Melissa's Artwork
Merchandise & Prints
Ordering & Shipping
Commissions & Wholesale
Q: I love Melissa's artwork, can I reposted it on my Facebook/Myspace/personal website/blog/etc? What if I give credit?
A: Melissa is always touched when someone loves her artwork and wants to show it off. However, she is officially licensed with the company Creative Design Outlet (CDO), where you can purchase tubes of Melissa's artwork and use them for online graphics. Because of this contract we cannot allow
Melissa's work to be reposted anywhere, whether or not credit is given or if it's a non-profit situation. Resposting Melissa's work is not only unfair to the people who legitimately purchase it from CDO, but it is illegal under Melissa's Terms of Use and her contract with CDO.
Q: Why do you paint cats with wings?
A: I have always been a huge cat lover, but actually started out painting fairies and angels. I painted wings on one cat on a whim, and had no idea how popular the painting would be or how much I would enjoy painting it. In the past year I've focused mainly on these angel/fairy cats, because I seem
to have an endless number of ideas of how to paint them. Cats are such amazing, versatile (not to mention adorable!!) creatures that the possibilities are infinite! I still paint other animals and fairies every once in a while but cats are the most fun for me. I know a lot of folks would love it if I could paint some fairy puppies,
but so far I just can't do it!
Q: What are your inspirations?
A: My biggest inspiration is my own imagination, which for some reason, has always been over-active! My parents encouraged me and my sister to read instead of watching television, which I think helped a lot.
As a result, I've been making up stories as long as I can remember, and each of my paintings has its own story. Of course, nowadays I'm also inspired by fantasy movies, such as Lord of the Rings, which I often have on while painting! I have two cats and two bunnies, who also help spark ideas for paintings.
Q: How long does it take you to paint each piece?
A: This is a difficult question to answer, since I often go back and work on pieces a few weeks or months after it's "finished." Altogether a piece may take me as long as 200 hours or as few as 4 hours, depending on the medim and level of detail. Typically my cat pieces take 1-2 weeks.
Q: What do you use to paint?
A: Most of the time I do my painting on the computer. I use the programs Photoshop and Painter, as well as a Wacom tablet. However, my paintings are still done from scratch; I paint every brushstroke! I also use traditional mediums, such as watercolors, acrylics, colored pencils, and ink. Sometimes I combine both digital and traditional mediums!
Q: What do you use to make your prints?
A: Melissa prints each 8x10", 11x14" and 12x18" print herself using a professional Epson printer on Premium Glossy Paper, which ensures each print is of the highest quality. The Epson ink itself is archival, meaning it can last up to 200 years if properly protected. Framing prints and keeping them out of direct sunlight is the best way to preserve them. Many of our 5x7" prints are printed professionally by a trusted printing company.
Q: What sizes do your prints come in?
A: Melissa currently offers four sizes of prints for most of her paintings: 5 x 7", 8 x 10", 11 x 14" and 12 x 18" The 5x7 & 11x14" prints are borderless, while the 8x10" prints and 12x18" prints come on slightly larger paper with a sleek white border around the image.
Q: Do you really make all these products yourself?
A: Yes! Melissa crafts all her jewelry, tins, compact mirrors, ornaments, etc. in her studio. She is a perfectionist and wants to be sure she's producing the highest quality merchandise possible.
Q: What is the jewelry made out of?
A: Most of our jewelry is either sterling silver plated brass, silver plated brass, or pewter. We don't carry solid gold or silver jewelry because the prices would be prohibitive for both us and our customers (think $50-$200), and because most of the ornate cameo designs and lockets aren't available in precious metals. If you would
like to purchase Melissa's jewelry but can usually only wear precious metals, there are several solutions. The most basic option is painting the part of the jewelry that touches your skin with clear nail polish. Melissa has used that with jean buttons & jewelry over the years and it works wonderfully (just reapply the nail polish at some point). Another solution is Renaissance Wax, which protects and preserves the jewelry. Please note that you should
use extreme care not to get either substance on the actual image itself!
Q: How do I order from your website?
A: Simply select the item you want and click the "Add to Cart" button below it. This will take you to a checkout page, where you can either check out or continue shopping. On this page you can readjust the quantity of an item and enter a coupon code if you have one; just remember to click "Recalculate" each time!
Q: Is my order secure?
A: Yes it is! We do our best to insure your information will be protected. By using PayPal as our payment method, your information is as secure as we can make it; your payment information stays with PayPal and we don't even see it.
Q: Do I have to have a PayPal account to order?
A: No, you don't! Now you can use your credit card through PayPal without actually having a PayPal account; once again, it stays on the secure PayPal website.
Q: How much is shipping?
A: We offer low shipping prices that cover the actual shipping cost, the fees involved, and the cost of packing materials. Shipping is based on your location and how many items you order; the more items you order, the lower the cost of the shipping for each additional item. Shipping within the US starts at only $2.75!
Q: How long before I receive my order?
A: Orders will generally be sent out within a week after your payment is processed by PayPal; during busy times, especially the holiday season, orders may take up to a week and a half to be processed. Most orders are mailed via USPS First Class Mail; shipping time varies based on your distance from Washington, USA. If you need to rush an order, please email Melissa, and we can send you a PayPal invoice for any additional shipping charges and make sure you get it ASAP.
Q: What if there's a problem with my order?
A: While we strive to fill each order perfectly, mistakes do happen. If there is a problem with your order, please let us know immediately so that we can correct it. Returns are decided on a case-by-base basis within 30 days after purchase; some items may have a small restocking fee.
Q: Does Melissa do commissions?
A: Due to her hectic schedule, Melissa is not currently accepting commissions.
Q: Can I purchase Melissa's work wholesale?
A: Melissa happily accepts wholesale orders! Please see our Wholesale page for current ordering information.
Q: Can I find Melissa's work in stores?
A: Melissa has begun to sell her merchandise to resellers everywhere! Please see our Store Finder page to see if Melissa's products are in a store near you.
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Birthstone Fairy Cats
