Membership
How do I join or become a member of ArtQuest?
It's free to join the membership of ArtQuest®. Simply Sign Up for a New Account. After you submit your information, you can then add a gallery, links, and use our free services. Becoming a member allows you to create a gallery for free where you can add one work of art so that you have representation here at ArtQuest® as well as add your link to our Links Library with the free link exchange. You will also be able to add your favorite artworks to Favorite Groups you create as you browse around our service.
Is Membership free?
Yes, membership is free! And we also allow each member to list one work of art for sale so that you have representation here at ArtQuest. To list more than one work of art for sale, please upgrade to the Professional or Business Package. All of our costs as well as free services can be found on our Cost For Services page.
How do I change my email address or password?
Simply edit your email address or password in your Online Member Account. Keeping your email address up-to-date is a very important step since this is how interested buyers will reach you.
Forgot your password - Have it instantly emailed to you.
Just visit our Forgot Password Service and type your email address. Your password will then be instantly emailed to you. Keep in mind that if you've changed email addresses and your old email address is no longer working, you'll have to send us a note to let us know. Please include your old and new email address when requesting your password should your old email address no longer be working.
Why can't I sign in using my email and password?
If you're having problems signing in to ArtQuest, please remember that passwords are case sensitive. If you've forgotten your password, you can always have it emailed directly to you by using our Forgot Password Service.
Is my member information sold to anyone or is it really confidential?
Since we opened our doors in 1991, we have never sold or shared our Member List with any person or business and have no plans to do this in the future. We respect each member's privacy and you can rest assure your member information is safe on our service. We protect each and every member and consider the information you provide us to be proprietary and private.
Why isn't my link showing up in the Links Library?
Entering your web address on the New Member Form does not mean it will be listed in our Links Library. There are many members using our service who have sites that are not art related. This field simply lets us know you have a site on the net. If you have an art related site and would like to list it in our Links Library, please visit our Links Library to add your link. Once submitted, your link will appear in our Library under the category you chose.
Searching For Art
How to find art for sale.
On our Art Search page, there are many search filters on the left menu so you can narrow the search to your specifics. You can filter by artist name, title, price, color, size, support, material, technique and even a date range so you can enter a date of your last visit to see only the new art or galleries that have been added.
Is there a complete Artist List that shows all the artist names?
Each time a member adds an artwork to their gallery, the name of the artist will automatically appear in our Artist List. Simply click on an artist name to see thumbnail images that match the artist name from across all the galleries listing art for sale. You can then click on a thumbnail image for more information on the work.
How to find art in a specific categories, material, support or technique?
On our Art Search page, there are many search filters on the left menu of each page so you can narrow your search to your specifics. Whether it be by price, size, artist name, color, etc., you'll find all these filters and more in the left menu while searching.
How to find art with specific colors.
On our Art Search page, there are many search filters on the left menu so you can narrow the search to your specifics. Simply choose a color out of the color box and art will appear with the color chosen. As art is added to our service, a member can choose a primary and secondary color. If you're searching for a painting with a lot of blue in it, then choose blue and you'll first see artworks where members have chosen blue as the primary color, followed by art where members chose blue as the secondary color. On the tail end, you'll find art where the color blue was used as an extra keyword or used in a description field.
How to find art from a specific time period.
On our Art Search page, there are many search filters on the left menu so you can narrow the search to your specifics. Simply type a year or range and only artwork in that specific year or range will appear. This comes in handy for those members who collect art within specific years of an artist’s genre.
How to find new art added since your last visit.
On our Art Search page, there are many search filters on the left menu so you can narrow the search to your specifics. Just choose a time period from the Date Range menu and you’ll see art added in the last 7 days, or month or create a custom range. In the custom field, you can choose or type the date of your last visit to see art that has been added since your last visit.
On a budget - How to find art in price ranges.
One can easily stay within a budget when purchasing art for yourself or as a gift. Just use our Price Search and enter a minimum and maximum price to see art in the range you are seeking.
Does art normally sell for the listed price or is there typically negotiations that occur?
We always recommend to simply make a reasonable offer. A member may be willing to accept less than the listed price but as all our mother's will say... you won't know unless you ask. :)
Does the art shown for sale accurately represent the color?
In most cases, yes. But if you're viewing art with a very old monitor, we can not predict the color correction or loss of color. Most art listings are accurately shown but it starts with the person taking the picture and the camera being used. Then each monitor has it's own color settings. As you can see, there are a myriad of reasons why pictures could be a shade off. If you have concerns about exact color, please ask the member to be absolutely sure.
Is there a way to increase the chances of my art listings appearing in "Just Browsing"?
Not at this time. The Just Browsing Feature is simply a random selection of all the artwork for sale on our service. Our computer simply queries our server each time you load the front page and randomly selected images are shown for you to view.
Gallery Information
How do I add a gallery?
Click the Member Area button in the top navigation panel. From the drop down menu, click My Galleries then click the Add New Gallery button. You can now name your gallery as well as add a description. Once the gallery is added, you may then add art for sale to that gallery. If you have a full subscription to our service, you can add as many galleries as you wish. Perhaps you are selling art by many artists and would like to establish a gallery for each. Or, perhaps you'd prefer creating a contemporary gallery for contemporary work, a portrait gallery for portraits, etc.
How do I edit a gallery name?
You can edit the gallery name any time. Simply choose the gallery then click the Edit button to update the name.
How do I remove or delete my gallery from your service?
On the My Galleries page, each gallery appears in its own box. Simply click the trash can in the box of the gallery you wish to remove. Keep in mind, once you remove it, it is purged from the system along with all the art listings that it contained.
How do I add, edit or remove artwork in a gallery?
Once you've added a gallery to our service, you can now add art to your galleries. To add art, click the Member Area button and from the drop down menu, click the My Art Listings button. Now you can click the Add New Art Listing button to add art to our service. Once you've added an art listing, all your listings will appear on the My Art Listings page. In each listing box there are a number of icons that perform different tasks. Choose the Add to Gallery icon and choose the gallery you wish. It will now appear in that gallery. You can also create galleries on the fly.
