Demetra Kalams Watercolors: Product Descriptions

Products

Hi: I'm Demetra Kalams. Thank you very much for visiting my website.

Please take the time to view my paintings. Each of my paintings can be purchased in a variety of high quality print formats suitable for wall hangings in homes or offices, as notecards, and (for most images) calendars. Large-sized calendars and notecards feature images suitable for framing, and all prints are individually inspected and hand-signed by me before they are shipped. These products make wonderful gifts and greeting cards for all occasions, and are guaranteed. If you are not happy with your purchase, I will refund your payment. All shipping, handling, and insurance costs are included with the purchase amount, and available original paintings can also be purchased.

I hope you enjoy your visit here, and will return from time to time to shop -- or just to view my newest paintings and products. Best wishes, Demetra

All of the following products are based on original watercolors painted by Demetra Kalams. These products include original paintings, high quality prints and "giclees," notecards, and calendars, as described below.

Original paintings. Many of the original paintings used to create these prints and other products can be purchased directly from the artist. Listed prices include double matting, wood framing, insurance, shipping, insurance, and handling costs: whether to the US or overseas. Customers wishing to purchase multiple paintings, or to otherwise modify an order, are encouraged to contact Demetra Kalams directly by email.

Prints. The following descriptions of watercolor print sizes include high quality 11" x 14", full-sized, and full-sized "Giclee" reproductions that are single-matted or double-matted, and wood-framed or metal-framed, as finished products. Prints can also be purchased and shipped "rolled" at a savings, for customers desiring to do their own framing and mounting. Watercolor prints are of the highest quality and make wonderful gifts and wall hangings for a wide variety of occasions and environments. All prints are individually inspected for quality and signed by Demetra Kalams before packaging and shipping to desired destinations.

Notecards. Notecards come in boxes of six, with envelopes. They come in small and large sizes and can be used as gifts, or for special occasions and correspondence. Notecards can be ordered with a single image for all six cards, or can be purchased as select "variety packs" by using this link. They are printed on high quality 80# cardstock and the larger cards, in particular, are suitable for framing.

Calendars. Two series of high quality calendars has been prepared for 2009, based on styles and themes of interest to the artist. Calendars are currently available in two sizes and come in horizontal ("landscape") and vertical ("portrait") formats. All images are suitable for framing, and are printed on 100# glossy book paper to the same 1200 d.p.i. archival-ink quality standards as individual prints.

Shipping & Handling. Orders are filled and packaged within 10 calendar days and shipped in the US is by USPS parcel post. Listed prices include packaging, shipping and handling costs and there are no additional charges to the purchaser, so long as orders remain within the US. Orders shipped to locations outside the US are charged an additional $20.00, to cover increased postage costs. Larger orders and original paintings are also insured, and at no additional cost. Purchasers requesting special handling or packaging instructions with their orders may need to negotiate such details separately to cover added costs.

Discounts. Purchase orders of multiple prints, notecards, and/or calendars that total more than $200 are automatically given a 5% discount. Orders of $1000 or more are automatically discounted 10%. These discounts do not apply to original paintings. Because our products are made and shipped in Oregon, there is no sales tax.

11 inch X 14 inch prints. These prints are made from highest quality 600 d.p.i. ("dots per square inch") digital scans and color is then balanced and contrasted with PhotoShop software before image size is reduced to 9" x 12" for reproduction. The image is then printed with even margins on high quality 11" x 14" 80# ("80 pound") archival ("acid free") card stock paper at full-color 1200 d.p.i. density, using Hewlett-Packard laser-jet archival inks. The final product, ready for mounting with standard 11" x 14" mats and frames, is then inspected for quality and individually signed by the artist before packing and shipping to the desired destination.

Note: 80# paper is sometimes referred to as "card stock" because of its heavy weight and use for printing business and greeting cards. By comparison, most copy paper is only 16# or 20# weight.

Full-sized prints. These prints are prepared in precisely the same manner as 11" x 14" prints (600 d.p.i. scans; 1200 d.p.i. laser jet inks; high quality 80# archival card-stock paper), but the images are exactly the same size as the original paintings. These prints often require larger equipment to reproduce, and are typically more expensive to mat or frame because of their greater size. Again, all prints are inspected for quality and individually signed by the artist before packing and shipping to the desired destination.

Fine Art ("Giclee") prints. These prints are made exactly the same as the full-size prints, but with two primary differences: 1) the print is made directly to studio canvas or watercolor paper instead of card stock; and 2) prints are made with archival-quality Ultra-Violet ("UV") - resistant inks with special plotters, instead of with laser-jet inks on printers. (Note: "Giclee" is a term recently coined in the late 20th century to describe a particular type of highest-grade art reproduction, using the basic process just described. These prints can be very difficult to separate from original paintings without special equipment or expertise). Again, all prints are inspected for quality and individually signed by the artist before packing and shipping to the desired destination..

Rolled. Prints that are not matted or framed before shipping are carefully rolled in tissue papers and packaged in a sturdy mailing tube. This greatly reduces the chance of prints being damaged during transport, and prints arrive at their destination without creases or scratches, ready for framing and display.

Single-matted. Matting is heavy-grade paper used to better display, frame, and reinforce a print or painting. Most prints and paintings are matted before framing. Purchasers are given the option of having a print matted before shipping, which adds time and materials and necessitates special packaging. All matting is of highest quality archival material, specially produced for this purpose. 11" x 14" and full-size reproductions can be purchased with single mat with backing. Colors are chosen by the artist to best complement each painting.

Double-matted. Double-matting uses two sheets of heavy-grade paper to further reinforce a print or painting before framing, and is usually done in such a way as to add further depth and dimension to the finished product. All matting is highest quality archival material, specially produced for this purpose. Framed "Glicee" prints and original paintings are double-matted with complementary colors chosen by the artist.

Metal Framed. After a print or painting is matted, it is ready for framing and permanent display. High quality metal frames are selected by the artist to protect images and present them in their best light. Instead of picture glass, 3/16" thick acrylic plastic is used to frame pictures and prints. Acrylic is much lighter than glass, far less likely to break during shipping, and scratches are usually not permanent (as they are with glass) and can usually be buffed back to original clarity with little effort.

Wood Framed. After a print or painting is matted, it is ready for framing and permanent display. Many people prefer the look of wood frames, rather than metal, for display purposes. For those individuals, high quality quality wood frames are selected by the artist to protect images and present them in their best light. As with metal frames, 3/16" thick acrylic plastic is used instead of picture glass to frame pictures and prints. Acrylic is much lighter than glass, far less likely to break during shipping, and scratches are usually not permanent (as they are with glass) and can usually be buffed back to original clarity with little effort.