We are here to make your art acquisition a celebration! We want you to be happy and love your new art so much, that you tell a friend about your Vivianne Nantel artwork:

We guarantee your 100% satisfaction!

About Ordering:

How long will it take to receive my order?
Can I place my order by phone?
If I order online, will I receive an email confirmation?
Do you accept credit cards, checks and money orders?
What if my order does not arrive according to the estimated time?
What if the work arrives damaged?
What is your refund policy?

About Shipping:

How will my order be shipped?
How much is the shipping for prints?
How much is the shipping for original artworks?
Is there a packaging and handling charge?
Where do you ship?
Can I ship my order to another person at a different address?
Is my order insured?

About Giclee fine art prints:

What is a Giclee?
What does it means archival or acid free?
What kind of paper and ink do you use?
What is the displayed life span of a print?
What is a Certificate of Authenticity?
What is Museum quality?
What is an open edition?
What is a limited edition?
Why are limited edition prints more expensive?
What is an artist proof (signed A/P) on a print?
What does S/N mean?
How do I care for my Fine art print?

About the Original artwork:

How do you create your artwork?
What kind of material do you use?
What is the "stained glass luminosity" technique?
What is the Mische technique?
How long does it take you to create a work of Art?
Why is the original artwork so much more expensive than fine art prints?
Do original artwork and fine art prints increase in value over time?
Should I buy art as an investment?
How long can original artwork last?
Who owns the copyright?

 

About Ordering:

How long will it take for me to receive my order?

Standard delivery for print orders is between 2-3 weeks and often sooner. Keep in mind that each fine art print is especially ordered just for you.

Can I place my order by phone?

Yes, you can call us on our toll free number (866) SOUL ART. We will be happy to help you make the right choice. You can also speak directly with Vivianne if you have any questions, concerns or comments.

If I order online, will I receive an email confirmation?

Yes, confirmations are sent automatically to your listed email.

Do you accept credit cards, checks and money order?

Yes, we accept Visa, Master Card, checks and money orders. This site is fully secured offering protection of all information. Check out our SSL valid certificate on Contact page.

What if my order does not arrive according to the estimated time?

Please, contact us immediately. We will track it down for you and respond within 24 hours.

What if the work arrives damaged?

Please, call us immediately, as all work is sent insured.

What is your refund policy?

If for any reason you are not happy with your purchase, please call or email us first to let us know of your dissatisfaction. Then, feel free to return any artwork or print (for prints make sure to also return the certificate of authenticity) in good condition within 3 business days from delivery date. You are responsible for the cost of shipping the artwork back to us with the same shipping service and amount of insurance. Upon receipt, your account will be fully reimbursed minus packaging and handling costs. In this rare event, we would appreciate that you handle the work with great care, and re-pack it exactly as you received it in the same container and wrapping paper.

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About Shipping:

How will my Print order be shipped?

In a protective shipping tube --UPS is our carrier for all print orders. Please, remember UPS will not deliver to a Post Office box, as a signature is required upon delivery. Thus, we need a full address. Standard delivery for print orders is between 2-3 weeks and often sooner. Keep in mind that each fine art print is especially ordered just for you.

How much is the shipping for prints?

It varies according to the weight of the package, service and destination. Our shopping cart system will automatically calculate the amount for you.

How much is the shipping for original artworks?

Shipping for originals is determined on an individual basis. Make sure to send us an email with your phone number and time where we can reach you. The fees depend on the size of the artwork, carrier choice, service and destination. We will always select the best alternative for you. Delivery of original artworks is usually 2-3 weeks, depending on the circumstances.

Is there a packaging and handling charge?

There is $12.00 packaging & handling charge on each order of prints which is included in your shipping costs. For original artwork, it is determined by the size of the artwork.

Where do you ship?

We ship throughout the United States, including Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Alaska. Standard delivery for print orders is between 2-3 weeks and often sooner. We will ship to international destinations by special request only. Please, call us first for international orders at 1(415) 453-3880 or email us. The customer is fully responsible for all tariffs, duties and brokerage fees involved in the importation of fine art prints or original artwork. We suggest that all international clients contact their local UPS office to confirm the fees and regulations prior to contacting us. We will then fax you an agreement with the terms and conditions of sales.

Can I ship my order to another person at a different address?

Absolutely, our prints and originals make wonderful gifts. All shipments require a signature upon delivery.