How many images can I show with each art listing?
You can list up to 12 images with each work of art you list for sale. Consider listing a close up of a signature, or perhaps a picture of the back of the painting or close up of a detail in the art. Sculpture can now be seen from many angles by posting images of the front, back and sides. Perhaps the work of art has appeared in a book where you want to include the cover page.
Is there a specific size to display the artist photograph?
An artist photograph can also be shown with each art listing should you choose to post an actual photograph of the artist. The artist photograph is 150 pixels wide x 200 pixels high.
How do I get an art work to show the front and back of a sculpture?
Take many pictures from different angles of the sculpture and post the additional pictures with the listing. You can list up to 12 additional images for each work of art you list for sale.
Is there a maximum number of listings one can place in a gallery? I'm a dealer and have literally hundreds of works available for sale, can I Iist them all for sale with you?
The Professional Subscription allows you to list up to 150 artworks for sale. Our Business Subscrption allows up to 500 artworks for sale. It is free to add one work of art to a gallery so that you have representation here at ArtQuest®.
How long does my art gallery and artwork display on your service?
When you add a gallery, it will remain active for one year. Your artwork will remain active as long as you renew your gallery each year. A renewal notice is emailed to the address you left on file about a month before expiration to give you plenty of time to renew.
Why must I renew my gallery?
Renewing your gallery each year and reviewing the art you have listed for sale helps keep artwork up to date. When an interested party emails a member about purchasing art, and then is informed that the artwork has been sold, it creates a feeling of frustration on the buyers behalf. Having up-to-date art listings in your gallery that are for sale will help facilitate the actual sale of your artwork. You might also keep in mind that people save images to their Favorites. When you do not renew, any collected images in Members Favorites will no longer appear when a gallery is not renewed.
What happens when my gallery expires? Do I get a notice to renew or does my art just disappear?
Yes, a renewal notice is emailed to you 1 month before expiration which should give you plenty of time to renew. If you do not renew your gallery, the artwork in the gallery will no longer display on our service.
How to change your email address on your art listings.
Since ArtQuest is totally automated, just click the Member Services button and then click Change Member Information. Simply update your email address in your member record and all of your art listings will be updated instantly.
What is POR?
POR simply means Price on Request. Our members would love to hear from you so please contact them for a price. For the most part, our members do try to respond quite promptly. If you do not hear from a member within a few days, please email us and we will attempt to contact them by the phone to put you in touch.
What is OBO?
OBO simply means Or Best Offer. Our members would love to hear from you so you can easily contact them to make an offer. I'm sure we've all heard our mother's say to us that there's nothing wrong in making an offer for something you want as you might just surprise yourself and end up owning it. Be forward. Our members do want to hear from you.
What is NFS?
NFS simply means Not For Sale. The artwork may only be showing for display purposes or may be in the middle of closing a sale.
How do I mark an item "sold"?
There is a drop down box next to the price you enter where you can choose from a number of items including Sold, Price on Request or Best Offer.
How do I get the zoom tool to work with the art in my gallery?
As long as you upload a high resolution image that is at least 1600 pixels or larger, the zoom tool will automatically work. The clearer the picture, the more detail will be shown when viewing the art with the zoom tool.
What is the procedure when a work of art is sold?
You're handling your own sales so you'll follow the business practice you've developed. We do have an escrow service in case someone would like another layer of protection in the buying and selling of artwork.
What happens if I sell one of my art works I have listed at ArtQuest through another gallery or party?
All listings are posted "subject to prior sale"; therefore, you can sell your art elsewhere and simply come back and remove the listing from your gallery if it has sold. Once removed, it no longer shows available for sale. Removing art from your gallery that is no longer available for sale avoids the possibility of alienating a client who wants to purchase that specific piece all to find out it has already been sold.
Are there Image size requirements?
Please upload high resolution images. Our zoom tool requires high resolution images to show detail when using the zoom tool. Whatever images you upload will be used to display next to your listing. The main image graphic that is displayed as the large image for the listing can be up to 7MB in filesize. You can also post up to 12 additional images for each listing and each additional image can be up to 1.5MB each.
When dealing directly with a member to buy a work of art, would the most typical method of transaction be COD?
Each member handles their own sales here at ArtQuest. With that in mind, each member will do business differently. Most will want to be paid up front with delivery happening once your payment clears. But it truly depends on the member and the type of relationship you've developed in your correspondence and whether you have purchased from them in the past. If you’re uncomfortable sending a payment to someone, we do have an escrow service which offers another layer of protection for both parties.
If I am represented by another art site or physical gallery, can I still post my work on ArtQuest?
Of course, provided your contract with the other parties does not dictate exclusive representation of you as an artist. For example, if your current contract has an exclusivity clause that refers to you the artist, then you may not exhibit anywhere other than where the contract states. However, if your exclusivity clause refers to specific pieces of your work, then you may exhibit different works on ArtQuest.
Can I list my art for sale if I am an amateur artist?
Yes. ArtQuest will help you gain exposure no matter what level of artistry. Quality is better than quantity and we do reserve the right to remove any images or accounts that do not fit with our standards posted on our Detailed Terms of Service and Privacy policy.
If I'm already on another art related site should I list my art in more than one place on the net?
Yes. We recommend that you show your work in many places. Afterall, one never knows who will see art in one place and not another. Exposure is the key. However, since listing art at ArtQuest is not an exclusive arrangement, we do recommend that you price your art relatively the same as you price it at other sites. You might even consider listing unique works at all the differing sites so that all sites are carrying different works of art. Listing unique works at different sites will protect your pricing since no other site will have the same worked priced differently.
When I list art at ArtQuest, who holds the copyrights?
All artists keep their own copyrights to the artwork they list for sale since ArtQuest is simply displaying it for you.
How do I protect the copyright of my artwork?
