“The Letter” is an original still life painting, done with oil on linen.
This is a painting with a hidden story… a newly-arrived letter… an elegant pen at hand for the reply… the entire scene reflected in a silver sphere, in particular the shaving brush and stoneware jar…
Drawing inspiration from a poem of the same name, it offers a vision of calm in the midst of chaos. In this busy and and active design, there are moments throughout of rest and repose. Life often blesses us with just such a respite.
Measuring 8 x 10 inches, it is set in a gold leaf frame, the outer dimensions of which are 15 x 17 inches.
Art that we connect with rewards us with a lifetime of enjoyment, satisfaction, and appreciation. Bring the light and warmth of this painting into your beautiful home today.
“The Letter” has been carefully crafted with the finest materials available, using traditional techniques that have been passed down from artist to artist for over six centuries.
The Finest Materials
To begin, a hardboard panel is cut to the exact desired dimension. It is then coated with several layers of sealant to prevent damage over time from moisture and humidity. Only those panels which lay perfectly flat are selected.
A piece of prepared linen is glued to the panel. Only the finest Belgian linen is used – woven from flax grown in the fields of Western Flanders. The linen was produced by a firm that has been run by the same family for over a century. Made in small batches according to a formula hundreds of years old, it is an exacting process taking several weeks to complete. When glued to the panel, it forms a solid, durable, and archival foundation – this painting is meant to be enjoyed for generations.
Only the best paints are used, often made with pigments from the furthest corners of the Earth: Bohemian Green… Chinese Vermillion… Lapis Lazuli from Afghanistan. Paints are chosen for richness of color, proper handling, and above all stability and durability. Again, this artwork is intended to last for a very long time.
Painstaking Process
This painting was created entirely by direct observation from life – photography was not used in the process. The arrangements of objects are often set up in a large shadow box next to the easel. This allows careful control of the lighting and precise positioning of the composition.
Several small “thumbnail” sketches are made in pencil first, determining the overall design and placement of objects. A “color study” follows. This is a small version of the painting done without much detail. It enables a deeper understanding of the main colors, and also serves as a sort of dress rehearsal for the main work.
Once the preparatory studies are complete, the composition is drawn onto the linen panel using light charcoal. The main shapes and placements are set down with as much precision as possible, but very little fine detail is recorded at this point.
A simplified version of the painting in black and white is then done on top of the charcoal sketch. This is known as an “underpainting”. It establishes significant forms and shapes in the composition, and works out important gradations of light and dark – known to artists as “value” – independent of the complexities of working with full color.
After several days, the underpainting is sufficiently dry for the color layer – this is what you see when you look at a finished painting. Color is applied directly on top of the underpainting, often in very thin transparent washes. Known as “glazing”, these washes can create a jewel-like depth and sparkling transparency of color that cannot be achieved in any other way.
The Fruits of Patient Effort
Once complete, the painting must dry completely before a protective layer of varnish is applied and it can be fitted into its frame. From start to finish, a painting such as this one can take up to several months to complete.
“The Letter” measures 8 x 10 inches (20 x 25 cm), and is presented in a 3.5 inch wide gold-leaf frame, the outer dimensions of which are 15 x 17 inches (38 x 43 cm). Felt pads are affixed to each corner of the back of the frame to prevent any damage to your wall and to ensure that the painting rests perfectly parallel to the wall.
It is ready for your collection today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Click on Subjects Below to Expand
Q: Is my satisfaction with my painting guaranteed?
A: Unconditionally. You will be even more delighted with your painting when you unwrap it and hold it in your hands than when you saw it online. If not, you may return it for a full refund of the purchase price and the cost of return shipping. There is simply no risk to try this painting in your own home.
A: By default, your painting will be shipped to you using the Priority Mail service of the United States Postal Service. Over time, we have found this to be best and most reliable method for shipping artwork, and brings highest value to collectors. Please use the contact form at the bottom of this page if you would like to discuss a different shipping option.
Q: What is included in the shipping cost?