Is my order insured?

Yes, all orders will be insured. For prints it is included in your shipping fee through our UPS service. Regarding original artwork, each piece will also be insured, however, the shipping, insurance & packaging will be determined on individual basis.

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About Giclee fine art prints:

What is a Giclee?

The word Giclee (pronounced Zhee-clay) itself is a French word, meaning “to spray or to squirt”. And in the case of a reproduction, it means, “spraying of ink.” Giclee print has come to mean, in its best sense, a fine digital art reproduction printed on archival paper or canvas, using archival pigmented inks. Giclee has the highest apparent resolution available today. Our printmaker uses Epson Stylus Pro printers utilizing Epson Ultra-Chrome pigmented inks. It prints using 7 colors of ink at resolution of up to 2280dpi (normally 1440 DPI is used). This printer uses variable droplet sizes as small as 2 Picoliters (size of a hair). So, you can see how fine these prints are. These are Epson’s second-generation pigmented inks, and offer higher gamut (more brilliant and vibrant colors), and lower metamerism (colors looking different under different lighting), than their earlier pigmented inks. Hundreds of ink jets, more than a million droplets per seconds are sprayed on the archival paper in order to reproduce an image. One completed print could have between10 to 20 billion droplets of ink, (or even more) perfectly printed. A giclee print is simply the closest duplicate of an original work, which is mechanically; technically and humanly possible to reproduce with today’s printing technology.

This innovation is quickly becoming the new standard in the art world. Many museums (such as The Louvre Museum, Paris, the Metropolitan Museum Of New York, San Francisco Museum of Art, Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, etc.), art galleries, art dealers, publishers and artists are embracing the “Giclee” for its high quality of reproduction, details, and for its vibrant and full nuances of colors. The Williamsburg Historical Center of New York has exhibited Vivianne Nantel’s giglee print, United As One, for their high profile show, entitled World Peace in September 2001. Our printmaker is a specialized boutique printer, rather then a big company. Thus, they take great pride in their final work. The image of each edition is carefully prepared for the printing process with the collaboration of Vivianne Nantel. She personally approves the final color matches and nuances for that edition. Then, Vivianne approved, numbered and signed each print individually.

What does it mean archival or acid free?

Paper, canvas or art material, which are treated to neutralize its natural acidity, in order to protect the fine artwork, print and photographic print from discoloration and deterioration over a long period of time.

What kind of paper and ink do you use?

Somerset Velvet-100% cotton rag acid free –255 gms (that is grams per square meter)--Epson Ultra Chrome pigmented inks (which are archival).

What is the displayed life span of a print?

It depends on different factors, such as UV exposure, moisture, humidity, framing condition, ink pigments and paper quality etc. Various laboratories in the world test the longevity of digital prints. The recognized leader in testing these new digital printing technologies is, Wilhelm Research. Their ratings are based on “years of display before noticeable fading.” The tested archival life (years of display life before noticeable fading) for this ink set on Somerset Velvet paper is dependant upon UV protection. If the print is framed under UV glass, then the life is rated over 125 years (non-UV glass rating is 62 years). Just to give us a perspective; a traditional water color painting on acid free paper framed under glass is rated at less than 25 years. Thus, our prints can have a display life span of well over 100 years, depending how you display them.

What is a Certificate of Authenticity?

A certificate of authenticity is an important piece of paper, certifying by the printer and the artist, that indeed all details regarding the limited edition and the prints are authentic. The artist, as well as the printer or publishing company always signs this document. This certificate becomes very valuable, when one wants to resell the print in the secondary art market for a higher value to prove its authenticity.

What does "museum quality" mean?

It basically means the print is a top-notch archival quality fine art print. One, which has a long life span, fit to be shown in a museum.

What is an open edition?

A reproduction of an original artwork (of identical prints), which is sometimes signed by the artist. However, the edition is open ended to reproduce any amount of prints without restrictions. An open edition usually does not come with certificate of authenticity and are less valuable then limited editions.

What is a limited edition?

A limited edition is a series of identical prints (reproduction of an original artwork), which is individually signed, approved and numbered by the artist. The total number of prints is limited and fixed, which is decided in advance by the artist and/or the publisher. Each print in a limited edition always comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, in order to certify all the details of the edition.

Why are limited edition prints more expensive?