The easiest method to protect the copyright on your artwork is to stamp your copyright directly on the back of the artwork and do the following:
1) Make sure your name is on the artwork.
2) Send yourself a photograph of the artwork in a self-addressed stamped envelope through the mail. This will give you a date stamp for the copyright on the envelope. Make sure your name and the copyright mark is on the actual photograph. The copyright symbol on your computer is found using Ctrl/Alt/C on a PC or alt/G on a MAC.
3) When you receive the envelope through the mail, do NOT open it.
4) Take the unopened envelope to an attorney.
1) Make sure your name is on the artwork.
2) Send yourself a photograph of the artwork in a self-addressed stamped envelope through the mail. This will give you a date stamp for the copyright on the envelope. Make sure your name and the copyright mark is on the actual photograph. The copyright symbol on your computer is found using Ctrl/Alt/C on a PC or alt/G on a MAC.
3) When you receive the envelope through the mail, do NOT open it.
4) Take the unopened envelope to an attorney.
If I sell a work of art at ArtQuest, how is shipping usually arranged?
It truly depends on what country the work is being shipped from and what country the art work is being shipped to. Each sale is different and shipping is addressed at the time of sale.
I do not have a credit card account so if a buyer wishes to make a purchase, does the sale go through your credit card account? Is there an additional expense related to that?
We do not recommend accepting credit card payments for the sale of art unless a buyer has previously purchased something from you in the past. There are possible charge backs to consider. Once an art work is shipped, especially out of the country, the buyer could issue a charge back and you would lose as you've already shipped the art. Please be careful as we want all parties to be protected and credit card sales protects the buyer, not the seller.
Someone wants to buy my art ? What do I do? Do I simply ask for a check or money order and mailing address? Or is there more to it?
It could be as simple as that and sales have already transpired this way on our service. However, it truly depends on how comfortable you are with the Buyer. There are details that you'll want to consider, ie: are you being paid before or after shipping and who is responsible for the shipping charge and possible insurance expense. These types of details should be worked out before actual shipping takes place. Will you provide an invoice and certificate of authenticity? Then there's always a slim chance that the Buyer may not like the work of art upon receiving it. What happens if it is not acceptable? These type of details need to be addressed so both parties are aware of their responsibilities. You might also want to consider our own Escrow Service which protects both parties throughout the buying and selling process. We will offer suggestions to both parties in order to have a smooth transaction.
Links Library
What is the Links Library?
The Links Library is the best way to exit the ArtQuest community. It carries only art related links in quite a number of categories. All links are monitored every 30 days and unreachable links are automatically removed to keep a clean library of working art links for you to visit upon leaving our community.
How do I add, change or remove a Link from the Links Library?
From any page top menu, click "Services" then choose "Library Links" from the drop down menu. A new page will appear where you can choose to see links in Alphabetical or Category order as well as Submit Your Link to the Library. Once you click "Submit your Link", you'll be able to register or simply enter your login information to proceed to add or change a link. It's free with the reciprocal link exchange (just make sure to choose the Free Link Exchange on the form) or check out our Cost For Services for annual link costs.
What is the free reciprocal link exchange?
Listing your site in the Links Library is free when you reciprocate with a link on your site back to ArtQuest. This is known as the reciprocal link exchange. Here is the html code you would use to place a text link back to ArtQuest on your site:
<a href="http://www.artquest.com"><b>ArtQuest ®</b></a> - Since 1996, ArtQuest has been connecting buyers and sellers of art by email who are located all over the world. Special features include thousands of art works for sale, links library, website hosting and many free services. You'll see art listed by artists, galleries and dealers as well as those collectors who are looking to buy and sell paintings, sculpture, prints and more.
<a href="http://www.artquest.com"><b>ArtQuest ®</b></a> - Since 1996, ArtQuest has been connecting buyers and sellers of art by email who are located all over the world. Special features include thousands of art works for sale, links library, website hosting and many free services. You'll see art listed by artists, galleries and dealers as well as those collectors who are looking to buy and sell paintings, sculpture, prints and more.
How to post your home page picture next to your link.
Once you submit your link to our Links Library, our automated software will simply take a snap shot of your site and post it with your link. This process takes a few minutes. Once you've added your link to our Library, a picture of the main page of your website will appear. If your main page ever changes, you can always return to edit your website picture.
The Alphabetized Quick Links Directory.
The Alphabetized Quick Links Directory will show you all the art related Links our Members have entered into the Library in an alphabetized list.
The Categorized Quick Links Directory.
The Categorized Quick Links Directory will show you all the art related Links our Members have entered into our Library in a categorized list.
How many links to view on a page.
You can choose just how many links and descriptions you'd like to see on a page depending on the speed of your own connection. If you have a fast connection, then changing the 20 to 200 will show you 200 links on a page.
Cost of Services
Is there a cost to list art for sale?
It is free to create a gallery and list 1 work of art so that you have representation here at ArtQuest. To list more than 1 work of art in your gallery, there is a annual cost for opening a gallery. You can find all the costs as well as free services here at ArtQuest by visiting our Cost For Services page.
What are the costs for using your site and are there Free Services?
You can see all of our Costs as well as Free Services from adding galleries, to reciprocal or paid links to our Featured Artwork Slideshow, etc.
How do I advertise my art in your Featured Artwork Slideshow that appears at the top of your home page?
The Featured Artwork Slideshow appears not only at the top of our homepage but the slideshow also appears at the bottom of all of our informational pages, too! You can easily purchase an advertisement in our Featured Artwork Slideshow and the costs for monthly, quarterly and annual slideshow subscriptions are Cost For Services page.
General
How long has ArtQuest been online and what does the company do?
