🎨 Making the artwork
How long does it take to paint a portrait?
1 to 3 weeks depending on the workload, starting from the receipt of your complete photographs. For a custom commission or a composition, the timeframe is agreed together during the quote.
What photos should I send you?
Several photos help me better understand your animal's expression. Prefer bright photos, taken at your companion's eye level, where the eyes and face are clearly visible. One main photo and 2 to 3 secondary ones are usually enough.
Is the artwork really painted by hand?
Yes, 100%. I don't use any image generated by artificial intelligence. Every portrait goes through my brushes, my colours, my trial and error. To find out more, see Handmade, not AI.
🛒 The order
How does an order work, from start to delivery?
Four steps: (1) you choose the size; (2) you send me your photos with your animal's name and a few words about them; (3) you accept the terms and pay online by card; (4) I paint and ship the artwork. I write to you during the work to discuss the expression and the details you love about your companion.
How does payment work?
Payment is made online by card through Stripe, which secures the transactions of many online stores. Your banking data is never stored on lesmuseauxdemena.fr; it passes only through Stripe, which is certified at the highest security level for payments (PCI DSS Level 1).
What if you find my photos unusable?
No nasty surprises. If I find your photos too blurry, too dark or too distant to make a beautiful portrait, I tell you immediately and ask for other photos. If we can't get any, I refund you in full. You will never risk receiving a failed portrait simply because the photos weren't right.
Can I cancel an order?
Cancellation is possible within 24 hours of placing the order, as long as I haven't started painting. Beyond that, since it's a custom artwork (article L221-28 of the French Consumer Code), no refund can be granted. For details, see the terms and conditions of sale.
📦 Delivery
How is the artwork delivered?
The watercolour is shipped in a reinforced board envelope with tissue paper protection. Standard delivery is included in the price for mainland France and the European Union (La Poste tracked letter, online tracking). A Colissimo insured tracked option is available at checkout for faster delivery and compensation in case of loss. Outside the EU, shipping is by quote (rates depending on destination).
💛 After delivery
What if I'm not satisfied with the result?
A watercolour is a unique artwork: it has its own style, its own sensitivity, and the reinterpreted animal may differ slightly from the image you had in mind. That's in the nature of hand painting. If something catches your eye, write to me soon after delivery via the contact form: we discuss it, and I can touch up details when it's still possible.
For any objective defect (damaged delivery, incorrect size, deteriorated support), you benefit from the legal guarantee of conformity and the guarantee against hidden defects (each of 2 years), in accordance with articles L217-3 and following of the French Consumer Code and 1641 of the French Civil Code.
Can I share / print / resell the artwork?
The artwork is yours, for you. You can keep it at home, look at it every day, and share photos of the artwork on your personal social networks - I really love it when you mention @_mena_art_ 🎨
However, as it's an original artistic creation, the copyright remains my property: any commercial reproduction (printing on merchandise, sale, inclusion in corporate communication, etc.) requires my prior written consent. If you fancy the idea for a specific project, write to me, I'd be happy to discuss it.