Because they are limited, numbered and signed by the artist. The premium price of a limited edition is a function of supply & demand. These prints are also of exceptionally high museum quality (archival). A certificate of authenticity is provided to you, in order to certify all the information is accurate and authentic.

What is an artist proof (signed A/P) on a print?

A few prints set aside for the artist or printer’s use. They are actually some of the first prints pulled in a limited edition, which are normally approved by the artist. The artist marks them A/P, in order to indicate their status.

What does S/N mean?

S/N is a symbol sometimes used to indicate a limited edition has been signed and numbered by the artist. The artist signature is usually on the right corner, and accompanied by a number on the other corner, which looks like a fraction (the top number indicates the print number, and the bottom indicates the size of the edition).

How do I care for a Fine art print?

First of all, handle the print with great care since they are vulnerable until they are professionally framed. You may want to use some thin gloves when you handle them, in order to avoid getting fingerprints on them. Make sure the print is professionally framed with acid free matt, using only archival material of high quality. Each print should also be framed with Plexiglas or glass in order to protect it. The glass should also have an UV filter. This element will add to the longevity of the print. Never place artwork or a print in a humid area, or in direct sunlight or a very strong light bulb. A complimentary guideline for care will be given to you with your order.

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About the Original Artwork:

How do you create your artwork?

That is a complex question. It all depends on which technique was used.
First step is to let the Divine creative process guide me. The rest takes place naturally.

See Style & technique for more information
See Intimate Moment with Vivi for more information

What kind of material do you use?

I always use the best-proven art supplies and material from well-known and reliable manufacturers. All paper, canvas and substances are archival, in order to insure the longevity of the work. I also choose oil pigments that are permanent.

What is the Stained Glass Luminosity technique™?

One of the newest development and direction with my artwork is the “Stained Glass Luminosity.”™ After so many people remarked that my work has the quality of stained glass, I refined and named it. This technique is a combination of mixed media applied with a specific flow of movement following the lines of the drawing, which creates a bas-relief. The mixture is applied with my fingers, brushes, spoons and other unusual tools while the canvas is laying flat on the floor. Then, I follow with a particular sequence of different brushstroke techniques with oil paint at different stages during the creation. This process takes many phases and layers to accomplish. The result is a rich and intriguing textured artwork and style evoking the feeling of light passing through a stained glass window, thus evoking a luminous quality to my work.

What is the Mische technique?

The section entitled, “Human Spirit” is marking a new period with my work.
I recently started using an ancient process with dry pigments of oil and egg tempera, which some of the Northern Renaissance Masters used during the Fifteenth Century, such as Durer, Van Eych, Bruegel and Bosch. I learned this well-kept secret technique while in Austria in 2002. This technique allows more depth in the work. Now, I have started to incorporate it with the Stained Glass Luminosity technique™. This combination involves over twelve different stages in the creative process.

See Style/Technique

How long does it take you to create a work of Art?

Some of the artwork takes a few weeks to accomplish, and others several months-- depending also on the details, the size and the technique used. These elements explain why there is a wide range with the prices.

Why is the original artwork much more expensive than fine art prints?

Original works of art are unique. There is only one of each in the entire universe! Again, it also depends on the size,technique application, and details etc.

Do original artwork and fine art prints increase in value over time?

They certainly can increase in time. It all depends on several factors, such as the demand and supply of the work, and the artist’s professional progression. One of the ideal times to acquire art is while a promising artist is emerging. Then, you get the best prices before the artist becomes very well known.

Should I buy it as an investment?

Art should be acquired first because you have a connection and because it stirs your soul. It is always a wonderful benefit if the work or print increases in value over time, as it often does. If desired, a piece could always be resold in the secondary art market to another collector or dealer.

How long can original artwork last?

Hundreds of years--it really all depends on how you take care of the work and preserve it. A complimentary guideline for care will be given to you when you acquire an original piece or print.

Who owns the copyright?

All copyrights are intellectual property owned by the artist, and all rights are reserved worldwide. Artwork represented herein may not be reproduced or used in any form or by any means without the written permission of the artist. If you are interested in any of these images for licensing purposes, please contact Vivianne via phone or email.

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If you still have a question or a concern, please feel free to email us, or call us TOLL-FREE (866) SOUL ART between 11AM to 7PM Pacific Time, Monday- Friday and Saturday 12PM-6PM. We will be very happy to hear from you, and help you the best we can.