ArtQuest is not a physical gallery. Since 1991, we have provided an online service for locating art that is for sale in virtual galleries that are created by our members. Interested buyers can then email or contact members directly. This method reduces fees and commissions which has always been an important goal of ArtQuest. The responsibility of appraisals, certificates, sales, authenticity, etc., are all up to the buyer and seller to transmit and secure from one another through their own methods after contact. Suggestions, questions and comments are always welcome and help us provide a better service. You can either send us a message or send us a testimonial any time. Here is more information about ArtQuest and how we got our start. Our contact information is:
ArtQuest Inc.
PO Box 27
Hawk Point, Missouri 63349 USA
phone: 314-675-1720
Send Us A Message
PO Box 27
Hawk Point, Missouri 63349 USA
phone: 314-675-1720
Send Us A Message
I'm new at collecting art, do you have any tips on purchasing art?
- Take some time to learn about the individual artist of the artwork you're interested in purchasing instead of following the latest styles or trends of the moment. Popularity one day does not mean an artist's work will go up in value in the future.
- Educate yourself about new artists as this can help you purchase an artwork that you can well afford before the price becomes inflated. Purchasing works by already established artists is not necessarily the most profitable in the long term.
- There really is no correct way to purchase art as each person has his or her own method of collecting art. Ask questions until you're comfortable. A reputable art gallery, dealer, consultant or artist should not hesitate to answer whatever questions you have when you're considering the purchase of an artwork. The provenance, condition of the work, artist biography and history are all aspects of an artwork that are important to the value of the work and your enjoyment.
- Buy what you love as the art you buy will most likely be in your home for a long time.
What are safe methods of payment to accept when someone buys my artwork?
1) Payment made to you through Western Union.
2) Payment made to you through PayPal since applicants are usually screened.
3) A Money Order secured through a bank when it can be verified with the bank where it was purchased. Please keep in mind that United States Postal Money Order scams are on the rise.
4) Acceptable means of payment if you check with the institutions on which the funds were written:
- International Money Order. It's safe if you call the bank where it was issued to verify the check number and to make sure it was made payable directly to you.
- Cashiers Check. It's safe ONLY if you call the bank where it was issued to verify the check number and to make sure it was made payable directly to you. Most scams generate from outside the United States and the cashiers check is sent to you from another state within the United States. Be very careful about accepting cashiers checks since these are the easiest for scammers to counterfeit. Please be very careful and examine the legitimacy of any cashiers check transaction.
- A business or personal check made out in US dollars. This can get a bit tricky since a scammer can take advantage of the way checks are cleared in the United States. Banks first make the funds available to the customer often in just a few days. After that, a check is sent back to the original bank and only then is it verified which could take a few weeks. Just because a check clears does not mean it is legitimate. You can either wait a few weeks to be extra sure or call the bank in which the check was issued and request a representative of the bank to call their customer to verify that funds were sent. Many bank representatives will simply tell you to wait 2-3 weeks and will refuse to call the customer. But there are a few good folks at these institutions who want to keep their clients protected and will help you in the process.
How secure is your server as I check out at ArtQuest?
All Secure Encryption capable browsers will recognize the use of Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol. We use DigiCert who has the strongest encryption and highest authentication available. A firewall as well as additional authentication techniques are used to prevent unauthorized third-parties from accessing order information, databases and the like. Credit Card Transactions are safe and secure using Stripe or PayPal.
Is there a commission to be paid?
Our members are handling their own sales directly with the buyer so there are no middle man fee's or commission's that inflate the price.
Does ArtQuest authenticate art?
ArtQuest is a service that puts people directly in touch with each other and is not liable or responsible for buying, selling, appraising, authenticating or inspecting art. ArtQuest simply communicates back and forth between the parties via email if we are hired for our Escrow Service. Otherwise, buyers and sellers are responsible for their own sales and purchases. We will offer suggestions to both parties in order to secure a smooth transaction.
Can ArtQuest provide me with selling prices for artworks that have already sold on your service ?
We are not privy to final pricing of a work of art that is sold through our service. And our Escrow Services are strictly confidential so we are unable to share that information.
Can you help me price the art I want to sell ?
ArtQuest does not employ certified art appraiser's so we are unable to establish pricing for artwork. ArtQuest is simply a listing service that helps you sell art by connecting buyers and sellers together. We do recommend you contact an art appraiser in your own area to assist you in valuing artwork. You can also call an auction house who may be courteous to give you a ball park value over the phone.
Do buyers expect the art to be already framed?
Not really. If you fill out the form completely and answer the framing question on the form, the interested party will know for sure whether the art is framed or not.
How do I get my art to appear in the Search Engine? How do I get my listings to appear when I type specific keywords in the Search Engine?
Both of these questions pertain to how well you fill out the form as you list each work of art for sale. Do not leave any fields blank and your listing has a better chance of appearing. Every word you choose from a box or type on the form enters our search engine. Entering a word twice and three times will NOT work. And spamming the Extra Keyword Field will only get your listing removed.
The best thing you can do is type words and/or phrases in the Extra Keyword field that you think someone else will type to find art like you have listed for sale. The Extra Keyword field is extremely important, so use it to cover all words that someone might type to find art that describes what you are listing.
If someone types a word or words in the Search Engine that you have in your listing, your art will appear. It's as easy as that. So if you type photographs in your Extra Keyword field, your listing will appear if someone types photo, photograph or photographs.
The Extra Note is seen by everyone when they view the full image of your listing. You might also consider adding your gallery name and contact info so there is another avenue for an interested party to reach you. Or a biography of the artist or exhibition list or lists of books the artwork may appear in with the page number. All these details will give information to the buyer so they can make an informed decision on their purchase.
The best thing you can do is type words and/or phrases in the Extra Keyword field that you think someone else will type to find art like you have listed for sale. The Extra Keyword field is extremely important, so use it to cover all words that someone might type to find art that describes what you are listing.
If someone types a word or words in the Search Engine that you have in your listing, your art will appear. It's as easy as that. So if you type photographs in your Extra Keyword field, your listing will appear if someone types photo, photograph or photographs.
