PayPal...not my pal.

/
2017-09-21.jpg

Occasionally a customer will ask if I accept PayPal (I do not). I know many people use the service, and have never had an issue. I once was one of those people, but that was over a decade ago. Perhaps buyers are treated better than sellers. 

Anyway, I've talked about what happened before, so I don't want to get into it. But the gist of what turned me off of them was their horrendous customer treatment, and their Terms of Service stating one thing yet doing another. That's why I DO NOT TRUST THEM. So I steered clear of them for many years. I got my own merchant account, which was better in the long run because I escaped from PayPal's high fees. Yet, over the years I've wondered if they've changed, even had weak moments of thinking about giving them another shot. Then last year I made a purchase, and even though I didn't have or use PayPal myself, the merchant used his PayPal account to charge my credit card. Ended up getting ripped off to the tune of $10,000. I know, it wasn't PayPal that did the ripping off, I understand these things happen. But, while my own credit card company investigated and cleared the fraudulent charges, PayPal was of absolutely no help at all, it's as if they couldn't be bothered. So to the dismay of a few potential customers who only shop online under the guise of PayPal protection, I have reconfirmed my decisions to never employ their service. Sorry. 

It surprises me that some companies ONLY offer PayPal as a form of payment. I recently encountered one of those artist sites that allows the artist to upload his work while they print it, market it, and sell it on all sorts of products. The companies only method of paying the artists is through PayPal. WTF? 

Like I said, many people use it, many people have never had a problem, but many others have. The Better Business Bureau only gives PayPal 3½ out of 5 stars. I don't usually buy stuff on Amazon unless it has at least 4 stars, and that's for a pair of socks...which I can return. But PayPal is handling your money with access to your bank account and they only have 3½ stars, that's 70%...a C minus. 

2017 Hallowe'en Painting & Prints

/

Davy Jones, according to literature, is the fiend that presides over all the evil spirits of the deep. Davy Jones' Locker is the bottom of the sea where you'll find the remains of shipwrecks and drowned sailors. So combining my Halloween sea monster with my penchant of hot men in gym showers, I came up with Davy Jones' Locker Room.  

The original and prints will be available at the special new release price through Sunday 9/17.

Davy Jones Locker Room
from $45.00

Original is available for purchase
18" x 24" (46 cm x 61 cm) pastel on pastel paper

Giclée Prints
13 very limited edition Gallery prints
31 very limited edition Studio prints
open edition Portfolio prints
additional information about my giclée prints

Item:
Quantity:
Add To Cart

Good Vibes From a New Print Company.

/
printroc.jpg

After doing some research for a new company to print my calendars, I've chosen to go with PrintRoc out of Rochester NY.  I found several that indicated they had no problem with the subject matter of my art and even a few that had lower prices. But when it comes to a major order, like my calendars, I'm extra nervous about the quality I'm going to get with someone I have no experience with. While that will still be the case until I see the results, I got a good vibe talking with the guys at PrintRoc, a gay friendly business. They even took the time to take a look at my website and mentioned they also print magnets and other items I offer. 

So fingers crossed, I should have the hardcopy proof next week, and calendars should be ready for purchase before then end of September.

Stop the presses! Archaic Puritanism and body & sex shaming strikes again!

/
upload.png

The meat of the matter is, there will be a slight delay in the release of my calendar. I was informed yesterday by PSPrint, the company I've used for many years, has refused to print my calendar due to its nude subject matter. Apparently they were purchased by Deluxe, a company that mostly makes business forms and checks, which forced their "1950's beliefs" on them. The customer service manager was very apologetic about the situation and clearly unhappy with what his overlords had done. He had the unpleasant task of informing many of their long time customers they had to censor their material or go elsewhere.  Needless to say I won't censor my calendar. So I am in the process of selecting a new company, one ok with my art, with comparable quality, and a price that will make it worthwhile. I still hope to have them by the end of September. In the meantime: #boycottPSPrint #boycottDeluxe 

Other subsidiaries of this neolithic (though I think civilizations of the stone age were more enlightened about the human body) conglomerate include: 

ChecksByDeluxe.com, Custom Direct, Inc., Direct Checks Unlimited, Hostopia, NEBS, Safeguard Business Systems, Inc. ,SyncSuite, Chiswick, Inc., Designer Checks, Direct Checks Unlimited, DLX Check Printers, Inc., McBee Systems, Inc., Paper Payment Services, Plaid Moon, Inc.,PremiumWear, Inc., PPS Services, Rapidforms, Inc., Russell & Miller, Inc., Standard Forms, Ltd., Stephen Fossler Company, VeriPack.com, Inc. ...all of which I will do my best to avoid from now on. 

New Original & Prints: "Swimming Lessons"

/

This is 'live streaming' Vermont style!

Two of my favorite creatures on Earth are the subjects in my newest pastel painting. 

Special New Release pricing on prints & the original last through Friday 9/1/17. 

 

Swimming Lessons
from $45.00

Original is Available
24" x 18" (61 cm x 46 cm) pastel on pastel paper

Giclée Prints
25 limited edition Gallery prints
100 limited edition Studio prints
open edition Portfolio prints
additional information about my giclée prints

Item:
Quantity:
Add To Cart