The shipping cost has been configured to give you optimal value and security. In addition to the base Priority Mail shipping rate, your painting will be insured for its full purchase price during shipment. Signature Confirmation service is also included to ensure your painting is delivered into the hands of an actual person. (If signing for your painting is inconvenient for you, it may be omitted by special request in the Order Notes field on the checkout page).The slight increase in the shipping charge for these premium services is far offset by the peace of mind they bring.
Q: Is my painting insured during shipping?
Yes. Your painting is insured during shipment for its full purchase price.
Q: When can I expect my painting?
Your painting will ship on the next business day. From that point, the expected delivery time within the Continental United States is between 1 and 3 days. International shipping will of course require more time. Please be mindful that holiday shipping volume may also impact delivery time.
Q: How is my painting packaged for delivery?
Every care is taken to ensure that your painting arrives at your home in the same condition that it left the studio. It will be wrapped in multiple layers of protective material, keeping it secure even if the outer box sustains minor damage. Only major damage to the shipping box will affect your painting.
Absolutely. When you purchase a painting as a gift, it will be specially wrapped at no extra charge and shipped directly to the recipient. The invoice will be sent to your billing address.
Q: Are gift paintings guaranteed?
Yes – the same guarantee applies to all paintings, regardless of whether they are purchased as gifts or not. The recipient must be absolutely delighted with the painting. If for any reason it must be returned, the recipient will be reimbursed for the cost of return shipping to my studio.
Q: Will the gift arrive on time for the special occasion?
Your painting will ship on the next business day. From that point, the expected delivery time within the Continental United States is between 1 and 3 days. International shipping will of course require more time. Please be mindful that holiday shipping volume may also impact delivery time.
Q: How do I send a painting as a gift?
Click the “Send Painting as a Gift” checkbox above the red “Acquire This Painting” button.
After clicking the red “Acquire This Painting” button, you will be taken to the checkout page. Make sure the checkbox next to the “Ship to a Different Address” heading is checked, and enter the name and address of the recipient under that section.
You may include a special message to the recipient. Enter it into the “Order Notes” field beneath the “Ship to a Different Address” section. Your message will be printed onto a separate card and included with the painting.
A: State sales tax of 6.25% will be added if your painting will be shipped to a Massachusetts address. Shipments to other states do not require collection of sales tax.
A: Although we do not specifically offer an approval program, the guarantee provides you with exactly the same value: You will be even more delighted with your painting when you unwrap it and hold it in your hands than when you saw it online. If not, you may return it for a full refund of the purchase price and the cost of return shipping. There is simply no risk to try this painting in your own home.
A: All major credit cards are accepted, as well as PayPal. When you click the red “Acquire This Painting” button above, you will be taken to the checkout page. Enter your billing details, a shipping address (if different from your billing address), and any special Order Notes you may wish to specify.
At the bottom of the checkout page, you will see this light gray box:
If paying by credit card (the default option), simply click the red “Secure Checkout” button. The following popup screen will appear, and you may securely enter your payment information:
If you wish to pay for your painting using PayPal, click the small round radio button next to PayPal in the gray box:
Click the red “Proceed to PayPal” button, and the PayPal site will open, where you may log in and securely make your payment:
If you would like to discuss other payment options for acquiring your painting, please use the contact form below.
Additional information
Medium
Oil on linen on panel
Dimensions
8×10 inches (20 x 25 cm). Outer dimensions with frame are 14 x 16 inches (35 x 40 cm)
Year Created
2018
Frame
3 inch-wide flat panel gold frame.
Shipping
This painting will ship on the next business day via United States Postal Service. A fee of $29.95 is added for domestic shipping, and $49.95 is added for international shipping. This includes insurance for the full purchase price of the painting.
Tax
A tax of 6.25% is added to the base price when this painting is shipped to a Massachusetts address.
Guarantee
You will be even more delighted by this painting in person, or you may return it for a full refund of the purchase price plus return shipping.
The Letter
$2,750.00
“The Letter” is an original still life painting, done with oil on linen.