The Extra Note is seen by everyone when they view the full image of your listing. You might also consider adding your gallery name and contact info so there is another avenue for an interested party to reach you. Or a biography of the artist or exhibition list or lists of books the artwork may appear in with the page number. All these details will give information to the buyer so they can make an informed decision on their purchase.
How much art is sold through ArtQuest?
Since ArtQuest is a listing service and is not normally involved in a sale between a member and an interested party unless our escrow service is utilized, it's difficult to determine exactly how much art is sold or to offer actual statistics. But sales are reported by our members who choose to share this information and are posted on our testimonial page along with other thoughts from our visitors. And you'll also notice after reading the testimonials that not only sales happen here! Artists have reported that they are securing exhibitions in physical brick and mortar galleries simply because gallery owners have seen their work at ArtQuest. One of our primary goals of putting people in touch with one another is a success.
If I list my art with ArtQuest, can I still list it for sale elsewhere?
Of course. ArtQuest recommends that artists list their art in as many places as possible. Listing art at ArtQuest is not an exclusive arrangement but we do recommend that you price the art relatively the same as you have it priced at other sites. Or, consider listing only artwork at ArtQuest that you are not listing anywhere else for sale. If you should sell a work of art elsewhere that you've listed for sale here at ArtQuest, remember to remove the art from ArtQuest. There's nothing more frustrating to a new client than finding a work of art they love and then finding out it is no longer available for sale.
Does art really sell at ArtQuest?
Yes, art really does sell at ArtQuest. We are not privy to sales figures since members handle their own sales but you can always browse our Testimonials to read notes sent in by members and buyers who want to share their experiences using our service.
Scam Information
Who should I notify about fraud or scam attempts ?
- FTC toll free hotline: 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357)
- FTC online complaint form at FTC Online Complaint Assistance
- Canadian PhoneBusters hotline: 888-495-8501
- Internet Crime Complaint Center at FBI Complaint Assistance
- Look up the non-emergency number for your local police department.
- FTC online complaint form at FTC Online Complaint Assistance
- Canadian PhoneBusters hotline: 888-495-8501
- Internet Crime Complaint Center at FBI Complaint Assistance
- Look up the non-emergency number for your local police department.
How do I not become a victim of a scam?
1) Don't spend any money that you may receive from a stranger until a manager
at your financial institution says the funds have completed cleared which could
take up to a few weeks or more. And until the money actually clears, do not ship
any goods. Keep in mind that if the party who sent you the funds starts to bother
you repeatedly about sending or wiring funds back to them, then simply stop all
communications and basically know you've almost become a statistic of a scam.
2) Become a detective to make sure the check is good. If you're selling something,
insist on a money order or cashier's check drawn at a bank with a local branch.
Then you can go to the branch to find out if the check is legitimate.
3) If you receive a check from a business or person you've never done business
with previously, ask someone from your financial institution for help in verifying
funds and that the check is authentic and not stolen.
4) Never accept a check if it involves sending or wiring back any amount of
money to any person or company. If you really think about it, and ask yourself
when have I ever written a check for more than what is necessary and then asked
the recipient to send you any difference, it just doesn't add up. Why wouldn't
you after discovering the mistake, either put a stop payment on the check or ask
the person to send it back to you so that you can send them out a new check in
the correct amount? Because it's most like a scam!
5) Never give out your financial information like bank account number, social
security number, ebay or PayPal information, etc.
How does the credit card scam work?
There is usually quite a bit of e-mail correspondence between the parties and
eventually shipping is addressed which they handle. You're then given a credit
card number and expiration date. If you are savvy enough to request the security
code on the back of the card, some scammers even have that information since they
are dealing in stolen credit cards. As the story goes, it all goes smoothly until
the actual credit card holder receives their monthly bill which sometimes can
be almost 2 months later. The credit card holder calls their credit card company
to dispute the charge and the credit card company issues a charge back and now
you're out the funds and the art you have shipped. And it can even go one step
further. Here you think everything went so smooth with your first sale and this
scammer now comes back a few weeks later and indicates to you that since you already
have their credit card information and everything went so smooth with the first
sale that perhaps you could help them secure the cell phones or tv they are having
problems ordering. These scammers depend on your trustful nature since your first
sale went so well. Again, you won't know until a month or two later when a charge
back appears.
ArtQuest will not accept a credit card for the payment of art. The only time a credit card will be accepted as payment for art is from an existing customer who has successfully purchased from us previously with a check.
ArtQuest will not accept a credit card for the payment of art. The only time a credit card will be accepted as payment for art is from an existing customer who has successfully purchased from us previously with a check.
How does the cashier's check or USPS Money Order scam work?
You have an item for sale. It could be art, a car, a boat, a computer, etc. The
person who contacts you is generally from another country. Typically Africa, the
UK and Nigeria. The person then indicates they would like to purchase the item
and they have a business associate or someone who owes them money in the U.S.
They tell you that since this person is in the U.S. they would like to have that
person send you a cashiers check for the amount they are owed. Let's say in this
case it's $8,000 and you have art for sale for $5,000. They ask you to accept
and deposit the cashiers check for $8,000, keep $5000 as payment for the art and
then they trust you to send them the remainder. The problem is that the cashiers
check you receive is counterfeit. However, by the time the cashiers check is determined
to be counterfeit, you have already sent the difference to them and you're out
the $3000.
Please be very careful with your art transactions. Cashiers Checks are NOT cash.
Another variation: The buyer will say that they "accidentally" sent more funds than the art being purchased and to please send them the difference.
Postal Money Order variation: They send multiple money orders that are sequentially numbered. Most will be made out in the amount of $950.00. They send you over the amount that is owed to you for the art and request the balance. We do recommend you visit the Fraud Guides at http://www.fraudguides.com/internet_counterfeit_money_orders.asp upon receiving postal money orders to determine legitamacy.
Police Detectives indicate that you should never take a cashiers check from a stranger unless you call the bank that issued the check and verify not only the check number but who the check was made payable to. The number on the cashiers check could be a copy of a real number, so you want to make sure that the number on the cashiers check has been made payable to you.
