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FAQ

Browse our most frequently asked questions below

FAQ

 

  • About Art
  • About Projects
  • About Frames/Mats
  • About Purchasing/Budgets
  • About Our Services
  • About New Things
  • About Shipping
  • About Pricing
  • About Markets
  • About Policies/Procedures
  • About Security

First, our library of images is exhaustive, so if you are just browsing, feel free to explore as much as you'd like. If you already have an idea as to what you are looking for, there are a couple of search methods you might want to try.  There is a keyword search box on the top of every page.  You can enter an artist's name, a title or any keyword to be shown a variety of results. As you call up items to review/consider, note the keywords that are attached to the items you like. These may be words that you later want to use as search parameters in the keyword space. 

There are also many pre-defined "categories" of images.  In these categories we tried to narrow down the selection so you may more quickly find items that appeal to your needs.

Your design library may have comprehensive catalogs from major art publishers such as Winn/Devon, Image Conscious, PI Creative Bruce McGaw Graphics, etc. These are valued vendors that work with ArtSource to provide the design community with artwork and you can feel free to include these items in a request for quote. We will sometimes have difficulty identifying items featured from other art companies who offer ready-made framed product. Also, we often get requests to quote items which are quite old and have gone out of print. This is another advantage of using our on-line selection process.  

The design team at ArtSource has gathered together some of the most requested types of items in "collections" to help you find what you need more quickly. So if you're specifying for a nursing home and don't want to do your own art search, check out "The Seniors Collection". The "Newport Collection" has scenes of New England, the "Mesa Collection" features southwest imagery, and so on.

In the poster area, we are supplied by many of the best publishers in the world - the same ones that sell to the top art shops, furniture stores, galleries, and museums you may have always shopped at. Our valued vendors are constantly researching new trends and styles to stay in the forefront of art design.

We don't sell our decorative prints unframed. Since we offer good-value pricing on our whole package product, including prints, mats, and frames, you'll be better off to purchase our artwork as a completed item. We've found that our clients need this complete package, not just the parts, to meet their needs and trust us to provide a high-quality picture complete and ready to hang. We do, however, sell fine art unframed at list pricing.

98% of clients have us cover the writing with mats. It creates more of an art print look, rather than a poster. It also changes the size dimensions, so we are showing it without borders to give you a clearer idea of the final result.

The sizes shown on our site are image sizes.  The finished size or outside dimensions will be larger due to the additon of matting and frame moulding.  As an estimate you can add 10-12" to the image size to get an idea of what the finished size will be (it will vary depending on the thickness of your matting and moulding selections).  If you need accurate specific oustide dimensions, we can provide that prior to production of any order.  

In almost all cases, the images displayed on our site are available in many different sizes.  We have selected a few options for every item on the site.  However, if you don't see the size you require, don't hesitate to ask if there are additional sizes available.

We're taking full-size fine color reproductions or slides of artwork and converting them to the small thumbnail version that you can see on your screen. The originals of these works will be much higher quality with vibrant colors and accurate details. But by accessing them through the Internet you can quickly sort through and make selections. Be sure to adjust the brightness of your monitor until you feel that you are getting the best look on your screen. You may want to view the items in a slightly darkened room to get the full color effect as well.

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. We will certainly do our best. Please use the "contact us" form to give us as much detail as you can, such as artist, title, source (where did you see it?), retail price, etc. We've been in the business for years, so many pieces are familiar to us. But we're sometimes stumped. We have the most luck with decorative prints and posters. Frankly, if you saw an artist's original work in a local gallery, odds are we won't be able to help you as much.

Any gallery you create will be stored for 365 days. You will be notified by e-mail when a gallery is due to expire and can renew it as needed. You can delete any of your galleries at any time and should do so regularly to free up memory space and make it easier to see your current projects.

No, there aren't any limits to the number of pieces you can put in a project and there are no limits to the number of projects that you can create.

Once you are logged in, there is a "My Projects" tab on the header of the website.  If you select this tab, you will see a list of the projects that you have created.  Each of these 

We recommend an even 3" matting with the inner mat showing 1/4" reveal. We like to see double mats with the outside mat kept fairly neutral (off white is the most common choice) and the inner mat picking up a stronger accent color that is present in both the art piece and the color palette of the space. More colorful outer mats would be used when you want to punch up the color (pediatric units, restaurants) and darker outer mats can also be appropriate (i.e. for Victorian design schemes, abstract art).

Our customers order about 90% wood and 10% metal currently. Black frames are our most popular finish as they are neutral and look good with most artword and most interior finishes.  Natural wood tones are typically much warmer and can make a space feel more homey.  If you prefer wood tones, look at the case goods & finishes in the space - desks, cabinetry, tables - and match those as closely as possible. If art is in hallways or other areas without furniture, match chair rails or woodwork mouldings.  

Silver/Bronze/Gold metalic finishes are available in both wood and metal frames and a variety of profiles.

