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What You Should Know About
Collecting Simonson Art

Collecting Simonson art online is easy and secure; tens of thousands of happy art lovers have already done it. Here’s some information, in FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) form, that will help you decide if you’re ready to collect Simonson art.

Accessing the Simonson Website

Why do I have to create an account to see the entire website?

We ask you to create an account (which is free, by the way) to help us make sure that the galleries containing nudity are accessed only by those who clearly want to see them. You don’t need an account to see the main gallery, which contains all currently available G-rated Simonson art. But to access the nudity in the Members-Only galleries, you’ll need to create an account.

If I create an account to see the galleries with nudity, will I start getting lots of emails from you guys?

Depends on what you mean by a lot! We usually send out 1-2 newsletters per month, and occasionally a sale announcement. So you’re unlikely to get more than a maximum of 3 e-mails from us per month. If you sign up and then realize you don’t like hearing from us that often, it’s super-easy to unsubscribe.

How do I get into the Erotic Gallery?

The Simonson Erotic Art Gallery is in the Premium Content area of the website, available only to paid subscribers. The Erotic Gallery is just one of the benefits you’ll get as a paid subscriber. If you’d like to know more, click here.

Types of Simonson Artwork and Price Ranges

How much will I have to pay for an original Simonson painting?

The prices of original paintings by Douglas Simonson vary widely. A major original work could be anywhere from $1200-$3000. But that’s the high end of the spectrum. Most Simonson paintings are in the $650-$950 range. (And keep in mind that Rough Sketches, usually in pencil but sometimes in acrylic, range in price from as low as $40 up to around $250–with most priced around $65. So you can own a Simonson original for less than you might think.

What if I don't have the money to collect original art?

No problem. There are many Simonson art options besides original works. (Although you should be sure to check out the Rough Sketches galleries (G-Rated/Nudes), where original art can cost as little as $50!)

Limited-edition prints are signed, numbered high-quality reproductions of original works, in archival inks on heavy paper, in a 13×19 (33x48cm) size. Each print is signed and numbered by the artist, and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. “Limited edition” means that no other prints of that image will be produced, which makes your print more valuable. Most Simonson limited-edition prints are US$75. For more information on Simonson limited-edition prints, including information on Artist’s Proofs, go to About Prints and Proofs.

Posters are signed reproductions of original works, much like limited-edition prints, except that there is no limit to the number of reproductions that can be made. Simonson posters are available in an 8.5×11 (21x27cm) size, and some posters are also available in a larger 13×19 size. Posters signed by the artist are also available. Poster prices generally range from $25-$60.

Photographic Prints are signed prints of Douglas Simonson photographs. They are printed on matte paper with archival inks, and come in two sizes, the Gallery size, which is 13″x19″ (33x48cm) and the smaller size, which is 8.5″x11″ (21x27cm). Photographic prints signed by the artist are also available.

Books There are currently 2 books of Simonson art available, brush&camera and Islanders. Sketchbooks: There are occasionally artist’s sketchbooks available for purchase. These are actual sketchbooks carried by the artist and filled with his drawings and acrylic sketches. These are one-of-a-kind items and priced accordingly. Handbound Books: From time to time handbound books of Simonson art are available for purchase. Some of these contain original art, for instance 20 or 30 rough sketches bound into a single volume. Others contain Simonson art in poster form, for instance 20 signed posters in a single handbound volume. You’ll find these in the Books gallery along with published books and artist’s sketchbooks.

E-Books: There are now over 50 Simonson e-books available. The e-books are downloadable so that you’ll always have access to them on your computer or tablet, or even your phone. E-Books range from collections of Simonson drawings and paintings to collections of photographs from various nude model shoots in Hawaii, Brazil, the Dominican Republic and other locations. There’s even a Simonson e-book entitled “Finding and Photographing the Male Nude.” Simonson e-book downloads are generally priced from $10-$25.

Do you have payment plans?

Yes. These are set up on a per-client basis. Not all works can be purchased this way, but most can. It’s just a matter of sending us an e-mail with the name and code number of the work you’re interested in. We’ll get back to you with more information, and chances are we’ll be able to set up a payment plan customized to your needs. Click here for more specific information about Payment Plans.

How do I know if a work is available as a print or poster?

When you click on a thumbnail image in a Simonson gallery, you’re taken to a full page with a larger image and more information on the artwork. When you click on the MEDIUM drop-down menu, you’ll see all the available versions of the artwork, such as painting, drawing, poster, print, etc.

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What exactly are "Rough Sketches?"

“Rough Sketch” is a term used by the Simonson galleries to denote an artwork that is not a full-on finished, polished work, but rather a smaller, looser, rougher, more spontaneous work. Rough sketches can be preparatory studies for a painting, or they can be part of the artist’s daily studio practice.

Rough Sketches are usually in pencil, though occasionally the medium is acrylic, gouache, or colored pencil. Rough Sketches are intriguing in that they’re original, one-of-a-kind works, but because they are less “finished,” they’re priced very reasonably. Many collectors prize the spontaneity and raw energy of these works, and if you’re one of those collectors, you’ll be happy to know that there are literally hundreds of rough sketches available in the Simonson galleries, and most are priced from US$50-$75.

How do I know the size of the artwork I'm considering?

When you click on a thumbnail image in a Simonson gallery, you’re taken to a full page with a larger image and more information on the artwork. When you click on the MEDIUM drop-down menu, you’ll see all the available versions of the artwork Each version shows the medium (such as painting, drawing, poster, print, etc.) and next to that, the size, in both inches and centimeters.

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What does it mean when a painting is on unstretched canvas?

‘Unstretched’ canvas simply means that the canvas hasn’t yet been put on stretcher bars. When you see a painting hanging on a wall in a gallery or a home, in most cases it’s on a piece of canvas that has been mounted on a rigid wooden framework (called “stretcher bars”) to make it easier to display. The fact that Simonson paintings are not stretched allows us to ship them rolled, in a heavy-duty tube, which is a much safer and more practical way to ship a painting (it also saves you a lot in shipping charges). When you’re ready to frame and hang your new painting,  just take it to your framer, who will stretch it for you prior to framing it.

How do I frame a painting that's on unstretched canvas?

Easy—trust it to your framer. Any good framer will be happy to stretch your painting as part of the framing process. (Read more about this in the previous question.)

Shipping and Money-Back Guarantee

How is the art shipped?

We use the U.S. Postal Service or UPS in most cases, and while we can’t control the postal systems of the world, we do have a very good record of safe, on-time delivery to addresses all over the world.

How is the art packaged?

Smaller artworks are shipped flat, in a reinforced, padded envelope. Any artwork whose dimensions are greater than 8.5×11 (21x27cm) is shipped rolled, in a heavy-duty double-walled mailing tube. Shipping acrylic paintings rolled is not only more economical, it’s safer for the art. (See the FAQ above about unstretched canvas.)

In the unlikely case your artwork is damaged in shipping, contact us immediately and we’ll work with you to find the best solution, up to and including a full refund.

How long will it take to get to me?

This is a question we can’t answer, since once the package leaves us we have no control over the vagaries of the global network of postal systems. However, we can tell you that 98% of our orders are packed and shipped within 48 hours of our receiving the order. If for any reason there’s a delay in filling your order, you’ll receive a personal e-mail from us updating you.

What if the art arrives and I don't like it?

It’s very rare that a collector is not pleased when they see their Simonson artwork for the first time “in the flesh.” But it does happen, and that’s why we offer a money-back guarantee. We just ask that you notify us within 7 days of receiving the art. (Go to Policies for more information.)