Please be very careful with your art transactions. Cashiers Checks are NOT cash.
Another variation: The buyer will say that they "accidentally" sent more funds than the art being purchased and to please send them the difference.
Postal Money Order variation: They send multiple money orders that are sequentially numbered. Most will be made out in the amount of $950.00. They send you over the amount that is owed to you for the art and request the balance. We do recommend you visit the Fraud Guides at http://www.fraudguides.com/internet_counterfeit_money_orders.asp upon receiving postal money orders to determine legitamacy.
Police Detectives indicate that you should never take a cashiers check from a stranger unless you call the bank that issued the check and verify not only the check number but who the check was made payable to. The number on the cashiers check could be a copy of a real number, so you want to make sure that the number on the cashiers check has been made payable to you.
Do you know any names of scams or scammers?
Unfortunately, scams are on the rise with all sites selling discretionary income items and art is no different. We now have a database of thousands of names and email addresses of scammers who have tried to scam our membership over the years since 1991. This database is continually updated and is searchable by name or email address. Here is a link to search Our Online Scammer Name Database.
Shipping Art
Do you have any shipping guidelines?
It is highly recommended that you use a shipper who allows you to insure the art for its full value or at least the price in which it was sold. You should never ship artwork as "ground" service since it allows too much time for the piece to be damaged during transit. Insuring your shipment will secure gentler handling.
If you have a framer or shipper pack the artwork, please make sure to have them follow the guidelines listed above. Keep in mind that not everyone knows how to pack and ship artwork. And it's also a good idea to keep all of your tracking numbers and receipts from everyone involved just in case a claim must be filed for damage.
NOTE: Artwork is easily damaged in shipping if it is not packed properly. If you have doubts about how to pack artwork for shipping, please consult a professional shipper of art, a museum, framer or a gallery.
If you have a framer or shipper pack the artwork, please make sure to have them follow the guidelines listed above. Keep in mind that not everyone knows how to pack and ship artwork. And it's also a good idea to keep all of your tracking numbers and receipts from everyone involved just in case a claim must be filed for damage.
NOTE: Artwork is easily damaged in shipping if it is not packed properly. If you have doubts about how to pack artwork for shipping, please consult a professional shipper of art, a museum, framer or a gallery.
Do you have recommendations for packing and shipping framed art ?
Strong Boxes: Air Float Systems (http://www.airfloatsys.com) manufacturers Strong Boxes that come in multiple sizes with different custom foam inserts. Simply call them or visit their site and tell them where you reside and they will let you know of a dealer in your area where you can pick up a box to fit your artwork. You must give them all three dimensions (length, width and depth) of your framed piece to order the appropriate sized box. Strong boxes are a patented item and can be a bit pricey but are well worth the money to deliver your artwork safely. If you can't find a strong box in your area, a Mirror Pack Box might work for you.
Mirror Pack Boxes: These type of boxes are found at most moving companies or storage companies and are reasonably priced. If you have an artwork that has quite a bit of depth, then purchase two so that you can make the box deeper. The cardboard used for this type of box is quite thin so how you pack the actual artwork within the box is what is truly important to keeping the artwork safe from damage. You'll need the following shipping materials:
1) Bubble wrap.
2) Packing peanuts.
3) A bed sheet or large enough tissue paper.
4) Packing tape.
The mirror box will adequately package a framed piece that is approximately 20" x 30" x 1" or 3"- 4" deep if using two boxes as suggested above. Should the frame on the artwork be larger than 20" x 30", buy enough boxes to actually create a large enough box to allow 3" of packing space around all four sides of the frame.
Wrap the framed artwork in a piece of material or simply cover it with tissue paper. This will protect any glass from the sticky substance of bubble wrap which you will apply next.
Wrap the bubble wrap completely around the material or tissue paper making sure to cover all corners. Specifically, protect all the corners of the frame since the corners tend to be the points of impact when the box gets moved around during shipping.
Place some packing peanuts or additional bubble wrap inside the bottom, top and sides of the mirror box to create a cushion for the artwork. Place the bubble wrapped piece on to a layer of packing material inside the mirror box and stuff the sides and top with additional packing material. A tight fit will ensure the artwork does not slide around in the box.
Tape the entire box securely by taping completely around the edges
Mirror Pack Boxes: These type of boxes are found at most moving companies or storage companies and are reasonably priced. If you have an artwork that has quite a bit of depth, then purchase two so that you can make the box deeper. The cardboard used for this type of box is quite thin so how you pack the actual artwork within the box is what is truly important to keeping the artwork safe from damage. You'll need the following shipping materials:
1) Bubble wrap.
2) Packing peanuts.
3) A bed sheet or large enough tissue paper.
4) Packing tape.
The mirror box will adequately package a framed piece that is approximately 20" x 30" x 1" or 3"- 4" deep if using two boxes as suggested above. Should the frame on the artwork be larger than 20" x 30", buy enough boxes to actually create a large enough box to allow 3" of packing space around all four sides of the frame.
Wrap the framed artwork in a piece of material or simply cover it with tissue paper. This will protect any glass from the sticky substance of bubble wrap which you will apply next.
Wrap the bubble wrap completely around the material or tissue paper making sure to cover all corners. Specifically, protect all the corners of the frame since the corners tend to be the points of impact when the box gets moved around during shipping.
Place some packing peanuts or additional bubble wrap inside the bottom, top and sides of the mirror box to create a cushion for the artwork. Place the bubble wrapped piece on to a layer of packing material inside the mirror box and stuff the sides and top with additional packing material. A tight fit will ensure the artwork does not slide around in the box.
Tape the entire box securely by taping completely around the edges
Do you have recommendations for packing and shipping in a tube?
We do not recommend this for Limited Edition prints. The only time we recommend packing artwork in a tube is for storage or transport to a framer. A work on paper should never be rolled or placed in a tube. Rolling can promote flaking of inks and/or pigments, can distort paper fibers and cause tearing or creasing if the roll is accidentally crushed. You might wish to roll posters for cost effective shipping.
