her be happy with it. Win-win.
Nothing more until today. Here’s what she wrote:
I took your advice and purchased Sunstorm #2 at 30×30. I've attached a picture, although it's crooked but I'm no artist. I am a writer and professor and it cheers me immensely to be able to look at it as I work. Thank you for such a beautiful picture.
Now, how cool is that?! When someone tells you they like your work, is willing to pay you for it, and then takes the time to tell you how pleased they are, well, it doesn’t get much better than that, does it? Very thankful this holiday season to have received that feedback. Simple pleasures. May our lives be filled with them.
©Carol Leigh
All text, photographs, and other media are ©Copyright Carol Leigh (or others when indicated) and are not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from Carol Leigh.
