Gray Blush Gallery

Frequently Asked Questions

Searching for and Deciding about Work

How do you ensure fair prices and high quality?
We have a two-tiered process that culminates in review by an independent jury of experts. In fact, this is one of the most important things we do. Our process seeks to combat the vagaries that often turn up in art pricing. That way, you can discuss, purchase, and enjoy our common passion with relative peace of mind!

Every piece is individually evaluated using criteria related to the nuances of medium, technical proficiency, and the artist's background. We work extensively with our jury to negotiate fair valuations, and we offer our artists as high a percentage of the sale price as possible.

What's the jury?
The jury is an independent panel of art experts who vet everything the gallery exhibits. These gurus decide whether we should exhibit a given work, and if so, what its fair price is. Our members are scholars, artists, and practitioners drawn from the ranks of academia, publishing, active artistic practice, and gallery or museum operations. Feel free to read about our current jury here!

How do I search for things on the website?
When you hover over the top-level Search menu, you'll see that you have two options:

Keyword Search. Typing keywords such as "oil paintings" into our search box will take you to a page that displays all the artwork we have for sale in the oil painting category. The right side of that same page will also display some of the articles we've written about oil painting. If you find that "oil paintings" returned too many results, the left side of the page gives you options to narrow down your search results. Feel free to filter by artist, style, medium, color, or budget!

Advanced Search. If you have a good idea of what you're looking for, an advanced search allows you to incorporate one (or more!) search criteria right from the start. For example, you could specify that you only want to see oil paintings for under $800 that are predominantly yellow. You can also use this link to determine whether your search will return artwork, articles, or both.

How do I print images?
By using your web browser's print features, you can print images of artwork actively listed for sale. Consult your browser's documentation for specifics. Printing images for the sole, private purpose of visualizing them in your personal space and subsequently destroying the copies won't place you in violation of our copyright.

Do you offer framing?

We don't offer framing services. Eliminating this intermediate step helps keep your overall costs down. That said, some artists choose to make the frame a part of the piece. If this is the case, the product details will always describe the size and appearance of the frame.

Can art be considered an investment?

The primary return on art is love of the artwork itself...at least that's how we feel here at the gallery. Undeniably, a growing contingent of investors, wealth managers, and insurers has defined art as an asset class, supported by market indices like those of NYU Professors Mei and Moses. As a professional gallery, we seek out creative and exciting new works, and our jury certainly considers market conditions when rendering valuations. That said, our goal is for you to enjoy the pieces and their stories rather than the market trends.

Learning and Talking about Art

Can I talk to the artists?
Absolutely! Each artist has his or her own sub-forum, and most of our artists participate as a way to communicate and personally answer questions. You can access the artist sub-forums from the Forum homepage, or from a given artist's profile.

What are the forums all about?
We try to tell the story of a piece on its product details page and to put it in art-historical context on our blog. The forums are a space for you to bring these two angles together, to view them through the lens of your own personal reactions and interpretations, and to discuss your viewpoints with fellow art-lovers and artists.

We offer forums specific to different styles, traditions, and media, and sub-forums specific to each artist whose work we exhibit. There are also forums for collecting and general art discussion, and an off-topic forum for whatever else might be on your mind.

Where/what is your blog?
You can access our blog from the Learn button on the top-level menu, and we link to relevant posts throughout the site.

Our blog is a great place to learn more about the pieces we list and about art in general. We do our best to provide historical and theoretical context for the pieces we sell and to make this context available to anyone who wants it — but we set this information aside so it doesn't interfere with your spontaneous or personal reaction to a given work of art. If you want react intuitively, then by all means do! If you want to take a more cerebral course, then we're here to help.

Do you have a glossary?
Our glossary is a living work, so let us know if there's something you'd like us to add! You can view the current version here.

Can I follow you on Facebook and Twitter?
Of course! Our Twitter feed is located here, and our Facebook page is here.