Do you have recommendations for packing and shipping art that is not framed where the art is made of paper, like a drawing or print ?
We recommend that you never lift an unmounted print or drawing
by the corners. When lifting a print or drawing, slide a sheet
of cardboard beneath it as a support and hold the cardboard, not
the art. If you must use your hands, please use tissue paper or
photography gloves so that your fingers do not touch the artwork
since oils from our fingers damage paper. Remember to support
the long sides of the cardboard with both hands.
Shipping material you will need:
1) A Flat Pack or Print Pad. If you can not locate these items, then use a sturdy piece of cardboard for the art and possibly corrugated cardboard for the outside packing material.
2) Packing tape.
Protect the artwork with acid free tissue paper on both the front and the back.
Place two or three layers of cardboard on both sides of the art to prevent any sort of bending. Tape around the outside of the cardboard pieces so they stay together. You might consider leaving a lip of tape where you fold the tape over at the end so it is easier to remove upon receipt.
To prevent the art from moving around within the cardboard: Fold a sheet of paper into a triangle that has one open end. Place a triangle on all four ends of the print or drawing. Then tape ONLY the triangles to the cardboard. The triangles can be easily removed by removing the tape on the triangles when it is received. Leave a lip of tape on the triangles as well so they are easier to remove. Never try to bend the print into a triangle. Place each triangle on an edge of the artwork, then tape each triangle to the cardboard.
Place the taped up cardboard between two pieces of corrugated cardboard and tape all sides securely. You could also further pack it into a mirror pack or another couple pieces of cardboard to prevent any type of bending during transit.
NOTE: Serigraph prints are best shipped flat since they are prone to crack. Also, if the work of art is a valuable investment, it is not recommended to roll fine art since corners can get bent and the art could be accidentally creased.
Shipping material you will need:
1) A Flat Pack or Print Pad. If you can not locate these items, then use a sturdy piece of cardboard for the art and possibly corrugated cardboard for the outside packing material.
2) Packing tape.
Protect the artwork with acid free tissue paper on both the front and the back.
Place two or three layers of cardboard on both sides of the art to prevent any sort of bending. Tape around the outside of the cardboard pieces so they stay together. You might consider leaving a lip of tape where you fold the tape over at the end so it is easier to remove upon receipt.
To prevent the art from moving around within the cardboard: Fold a sheet of paper into a triangle that has one open end. Place a triangle on all four ends of the print or drawing. Then tape ONLY the triangles to the cardboard. The triangles can be easily removed by removing the tape on the triangles when it is received. Leave a lip of tape on the triangles as well so they are easier to remove. Never try to bend the print into a triangle. Place each triangle on an edge of the artwork, then tape each triangle to the cardboard.
Place the taped up cardboard between two pieces of corrugated cardboard and tape all sides securely. You could also further pack it into a mirror pack or another couple pieces of cardboard to prevent any type of bending during transit.
NOTE: Serigraph prints are best shipped flat since they are prone to crack. Also, if the work of art is a valuable investment, it is not recommended to roll fine art since corners can get bent and the art could be accidentally creased.
Do you have any guidance for shipping artwork, especially to foreign countries?
It all depends on what country the work is being shipped from and what country the art work is being shipped to. Although insurance against theft is usually what springs to mind as the biggest risk of shipping art, damage is more of a possibility. So, with that in mind, packing your art for a long journey is paramount to the artwork arriving safely at its destination. The single largest hurdle to artwork arriving undamaged is due to basic inadequate packing. Some countries also have custom quirks that basically hold the art for a few days to make sure it's not a treasure of some other country, etc.
An oil painting on linen canvas is easily susceptible to mold in a damp warehouse or blistering may happen in an overheated shipping container left on the tarmac of an airport. Then just add a little bit of bubble wrap into the equation and the outcome can be catastrophic for just about anything wrapped in it. Bubble wrap secretes some type of sticky substance when exposed to heat that can damage paintings and photographs.
Art shipments are also subject to regulation. For instance, fine art that requires crating must be packed in certified heat-treated wood crates or they may be sent back to you. In 2005, the United States, the European Union, China and other countries enacted restrictions on the use of wood-based packing materials for import and export. All crates must now be certified and stamped "heat-treated" to insure against infestation of wood-boring pests.
To guarantee the safety of your art, you may have to spend more money than you might expect. And don't think you can always stuff a small painting into your suitcase when travelling overseas as you might find out when you go through customs that you owe 5 percent duty!
The good news is... that many shipping and packing companies work with overnight air freight companies like FedEx and DHL. This gives you the best of both the packing and shipping worlds as they have expert packing coupled with guaranteed, nonstop delivery.
Scanning of Images
How should I scan my art?
There are many ways to scan art and here are just a few.
1) The first method of scanning art (ie. paintings, sculpture, photographs) is to take a picture of your artwork with a good camera (preferably by a professional photographer) and have it developed into a photograph and digitized as well. If they will not email you high resolution pictures, you can take the photograph to a local place near you that has scanners and tell them you want your photograph converted into a high resolution digital file.
2) Another method of scanning art is to simply snap a picture with your phone. Phone camera's these days are quite good and produce acceptable digital pictures.
Keep in mind that high resolution photographs allow visitors to see detail on the work when using the zoom tool. The system will allow you to upload a high resolution jpg, gif or png image when you list art for sale.
1) The first method of scanning art (ie. paintings, sculpture, photographs) is to take a picture of your artwork with a good camera (preferably by a professional photographer) and have it developed into a photograph and digitized as well. If they will not email you high resolution pictures, you can take the photograph to a local place near you that has scanners and tell them you want your photograph converted into a high resolution digital file.
2) Another method of scanning art is to simply snap a picture with your phone. Phone camera's these days are quite good and produce acceptable digital pictures.