This is a painting with a hidden story… a newly-arrived letter… an elegant pen at hand for the reply… the entire scene reflected in a silver sphere, in particular the shaving brush and stoneware jar…
Drawing inspiration from a poem of the same name, it offers a vision of calm in the midst of chaos. In this busy and and active design, there are moments throughout of rest and repose. Life often blesses us with just such a respite.
Measuring 8 x 10 inches, it is set in a gold leaf frame, the outer dimensions of which are 15 x 17 inches.
Art that we connect with rewards us with a lifetime of enjoyment, satisfaction, and appreciation. Bring the light and warmth of this painting into your beautiful home today.
In stock
Description
“The Letter” has been carefully crafted with the finest materials available, using traditional techniques that have been passed down from artist to artist for over six centuries.
The Finest Materials
To begin, a hardboard panel is cut to the exact desired dimension. It is then coated with several layers of sealant to prevent damage over time from moisture and humidity. Only those panels which lay perfectly flat are selected.
A piece of prepared linen is glued to the panel. Only the finest Belgian linen is used – woven from flax grown in the fields of Western Flanders. The linen was produced by a firm that has been run by the same family for over a century. Made in small batches according to a formula hundreds of years old, it is an exacting process taking several weeks to complete. When glued to the panel, it forms a solid, durable, and archival foundation – this painting is meant to be enjoyed for generations.
Only the best paints are used, often made with pigments from the furthest corners of the Earth: Bohemian Green… Chinese Vermillion… Lapis Lazuli from Afghanistan. Paints are chosen for richness of color, proper handling, and above all stability and durability. Again, this artwork is intended to last for a very long time.
Painstaking Process
This painting was created entirely by direct observation from life – photography was not used in the process. The arrangements of objects are often set up in a large shadow box next to the easel. This allows careful control of the lighting and precise positioning of the composition.
Several small “thumbnail” sketches are made in pencil first, determining the overall design and placement of objects. A “color study” follows. This is a small version of the painting done without much detail. It enables a deeper understanding of the main colors, and also serves as a sort of dress rehearsal for the main work.
Once the preparatory studies are complete, the composition is drawn onto the linen panel using light charcoal. The main shapes and placements are set down with as much precision as possible, but very little fine detail is recorded at this point.
A simplified version of the painting in black and white is then done on top of the charcoal sketch. This is known as an “underpainting”. It establishes significant forms and shapes in the composition, and works out important gradations of light and dark – known to artists as “value” – independent of the complexities of working with full color.
After several days, the underpainting is sufficiently dry for the color layer – this is what you see when you look at a finished painting. Color is applied directly on top of the underpainting, often in very thin transparent washes. Known as “glazing”, these washes can create a jewel-like depth and sparkling transparency of color that cannot be achieved in any other way.
The Fruits of Patient Effort
Once complete, the painting must dry completely before a protective layer of varnish is applied and it can be fitted into its frame. From start to finish, a painting such as this one can take up to several months to complete.
“The Letter” measures 8 x 10 inches (20 x 25 cm), and is presented in a 3.5 inch wide gold-leaf frame, the outer dimensions of which are 15 x 17 inches (38 x 43 cm). Felt pads are affixed to each corner of the back of the frame to prevent any damage to your wall and to ensure that the painting rests perfectly parallel to the wall.
It is ready for your collection today.
Frequently Asked Questions Click on Subjects Below to Expand
Q: Is my satisfaction with my painting guaranteed?
A: Unconditionally. You will be even more delighted with your painting when you unwrap it and hold it in your hands than when you saw it online. If not, you may return it for a full refund of the purchase price and the cost of return shipping. There is simply no risk to try this painting in your own home.
Q: How will my painting be shipped to me?
A: By default, your painting will be shipped to you using the Priority Mail service of the United States Postal Service. Over time, we have found this to be best and most reliable method for shipping artwork, and brings highest value to collectors. Please use the contact form at the bottom of this page if you would like to discuss a different shipping option.
Q: What is included in the shipping cost?