Ordering

We do not store, process, or transmit payment card information on our servers. In fact, we've partnered with a major U.S. bank to enhance security. When you login or place an order, your information is SSL-encrypted and sits behind managed redundant firewalls.

Additionally, our data center is SAS 70 Type II certified, we comply with PCI DSS, and we implement robust threat scanning for vulnerabilities, malware, adware, spyware, popups, browser exploits, and spam. For more information, please see Terms & Privacy page.

Can I order over the phone?
Certainly! You can reach our customer service line at 800-735-1475. We're open from 11:00 AM — 7:00 PM Eastern Time, Tuesday through Saturday.

However, placing an order through your online account gives you access to all of our convenient order tracking features.

What forms of payment do you accept?
We currently accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Diners Club, JCB, and American Express payment cards. You can also checkout using PayPal.

Unfortunately, we cannot accept cash, money orders, or personal checks.

Is there any tax or duty?
We only collect tax on orders shipped to Illinois or Virginia. International orders may be subject to duty. If you need more detailed assistance, feel free to call our customer service line at 800-735-1475 or email us at service@grayblush.com.

I'm not sure if my order went through. What should I do?
If you chose to create a Gray Blush Gallery account, then you can view all of your open and completed orders from your user account page. Simply click "My Account" at the top of any page on our website.

If you don't have an account with us, or if you have other questions, then please call our customer service line at 800-735-1475 or email us at service@grayblush.com.

Can I cancel my order?
Yes. If you choose to cancel an order, please call us right away at 800-735-1475 so we can stop your shipment.

Can I leave items in my shopping cart for later?
Many of the works on our website are one-of-a-kind, and we cannot guarantee that they will still be available on your next visit. You have not reserved a work until you have actually completed your order.

That said, the contents of your shopping cart are stored as a first-party cookie. As long as you do not clear your cookies or Temporary Internet Files, the contents of your shopping cart will remain. Please see our Terms & Privacy page for more information.

Shipping, Packaging, and Returns

What is your return policy?
At Gray Blush Gallery, you are a member of our community, and we value your well-being over your wallet. Amongst the most important qualities of art is being able to appreciate it in your particular space. If you can't enjoy it for some reason — or no reason at all — you may return it within 10 calendar days of delivery. We'll process a full refund and pay your domestic return shipping.

If you'd like to return a piece, please call 800-735-1475 or email service@grayblush.com as soon as possible. Easy, step-by-step instructions are outlined in our Return Policy.

How do packing and shipping work?
The majority of our pieces are professionally packed, insured, and then shipped via FedEx within 48 hours of your order (items destined for the APO/FPO system are shipped via the U.S. Postal Service within 72 hours of your order).

Shipping costs vary based on dimensions, distance, and method. Once you've entered a shipping address in our secure cart, you'll be able to choose your shipping method and see the order total, including an itemized cost for Shipping & Packing.

What about order tracking?
After you order a piece, you will receive a tracking number by email. You can follow the progress of your shipment from departure to arrival by logging into your account or by entering your tracking number at http://www.fedex.com/us/track/index.html

What about international shipping and APO/FPO addresses?
We'll happily ship to any international destination — as long as it's legal for us to do so. If you're not sure which destinations are prohibited, please visit www.treas.gov/ofac and see the Resources tab.

We do ship to APO/FPO addresses via the U.S. Postal Service. APO/FPO holders can track current orders by visiting http://www.usps.com/shipping/trackandconfirm.htm.

Rules and rates for international shipping vary significantly from country to country. Please contact us at 800-735-1475 or service@grayblush.com if you are not sure about your country's policies on imports from the United States.

Can I ship to PO Boxes?
While we do not ship to domestic PO boxes, we do ship to APO/FPO addresses as part of our ongoing commitment to those stationed abroad. Thanks for your service!