Keep in mind that high resolution photographs allow visitors to see detail on the work when using the zoom tool. The system will allow you to upload a high resolution jpg, gif or png image when you list art for sale.
I'm taking pictures with a digital camera and they don't look so good. Are there any tips?
Most digital camera software is set for the highest compression after installation. Please check your preferences for the quality level since you can change the level of compression. Reset this level for lowest compression and you'll be seeing a lot clearer images. And of course, you should always take your picture with the finest selection the camera has to offer.
When taking the actual picture with your camera, please consider taking the photograph from a little bit further away so that all of the artwork, including the frame, is not cropped out of the shot. Then you can open any image software on your computer and crop into the image to bring the image closer. This will also reduce the fish eye effect by taking it further away.
Where can I take my works to be scanned?
Most local service stores or companies like Photo Processors, Printers, Kinkos, and even Wal-Mart and Walgreen's offer image scanning kiosks and digitizing services.
Miscellaneous
Why does email that I send when I find a work of interest bounce back?
If mail bounces back to you, please let us know the email address and we will attempt to locate the artist or member you are trying to reach. If this happens, it may mean that a member has changed their email address and simply did not visit ArtQuest to update their email address. In this case, we will try to reach the member by phone to have them update their information. Either way, you will receive a response from us.
How do you add a question to the FAQ?
If you have not found an answer you are seeking to any question, please let us know by filling out our Contact Us form and sending us your question. We will respond to you by email and also post the question and answer in our FAQ to help others who may also have the same question in the future.
Are there any tips for picture hanging ?
Here are just a few tips that will help. Before you hammer a picture hook into the wall, first heat it with a match; it'll go in easier and won't cause plaster to chip or crack. And before you hang the picture, turn it over and put stick-on rubber bumpers or a bead of silicon caulk on each corner and be sure to let it dry first. You can even roll up masking tape, inside out, and put it on each corner. Then hang the item and line it up. This will help keep your frame straight and level and you won't have to adjust it every time someone slams a door.
Do you offer a printed catalog?
We do not offer a printed catalog since our listings change so quickly that a catalog would be outdated before it was printed. The ArtQuest database contains listings for literally thousands of works of art and is updated daily by our members.
Can I license any art listing images from ArtQuest?
ArtQuest cannot grant any licensing arrangement for the use of the images featured on our site. All artwork is protected by United States and International Copyright laws. To reproduce a specific image, you must contact the member directly and ask for permission. Offering a stipend for use would be a suggestion as the party must then prepare high resolution files for your use along with a licensing agreement.
How do you copy and paste information ?
Take your mouse and place the cursor at the beginning of the text you want to copy. Then click and hold the left mouse button down while dragging your mouse to the end of the text you want to copy. Then release the mouse button. The text will now be highlighted. Now, to copy the text to your virtual clipboard, simply press CONTROL + C. All the text is now copied and ready for pasting anywhere.
Now place your cursor where you want to copy the text. Now press CONTROL + V. The information you copied to your virtual clipboard will now appear pasted exactly where you placed your cursor.
Featured Artwork Advertising
Are there any useful tips or shortcuts with the Slide Show?
The Featured Artwork Slide Show changes each time you visit and presents artworks that our members are selling and have paid for their place in the slideshow. You can also reload the page to receive new images in the slideshow. Click on any image in the slideshow to bring up more information on that artwork. The Slide Show also appears at the bottom of all of our informational pages.
Your Portfolios
How to add, change or delete a Portfolio
Click the Member Area button in the top navigation panel. From the drop down menu, click My Portfolios then click the Add New Portfolio button. You can now name your portfolio as well as add a description. Once the Portfolio is added, you may then add art for sale to that portfolio. If you have a full subscription to our service, you can add as many portfolios as you wish. Perhaps you are selling an portfolio of 10 prints. This area allows you to see groups of prints all in one place if you are selling all as a group or portfolio.
Can others see my Collections?
You are the only person who can access Your Collections. Your Collections are protected by the password you assigned yourself when you registered here as a member and is strictly a private area for your use.
How to see art placed in Your Portfolio
After signing in, click the Member Area and then click My Portfolios. Simply click on one of the Portfolios you've added. You will now see all art in the portfolio you chose.
How to remove art listings from Your Portfolio
Every art listing has a checkbox that indicates "Remove This Listing". Simply check the box and then click the Remove Checked Listings button. Any listing that you checked will be be automatically removed. There is no warning box - once you click the Remove Checked Listings button, any listing that you checked is removed.
Why is art disappearing from my Collections?
If a member does not renew a gallery and you've collected an artwork that was listed in their gallery, it will automatically be turned off so that it is not listed for sale any longer. If the member should return and renew their gallery, then the listing will automatically appear again if it still remains for sale. Another avenue in which this may happen is if a member sells a work of art you have collected. In this case, a member might remove the work of art since is will no longer be available for sale.
Favorite Groups
What are My Favorites?
Look at "My Favorites" as your collection of artworks that can be organized into groups. You can add, change, remove or view a Favorite Groups you create at any time. You can add as many groups as you wish and as you visit the artwork at ArtQuest, you can save pictures of artwork you like to any group you’ve added. Perhaps you might create a Print Collection, a Painting Collection, a Sculpture Collection and so on. A gallery or dealer might use Favorite Groups to organize their clients and what each client may be seeking. As an example, simply create a group for the Smith Collection and save artworks you believe the Smith’s would be interesting in pursuing to show them at a later time. All the different Favorite Groups you add can be accessed from the Your Favorite Groups Menu. You can also create a group of artworks you may be seeking. As an example, add a room for Prints, and when a work of art is listed for sale here at ArtQuest and the media is described as a print, it would be automatically added to the Group for later viewing. You could easily narrow this down to just prints by a specific artist name. There are so many ways to use Favorite Groups to help you locate artwork now and as artworks are added for sale here in the future. As new art is added to our service that matches your specific Favorite Room, you'll receive a notification email so that you can view the new art in your Favorite Group at your convenience.