Media
I work in graphite, ink, pastel, sepia pencil, sanguine pencil, charcoal, and colored pencil. Often I use watercolors and acrylics in my mixed media pieces. Occassionally, I create oil paintings, which take a few months to complete, since I allow them to dry naturally. My preferences are graphite, colored pencil and mixed media. I also create bas-relief resin and cold cast bronze sculptures. Additionally, I work with digital photography.
Subjects
Animals, especially cats and horses, are favorites of mine. I currently have 2 Maine Coon cats and a Siamese mix. Life without Maine Coons . . . perish the thought! And yes, my company logo is a Maine Coon kitten. As for horses, I actually started as an equestrian major at Averett University before changing to fine art and graduating from Messiah College. The lack of time keeps me from being involved in the horse sport. In addition to animals, I enjoy a variety of other subjects: childern (I have a son), still lifes, and flowers/nature. I hope that you will find beauty, humor and whimsy in my work. Sources: I draw/paint/sculpt both live (sitting and looking at the subject) and using photos as a references. Most of the time my artwork is a mix of the two. If I use reference photos, I usually use my own photographs, which eliminates copyright issues. If a an item has been created completely live, I will try to mention it in the description.
Authenticity and COA’s
Most of my original work is signed on the front and numbered on the back. All original pieces come with Certificates of Authenticity (COA), which are printed on parchment paper. Miniature pieces of art usually have miniature COA’s. Should you lose your COA, send me a self-addressed stamped envelope with a note describing the work or giving me the serial number on the back of the piece, and I will send you a replacement. All COA’s are numbered as well. Open edition sculptures are signed (engraved on the front), numbered on the back and come with COA’s. Older prints and photos were signed and numbered and some came with COA’s. Starting in 2008, open edition ACEO prints/photos have a very small copyright notice printed on the front only. Limited edition ACEO prints/photos will be numbered on the back as well as having the notice on the front. Larger open edition photos and prints (currently no new large limited edition prints are being printed) have the copyright notice printed in the margin on the front of the photo (not visible when matted).
Is the logo on the actual photo/print?
No it is not on the actual photo or print. The logo is only there to deter people from stealing the image right from the internet. However, the images on this website are so low of a resolution that only a marginal print is possible. It has been documented that people have stolen art images from the internet and sold bootleg copies of them. It protects the seller and the buyer.
Copyright Ownership
I, Valerie Evanson, hold the copyrights to all my artwork and all the privileges thereof. This includes the right to sell prints and novelty items of my images, the right list the images in any promotional pieces or websites or advertisements, the right enter the artwork in shows which do not require the original, etc. For reasons of privacy, the buyer’s identity will be withheld (unless requested by the buyer) from any listings of the artwork (except for eBay or similar feedback).
Giclee Prints/Photos
When the open edition DURABrite prints have sold, they will be replaced by giclee prints. Both are water-resistant digital prints, but the giclee printer that I now use is a 9-ink professional printer, which provides greater depth for prints and photos. The manufacturer claims the giclee photos will last 105 years. Prints are made on archival mat finish paper.
Open Edition
This means that I will be printing/casting an undetermined amount of prints/copies. Since I sell through multiple venues, my actual inventory fluctuates. Often open editions are printed on demand. I may retire an open edition if there is not enough demand for it or if I have a new photo or print or resin that is similar.
Limited Editon
This means that an exact number of prints/copies has been printed/cast (usually 250 or less). These are numbered to indicate the number of the print/photo, the amount of the prints/photos/resins in the edition and if multiple runs of the edition have been made. Most of my limited editions are only printed/cast once (one run) and then retired -- the listing description will indicate this.
ACEO: Art Cards, Editions and Originals
Also known as Art trading cards, which must be 2.5"x3.5", are an inexpensive way to have an art collection. You can frame them separately or in groups, keep them in a trading card album (except for sculptures, which would warp the pages), trade them, give them as gifts, etc. They are a great way to start an inexpensive small art collection. If the artwork is scaled 1/6th or less of the subject’s real size, the ACEO can be considered a miniature.
OSWOA™: Original Small Work of Art
OSWOA™ are similar to ACEO’s, except they must be original, trimmed to 4"x6" (or 6"x4"), and fit in a 4"x6" album sleeve.
Business Operations
Evanson Art & Design is a sole proprietorship which has no employees other than myself. Since I work fulltime in telecommunications, I create and sell my artwork in my spare time.