• The preferred site is http://donna-leiber.pixels.com.
• An alternate site if the above is unavailable is http://fineartamerica.com/artists/donna+leiber.

Both websites should have the same paintings and the same products available, but a good deal is out of my control so there are sometimes discrepancies. Feel free to email me with any questions.

Note that my commission is roughly the same for any size print but less for other products. Also, I do not make extra money from paper/canvas choices, matting, framing, assembly, etc., so although I appreciate your support, don't feel like you have to buy the most expensive items. Instead, use your best judgment based on suggestions and notes below.

• Prints come in a variety of sizes depending on the original painting. You can choose from four lists of sizes as shown here (see area in red rectangle):
  
  

  The default list shown here is "Natural" as indicated by the teal underline. Other options are "Vertical," "Horizontal," and "Square," which can be accessed by clicking on their labels. Sizes available for "Natural" are based on the aspect ratio of the original. These are best for custom matting and framing (see below). For example, if a painting is 10" wide by 15" high, all natural sizes will be at the same width-to-height ratio of 10 to 15, commonly written as 10:15, or reduced to the lowest common denominator of 2:3. Consequently, prints could be available at sizes of 12" x 18", 14" x 21", 16" x 24", etc. The other size lists (e.g., "Horizontal") allow a print to be produced in a specific common size (e.g., 10" x 8"), but this usually requires some cropping of the image, which could adversely affect the artist's intended layout, focal point, signature, etc. These choices should be made cautiously and with attention to detail to notice what is being left out to achieve the desired size. Cropping will work better for some paintings than others and should be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.



• Prints can be output on a wide selection of papers:
  
  

  Clicking the "?" to the right of each type will explain the differences and show samples on the screen. Some of the types vary slightly in price and work better for specific images (e.g., photographs being reproduced on one of the photo paper options), but choices are largely according to personal preference. Although prints of my watercolor paintings look most like the originals when printed on "Watercolor Paper," there is enough tooth and texture on the less expensive "Archival Matte Paper" to work perfectly fine. Canvases are traditionally used for oil and acrylic paintings, so a print of a watercolor painting on canvas seems a little odd to me, but if you like that look, certainly try it. Check out the guarantee on the websites for care-free ordering.

Watercolor paintings are typically matted and framed under glass or plexiglass. The mat lifts the glass from touching the painting and the frame and glass protect the mat, paper, and pigments from moisture. Prints do not necessarily need the same treatment, but it is commonplace to do so, especially since modern prints often look like originals.

Some buyers select mat and frame colors to match their home decor, while many collectors choose styles to complement the artwork itself. Although this is largely personal preference and you can experiment with mat and frame combinations on the websites, my own preferred style for my own watercolors is to select a relatively simple frame, usually in a dark cherry or mahogany wood, and to have a double mat. The bottom mat is chosen in a dark color that goes well with the colors in the painting and the top mat is either a light color that is found in the painting or an off-white or cream color. Some darker paintings may look better with darker top mats. Experiment until you find combinations you like! Here are some examples:

Custom framing can be expensive, whether at your local frame/art store or through the above websites. Generally, it seems that ordering from the website will be competitive with places like Michael's, Aaron Brothers, and Hobby Lobby, but that can change depending on coupons, local sales, etc. Clearly the websites are one-stop-shopping and therefore much more convenient, but some of you may elect to just buy a print and take it somewhere nearby for matting and framing or try to do it yourself.

One way to save money over custom jobs is to use a precut mat and already assembled frame. These require only a little bit of manual labor and the savings are often worth it, but the drawback is that there are only limited standard sizes available, and this may also mean that the image you want will have to be cropped to fit those dimensions. Obviously, you'll need to be aware of this when ordering your print and select the sizes accordingly.

Most of my watercolor paintings are done on a quarter-sheet of watercolor paper, so the painted area measures just under 15" x 11". This aspect ratio lends itself well to using a standard 20" x 16" preassembled frame, which gives room for a top mat roughly 2.5" on each side. Most precut double mats of this size have an inner opening that would show all of the painting and still allow enough room to affix the paper to the mat.

The "Contact" forms on the above websites do not work consistently, so it is best to email me directly with additional questions, suggestions, or inquiries about specific pieces of artwork. I hope you enjoy your purchases and thanks for the support!