The shipping cost has been configured to give you optimal value and security. In addition to the base Priority Mail shipping rate, your painting will be insured for its full purchase price during shipment. Signature Confirmation service is also included to ensure your painting is delivered into the hands of an actual person. (If signing for your painting is inconvenient for you, it may be omitted by special request in the Order Notes field on the checkout page).The slight increase in the shipping charge for these premium services is far offset by the peace of mind they bring.
Q: Is my painting insured during shipping?
Yes. Your painting is insured during shipment for its full purchase price.
Q: When can I expect my painting?
Your painting will ship on the next business day. From that point, the expected delivery time within the Continental United States is between 1 and 3 days. International shipping will of course require more time. Please be mindful that holiday shipping volume may also impact delivery time.
Q: How is my painting packaged for delivery?
Every care is taken to ensure that your painting arrives at your home in the same condition that it left the studio. It will be wrapped in multiple layers of protective material, keeping it secure even if the outer box sustains minor damage. Only major damage to the shipping box will affect your painting.
Q: Can I send a painting as a gift?
Absolutely. When you purchase a painting as a gift, it will be specially wrapped at no extra charge and shipped directly to the recipient. The invoice will be sent to your billing address.
Q: Are gift paintings guaranteed?
Yes – the same guarantee applies to all paintings, regardless of whether they are purchased as gifts or not. The recipient must be absolutely delighted with the painting. If for any reason it must be returned, the recipient will be reimbursed for the cost of return shipping to my studio.
Q: Will the gift arrive on time for the special occasion?
Your painting will ship on the next business day. From that point, the expected delivery time within the Continental United States is between 1 and 3 days. International shipping will of course require more time. Please be mindful that holiday shipping volume may also impact delivery time.
Q: How do I send a painting as a gift?
Click the “Send Painting as a Gift” checkbox above the red “Acquire This Painting” button.
After clicking the red “Acquire This Painting” button, you will be taken to the checkout page. Make sure the checkbox next to the “Ship to a Different Address” heading is checked, and enter the name and address of the recipient under that section.
You may include a special message to the recipient. Enter it into the “Order Notes” field beneath the “Ship to a Different Address” section. Your message will be printed onto a separate card and included with the painting.
Q: Is there a sales tax for my painting?
A: State sales tax of 6.25% will be added if your painting will be shipped to a Massachusetts address. Shipments to other states do not require collection of sales tax.
Q: Can I try this painting on an approval basis?
A: Although we do not specifically offer an approval program, the guarantee provides you with exactly the same value: You will be even more delighted with your painting when you unwrap it and hold it in your hands than when you saw it online. If not, you may return it for a full refund of the purchase price and the cost of return shipping. There is simply no risk to try this painting in your own home.
Q: How will I pay for my painting?
A: All major credit cards are accepted, as well as PayPal. When you click the red “Acquire This Painting” button above, you will be taken to the checkout page. Enter your billing details, a shipping address (if different from your billing address), and any special Order Notes you may wish to specify.
At the bottom of the checkout page, you will see this light gray box:
If paying by credit card (the default option), simply click the red “Secure Checkout” button. The following popup screen will appear, and you may securely enter your payment information:
If you wish to pay for your painting using PayPal, click the small round radio button next to PayPal in the gray box:
Click the red “Proceed to PayPal” button, and the PayPal site will open, where you may log in and securely make your payment:
If you would like to discuss other payment options for acquiring your painting, please use the contact form below.
Additional information
Oil on linen on panel
8×10 inches (20 x 25 cm). Outer dimensions with frame are 14 x 16 inches (35 x 40 cm)
2018
3 inch-wide flat panel gold frame.
This painting will ship on the next business day via United States Postal Service. A fee of $29.95 is added for domestic shipping, and $49.95 is added for international shipping. This includes insurance for the full purchase price of the painting.
A tax of 6.25% is added to the base price when this painting is shipped to a Massachusetts address.
You will be even more delighted by this painting in person, or you may return it for a full refund of the purchase price plus return shipping.
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