Your color palette will be driven by other interior elements such as fabric, wallcovering, paint, and carpet. Most art can be framed in several different palettes because of the great number of colors used. By indicating your color family, either at your personal gallery here on the Internet or by sending us swatches, our art consultants can mat your art to coordinate with your space needs.

We have full-service manufacturing capabilities are our facility in Madison, WI. We have the very latest in picture framing technology to ensure the highest quality. Since we control the process, we can guarantee your art will come to you precisely as you ordered it.  In addittion to our own facilities, we partner will some industry leaders who offer the most current materials and techniques.  The use of partners, allow us to be more competitive on pricing, expand our capacity for larger orders and minimize shipping costs.

This is a very common question. On the one hand, using the same frame creates a consistent look and also allows you to move pictures between facilities. However, you run the risk of looking too cookie-cutter if you are purchasing a lot of pictures. It may be a good idea to select 2-4 different mouldings and vary them throughout. 

We can send out moulding samples as needed. Please indicate this when you submit your request for quote in the comments field. Stock items can be shipped quickly. Samples of special order items will take 1-2 weeks.

The frame market closely follows the commercial and residential furniture markets. So we're seeing a strong move into smooth hardwoods like cherry and maple in commercial settings, silver-toned woods for senior living (with gold still remaining strong) and the addition of black accents to more traditional mahoganies and walnuts. In metals, richer, more complex metallic finishes with patinas like champagne gold are prominent.

On all decorative art items that we frame, we use a glue process that adheres your prints to a sturdy foam core backing. Likewise, we adhere your mats, since they too are made from paper products and can absorb humidity. 

You can send us unframed items to be framed when placing your order. It is not usually feasible for us to reframe items which are already framed due to the risk of damage in shipping them to us. However, if you are also purchasing items on a major project with us, we will often use a local frame shop to help us reframe your existing items to coordinate with your new design scheme.

About half of the pictures we sell have some kind of security system. The most common reason for ordering these systems is for theft prevention, followed by safety reasons (the pictures won't fall off the wall and break if bumped into). Finally, some people use this type of hanging mechanism simply so they don't have to continually straighten their pictures. Be advised that installation costs are higher with security systems since they require about 10 minutes per picture to install, versus the old "hammer and nail" hanging system.

Our most frequent system involves a three point mechanism, with 2 wall anchors going into the wall at the top and one at mid-bottom. The bottom channel gets a T-screw which is turned sideways with a special wrench, thus "locking" it onto the wall. 

Other mechanisms include (1) building a strainer frame that joins to the wall and framing in another moulding which will "fit over" this frame. This is used in high security facilities like metal health facilities; or (2) a french clete system on the frame top which again requires T-screw and special wrench for installation.

Of course! Our moulding manufacturers have thousands of frames to choose from. One of our functions as your art consultant is to pick the "best of the best" to show you here and in our catalog. But for specialty needs where looks are more important than price, please contact us and we'll show you an appropriate choice.

If you are using only decorative artwork, budget between $1.00 and $2.00 a square foot for usable space. This means you would eliminate areas which will not use art, like distribution warehouses, loading docks, closets, etc. If you have lots of open areas with cubicles, you will use less because you have less wall space; if you have many enclosed offices and conference rooms, you may use more.

Another guideline is you will need to plan for a picture on every 10-12 running feet of wall in hallways (uninterrupted by doors or other openings.)

Our design department can look at your floor plans, take your art specifications (type of frame, type of glass, number of mats and hanging requirements) and give you a ballpark figure to put into your budget upfront to accommodate artwork.

If you want fine as well as decorative artwork, please indicate this and we will budget accordingly.

National companies are moving to setting up standards programs for their facilities because (1) it can help control expenditures through national purchasing agreements (2) it ensures a consistent quality and style (3) as you move, facilities can interchange artwork and (4) corporate HQ can control the look of what is displayed to enhance the desired image. Our sales staff will help you create such standards programs and give you examples of other companies we have helped (see the "About Us" section for some of these case study examples). Please use the "contact us" button to forward information on your needs.

We have also had companies create unique "personal galleries" for their outlets nationwide in which corporate facilities people create a pool of images acceptable to their company and then allow the different facilities to select via this Internet site from within this pool.

Use the "contact us" button to forward information to our sales people at headquarters. We will call you back to discuss your unique needs.

We accept VISA, Master Card, and government VISA cards. Your card will be charged on the day after your product ships from our plant.

Please go to the contact us section of this website and request a credit application in the comments section.

Absolutely. This occurs often with our larger corporate clients. You'll see this provision in the last stages of the quote process.

ArtSource offers VISA and Master Card for immediate purchasing. We set up Net 30 accounts for ongoing business purchases. We also can arrange leasing plans (for original artwork only).

We are at our customer service/sales desks Monday-Friday 8:30-4:30 CST.

Absolutely! Our staff has extensive experience in finding just the right artwork for your needs and is an invaluable source for listening to your needs and matching them with art available in the national marketplace. Call us!

