Frequently asked Questions from Painting Technique to Usage Rights

To answer the most frequently asked questions concerning my art and paintings, you will find some aspects answered in a summary following below. You can also find additional information in sections Vita und Press (in German only).

• Where do you get your ideas and inspiration?
  
• Science fiction literature - do you have favorite authors?
  
• Besides your spacelands - do you also paint different styles?
  
• What technique are your paintings?
  
• What do your paintings cost?
  
• Do you paint remittance work?
  
• Do you paint on cars or computers?
  
• May I use your artwork for my website?
  
• What does it cost to use your motives?
  
• May I make printouts of your images?
  
• What do you charge for usage rights for print?
  
• It is a good PR - why not allow usage free of charge?
  
• The artprints in your shop - what is the difference between your offset and digital prints?
  
• Do you have tips and advice concerning framing?
  
• How can I pay - what options do you offer?
  

 

Where do you get your ideas and inspiration?

I grew up with Star Trek and have always read science fiction, therefore the distant worlds are not that far to me and I would surely sign on Captian Picard's Enterprise right now.
In the draft of new paintings I often imagine myself landing on an alien world and my paintings becoming the postcards from these journeys.
Of course there always is a good portion of wishful thinking mixed into my works, my fascination for space and the utopia of an ideal and livable future.
Like an architect i design entire worlds and draft my very own utopia.
In case you would like to read more, please visit the other sections like my cv, exhibitions or illustratione.

 

Science fiction literature - do you have favorite authors?

In general I do prefer the novels and big sagas written by authors, who not only follow their action plot but also outline entire civilisations. There are my "classics" like "Dune" (Frank Herbert), "Homanx"-universe by Alan Dean Foster or David Brin with his "Uplift" timeline.
Simply terrific: Iain Banks "Culture" and breathtaking Dan Simmons' "Hyperion".


 

Besides your spacelands - do you also paint different styles?

Fantasy and science fiction are my passion, but the artist also likes to play and experiment. For this purpose in 2004 i created my project "justin tao" www.justintao.com). Under this brand and alias I paint the more contemporary art, large scale on canvas.


 

What technique are your paintings?

My works of art are painted in acrylics using brush and airbrush on different grounds: From classic canvas to special smooth airbrush cardboards. Only recently I tended to stick to the even surfaces, making later reproduction much easier. The framed painting on canvas does look great indeed, but this pattern really becomes a problem when it is being printed as book cover for instance.
The size of my paintings usually sticks to my favorite measures 50x70cm, optimal in handling while painting and ideal when framed on the wall.


 

What do your paintings cost?

The framed original paintings vary from 200 to 3.500 Euro. In case you have concrete questions concerning certain paintings, please do get in touch with me: Contact.
The list of artprints available you will find in my Shop.


 

Do you paint remittance work?

As far as I have a certain freedom in design and contents remittance work is possible of course. But please note, that ordered art usually pays much higher, because I do calculate this price on the hourly rate.


 

Do you paint on cars or computers?

No. I do paint with soft colors on a water basis like acrylics. I also cannot recommend high quality and expensive art on wearing parts. It would be best to consider an economic varnish by an airbrush-sprayer with special equipment in a varnisher's shop.


 

May I use your artwork for my website?

The use of my images and motives on websites or online games is allowed with my prior written consent only. Furthermore my artwork is linkware, meaning that each image has to be marked with copyright notice and a link to "http://www.spacelands.de". The costs and charge usually depend on the purpose or image-size.


 

What does it cost to use your motives?

Charges are graded according to image size and contents of website.
Purely private websites:
Image size up to 500 px width: 50 Eur, from 500 px width: 80 Eur
Commercial websites:
Image size up to 500 px width: 100 Eur, from 500 px width: 150 Eur
(Banner advertising on a website makes it a commercial site.)


 

May I make printouts of your images?

Printing of Image-files from spacelands.de even for purely private purposes without my prior written consent is not allowed. Especially the download-images are wallpapers for your desktop only.
In case you are interested you can purchase the usage rights or make a donation.
Request Usage Rights


 

What do you charge for usage rights for print?

Usage rights are not exclusive, any other way these economic prices would not be possible.
Prices are graded depending on purpose, size and quantity of copies.
The costs for a flyer background in Din-A6 (5.000 copies) are 150 Euro, Printmag A5 or DVD and CDs starting from 180 Euro, cover and illustrations for books or calendars are negotiable.

For non-comercial purposes extra rates are possible. All billing amounts are VAT exempt, UStG § 19.1.


 

It is a good PR - why not allow usage free of charge?

As an artist i pay my living from my art, but  n o t  by selling the original artwork, instaed i sell my artprints, reproductions, usage and copyrights. You will surely understand that "give-aways" completely free of charge are not possible.


 

The artprints in your shop - what is the difference between your offset and digital prints?

The offset prints are classic 4color prints on strong 300g cardboard. The paper is creme-white and silk finish.
The digital prints are hightech products printed with latest digital printing technology by frankenlabor.de. Prints are on strong 290g cardborad in color brilliant-white and silk glossy surface.


 

Do you have tips and advice concerning framing?

Framing is very important and I can only recommend it to everyone. The rest depends on your budget and your interieur at home.

Some tips:
1. Laminate your prints and posters. Many galleries have their own workshop, where the poster ist being fixed to a plate in a vacuum. This prevents later undulation and effects caused by humidity and room climate.

2. Frame: Quite often I have taken care of the framing for customers and the CANTO-series by Nielssen always produced excellent results, especially in frame-quality "matt, brushed" in frame-size 70x90 cm.
But just right now there are so many new types of frame around by various manufacturers that I can only encourage you to take a look around in galleries. There are great new styles on the market from rough welded iron to bamboo and wood-effects.

4. Passe-partout: Strictly speaking a passe-partout for your print is no "must", because my artprints already have a white passe-partout margin, but with professionally produced passe-partouts you can achieve some great effects with your print. For instance, combining the quality "canvas-pattern" with your smooth print surface makes a perfect contrast.
Why using a passe-partout in the first place?
There are practical reasons and they prolong the lifetime of your art: With a passe-partout you always have a small layer of air between your art and the glass. While in direct contact there will be condensating water at the glass plate causing mold stains over the years.

5. Glass-plate: Quite often people hang their art and paintings without glass. Sure, there are no annoying reflections any more and you have all the color of your painting. For a while, that is. After a while you will notice a yellowing, even thin layers of oily substance on the surface, making your art less and less good-looking. My tip: Put your art behind anti-reflex glass and clean it once a year and you will enjoy art as it should be: timeless.


 

How can I pay - what options do you offer?

• You can pay by bank transfer
• Using paypal you can pay on the instant
• As paypal client you can also pay by creditcard
• You can pay your order by cash on delivery of course