What if my piece arrives damaged?
If your piece is damaged, call 800-735-1475 immediately. Although we can't process returns or refunds for damaged pieces, we do insure all of our artwork. If your piece was lost in transit or arrived damaged, then it is subject to the claims procedures of the carrier and insurer. Don't worry, we'll help you navigate the process!

Most importantly, make sure to photograph both the damage to the packaging and the piece, and retain everything for the claims inspection.

Gift Cards and Wish Lists

How do I purchase a gift card?
You can purchase a gift card by clicking the Gift Cards link at the bottom of any page.

How does the recipient redeem a gift card?
While checking out, the recipient enters the unique number associated with the gift card.

How long does it take for the recipient to receive the gift card?
If you choose to email a gift card, your recipient will receive it almost immediately!

Are there taxes on gift cards?
Gift cards are not taxed at the time of purchase. However, like any other form of payment, if you use a gift card to buy artwork that is shipped to Illinois or Virginia, that purchase will be subject to tax. Depending on the destination, international orders may be subject to duty.

How do I check the current value of a gift card?
Simply click the Gift Cards link at the bottom of any page, then click "Check the value of a gift card" and enter your card's unique code.

Do gift cards expire?
Nope! Gift cards that you purchase on our website will never expire.

Accounts

Do I need an account to place an order or browse the site?
You don't need an account to browse or make purchases. You can always surf anonymously.

What can I do with an account?
Creating an account allows you to communicate with the artists on their forums, leave comments on blog entries, create a Wish List, set up payment and shipping information, and easily track orders.

How do you protect my information?
Not only do we take security very seriously, we back it up with concrete actions. Your information is SSL encrypted and sits behind managed redundant firewalls in a third-party audited PCI 2.0 hosting environment. A few of the controls we implement include secure payment, certified data centers, secure servers, threat scanning, secure email, and the fact that we don't retain any payment card information. We've also partnered with a major U.S. bank and PayPal to handle card transactions.

Our Terms & Privacy page covers each of these areas in more detail, and you can always Contact Us with your specific questions.

How do you use my email?
If and when you buy something, we will send you an email receipt. We will also send you an email confirmation when your order ships, and we will use your email address to verify your account.

There aren't any hard to find buttons that commit you automatically. You have to deliberately opt in to receive things like the newsletter or promotions.

About the Company and Feedback for Us

What is this gallery all about?
We're all about things like service, security, fairness, and community. We want to be a place where you can unwind — regardless of whether you're after stories you can share with friends, something that looks good over the couch, or abstractions that help you understand your own experience.

In those places where art is daunting, we want to pull back the curtain and lower the barriers for artists, art-buyers, and those who'd like to become art-buyers. Creativity is a part of all of us, and we'd like to see more of it, everywhere. In short, we hope to cultivate a community where all of us can enjoy, exhibit, purchase, discuss, learn, and share our common passion.

How can I contact the Gallery?
You can always email us at service@grayblush.com, and we will get back to you as soon as possible — usually within one business day.

You can call our customer service line at 800-735-1475. You'll get a real human being from 11:00 AM — 7:00 PM Eastern Time, Tuesday through Saturday. If you catch us at an off hour, we typically return phone messages within one business day.

Alternatively, you can reach us by mail:

Gray Blush Gallery
8300 Greensboro Drive, Suite 800
McLean, VA 22102

Can I be notified about changes to the site?
You certainly can, and there are multiple avenues to do so! The easiest way to keep informed about changes and new content is to sign up for our newsletter.

You can also keep with us on Twitter or Facebook, and sign up to be notified about updates to threads that interest you in our Forums.

Where are your Terms of Use and Privacy Policy located?
We've put some serious thought into these measures. Our full Terms of Use and Privacy Policy can be found on our Terms & Privacy page.

How do I leave feedback?
Our Feedback Forum will let you share bright ideas, ask questions, report problems, or sing our praises. In order to keep the spammers out, we do require that you login to the feedback forum. However, there are several convenient ways to do that, and you can even use your Facebook login to simplify things.