Our design services are free of charge to our ongoing clients. If you choose not to purchase from us after we have performed extensive design selections for you, there will be a fee for our professional services.

Through the years, we have built up expertise in the types of imagery which is most appropriate and most often used in health care, senior living, corporate, and hospitality settings. Please call us at 1-800-553-0081 and speak with the Regional Sales Manager for your state for advice in this area.

While you can easily perform this task here on the website, we will help out if you get in a bind. Let us know what you'd like, and we'll put one of our design team on the task.

The most helpful items are swatches from your interior finishes, such as fabric, case good finishes, wallcovering, and paint selections. Using these, we can match the colors in your artwork to your palette to achieve the best mix for your facility.

Yes. We can arrange installation in most major metro areas and surrounding cities. We usually will sub-contract this part of the job to experienced and pre-qualified companies. Please indicate the need for this service when faxing in your request for quote.

Yes, we frequently get involved in this type of project. Usually you should have at least 15-20 similar things to frame before it is cost effective to use us. Otherwise, we would suggest you use a reputable local frame shop or gallery.

We do NOT stock ready to ship artwork.  Everything we produce is made to the custom specifications of each customer.  If you require items immediately, let us know and we can point you to other sources that might be able to meet your needs.

No, except for federal government orders which can be sent to a consolidator and shipped to overseas bases.

Orders of 1-20 pieces ship either UPS or RPS, larger orders by common carrier. We can arrange for special shipping and unloading requirements like lift docks and inside deliveries.

While we go to great lengths to ensure your art arrives safely, very occasionally breakage does occur. Please keep the original packaging material and call us at 1-800-553-0081 or e-mail us at sales@artsourceonline.com. We will issue a call tag for the merchandise and ship a replacement out to you at no charge.

Every ArtSource item is packaged to ship either UPS in specially-designed boxes, 2 in a carton, or on larger orders via common carrier truck lines in larger reinforced crates. We charge according to the size and weight of both the item and the total order and the distance the shipping point is from our manufacturing plant. Shipping charges are done on a pass-through basis and are usually around $30 per picture.

List or retail prices for framed posters are generally between $175-$250, depending on the image, finished size, and framing specifications. Fine art prices are listed at retail, but do not include framing costs. We have purposely not listed set pricing on our site because your pricing will depend on your purchase status with our company (i.e. national account status, dealer status, etc), volume of purchasing, type of artwork selected, and other factors.

We offer discounts to qualified designers, dealers, and corporate end users who qualify as national accounts. We also have discount schedules available to federal government buyers and other qualified business accounts in purchasing groups, dealer networks, and so on. Please call us with information about your purchasing requirements or contact your local ArtSource dealer or representative.

We hold GSA Contract #Gs-03F-041BA, period 4/1/2019 through 3/31/2024. You may obtain complete contract information by calling us at 1-800-553-0081 or faxing your request at 262-860-4278. 

We are a wholesale manufacturer who sells only to businesses.

Yes, we do. Hotel guestroom artwork is typically very price-sensitive and we quote off-line on any situations where you need 100+ of one art image. Please contact us with complete information at 1-800-553-0081.

It will take approximately 4-5 weeks to order your artwork, frame and mat the pieces, package the items, and ship them to you via UPS or truck. If you need artwork sooner than this time frame, please call us and we may be able to accommodate you through our Quick Ship program or because of openings in our production schedule. Please plan your ordering timelines based on these guidelines.

Most quotes take about 2 days, however, if you have specific requirements (i.e. non-stocked materials), it may take longer.

We certainly do! If you are not satisfied with the art you receive, you can exchange it, have it reframed, or receive a full refund within 30 days of shipping. Our component parts carry a 1-year guarantee against defects.

We generally begin production of your order 3 weeks before your required ship date. Prior to this time, you can change your delivery date as needed. After production has begun, we will store your order for 2 weeks after the original ship date at no charge. After that, there will be fees involved for holding your order. Please call us to inquire.

ArtSource is required to pay sales tax on orders shipped to non-exempt businesses in Wisconsin, regardless of where the purchase originates from. This is a requirement based on state laws. At this time, all other orders will not incur sales tax. If you are reselling our product, we also will not charge sales tax, but will need a resale certificate filed with our accounting office.

Our minimum order is 2 pictures. However, be aware that your pricing is dependent on your purchase status with our company so it may be advantageous to order more pictures at one time for better pricing.

No, we don't. Since we select art, mats, and frames specifically for your design scheme and desired look, it would be practically impossible to re-select these items every 6 months or so and then find an identical buyer who wanted YOUR older items. However, if you have a need to spread out the payments for artwork, we can arrange leasing plans (for original artwork only).

Yes, ArtSource will not release your business information to anyone outside our company.

We will be notified by our system that you have created a project and we will be able to access it to consult with you about your choices. We will also notify you via e-mail when your project is going to expire. Others will not be able to see your project unless you yourself give them both the name of your project and the password for accessing it. You will want to do this when you send your project selections to a client or colleague for review.