For Artists

How do I apply to exhibit my work?
You can apply to exhibit by using this web-form or by emailing jury@grayblush.com. If applying by email, please be sure to include all of the following:

1. The title of the work, if applicable
2. The dimensions of the work, and the materials used in its creation
3. At least one true-to-color image of the work
4. Your own good faith valuation of the work
5. The prices for which you've sold other, comparable works
6. Your exhibition history, education, and other pertinent biographical details

How do you price my art?
All works listed at Gray Blush Gallery go through an extensive vetting process, during which our jury ensures both high quality and a price that is fair to both artist and art-buyer. Feel free to read about our current jury here!

Every piece is individually evaluated using criteria related to medium, technical proficiency, and artist background. We work extensively with our jury to negotiate fair valuations, and we offer our artists as high a percentage of the sale price as possible.

How exclusive is our relationship?
When you list a work at Gray Blush Gallery, you may not list that piece for sale elsewhere while we're actively exhibiting it.

You can display it, and it can appear in other exhibitions, but you have to be able to deliver that particular piece to the shipper in the prescribed period of time. Like most galleries, we're very serious about meeting the availability commitment we make to our customers. If a neat opportunity or a potential issue comes up, please call us right away...we're pretty good at problem solving!

That said, we encourage you to seek maximum exposure for your work, and our exclusivity only applies to the specific pieces we're exhibiting. After all, we both want your career to take off!

How does payment work?
After the purchaser's 10-day return period has expired and the purchaser has not returned the piece, we'll process your payment by check. Just keep your contact information up to date so that we know where to mail it!

Do I pay any listing fees?
No. We'll cover the cost of displaying the pieces our jury approves so you can focus on doing what you do best!

What media do you exhibit?
Our jury invites submissions from artists that practice in all media.

Do you allow limited or open editions?
We do, in fact, exhibit a number of limited or open edition pieces. The overall proportion of original works compared to limited or open editions is something that the Director and the jury balance carefully.

Do you accept unsigned pieces?
We prefer to list, and many customers prefer to buy, personally signed pieces. If your work is not signed and you'd still like us to consider it, then please provide an explanation during the submissions process.

What are these forums all about?
The forums are a great way for you to keep up with people who share an interest in your work and in all-things-art. In addition to general, off-topic, and medium-specific forums, we will generate a sub-forum for discussion of each individual artist's work.

Artists' participation in these sub-forums, as in the forums generally, is optional. However, the artist sub-forums offer a quick and easy way of connecting to your audience, collecting feedback, and building a fan-base.

How do I know when someone is trying to contact me on the forum?
When you post in a forum thread, you can choose to subscribe to that thread — meaning that you will receive notification when someone else posts there.

By default, you will also receive an email notification when someone sends you a Private Message. Such messages are visible only to the sender and the recipient, and neither can see the other's email address.

You can also check up on the latest posts in your personal sub-forum by logging into your artist account page. Click at the top of any page to access this feature.

What if my work gets damaged?
If your work is damaged while still in your possession, then please contact us immediately at 800-735-1475 or service@grayblush.com.

We insure all artwork during transit, so if your work is lost or damaged during shipping, it will be subject to the claims process.

Do I lose the rights to my work after sale?
When you sell a work, the purchaser owns the piece but not the copyright to it. Subject to the method you used to list the piece for sale (original, limited, open, etc.), you retain the right to reproduce or recreate the work and to derive future works from it.

The buyer gains the right to use, display, and alter the work, provided he or she does not do so with the intent to profit financially.

How do I use my account?
Simply click My Account at the top of any page on the Gray Blush Gallery website to log into your control panel.

Can I create hyperlinks to my Gray Blush Gallery page?
Definitely! For your usage, there is a script that you can access from the My Account page. Of course, we require that the link display be proper and in accordance with our Terms of Use, but we definitely encourage you to help us promote your art!