Overview Of Ordering Custom Decorative Tile Art From Artworks by
Julia.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Julia usually does not have any murals, tiles or paintings "ready to go" or "off the shelf". All of her work is on a custom basis. All of the tile murals and artwork shown on this site can be changed and modified to fit your budget, decor and size requirements or space limitations.
To get started, you will need to
contact Julia by email or phone to get a price
quote, more information
or make an inquiry on a painting you are interested in. In most cases Julia
will ask the following questions:
Subject matter: Are you interested in a specific painting,
not sure what you would like or want to “dream something up”.
Size or dimensions: The overall dimensions of the tile
mural and any accent tiles or vignettes that would be a part of your painting.
Photos of the planned installation area, elevations and layout information
are helpful. You have choices and options to fit your budget and space requirements.
If you like a particular painting you've seen it can be made larger, smaller
or modified to suit your tastes. Julia's tile art can be customized to fit
in almost any dimensions.
Tile choice: The tile needs to be ceramic, porcelain or
glazed clay tile. Would you like a glossy smooth finish, matte finish or
a tile that mimics stone. A 6 inch, 4 inch or some other size tile.
Julia does not offer murals and tile paintings on natural stone
products which includes tumbled marble, travertine, because they cannot
be fired in a kiln. Kiln firing will make your painting permanent.
Your painting will not rub off, wash off, fade or be affected by heat. Splashing
or splattering of hot liquids, foods, oils or grease from cooking or moisture
from the sink, shower or bath will not harm or damage kiln fired tiles.
Colors: The colors you would like (or don’t want) in the
painting. You may need to provide paint samples, swatches, photos etc.
Cost: Do you have a budget you would like to or need to
stay within. Julia requires ½ of the quote as a deposit and to schedule
you in. The balance will be due when you receive your mural. Please see
the Pricing and Order Info page. Julia's
quote does not include the cost of the blank tiles to be painted, shipping
charges or installation, they are additional separate costs.
Shipping: Shipping costs are determined by weight, packaging,
destination and insurance. Exact shipping charges are not known until your
painting actually ships.
Timeframe: How soon are you going to need your painting.
You need to allow enough time for Julia to complete your painting and to
ship it out.
If you have questions or concerns about commissioning Julia for a tile painting
or need help with ideas, planning, coordinating, buying through the internet
etc., please feel free to contact her. The consultation is free
with no obligation. Please take advantage of it. Julia will plan
and discuss each step in the process with you. Be assured you will
get what you are looking for in a tile painting.
Who provides the tile: Julia will usually
provide the tile for your mural. Please see the
Pricing and Order Info page. Julia
tries to arrange this so that she and her client's are using the same tile
that can be easily obtained at nationwide stores such as Home Depot or Lowes.
In most cases, Julia only provides the tiles that are actually painted,
this helps keep unnecessary shipping costs down.
Occasionally, the client would like to provide their own tile. If you choose
to provide your own tile and it is a brand or type Julia is not familiar
with it may require a test firing. Test firing will determine if the tile
can be fired successfully and may be an additional cost.
Kiln fired tile compared to natural stone products
(tumbled marble, travertine, limestone, marble, etc.): It is Julia's
opinion that kiln fired tile offers more permanence, durability and versatility
than natural stone products for tile murals, tile art, etc.
First: On kiln fired tiles, after the paint is applied and fired (up to
1300 degrees) the painting is fused into the glaze, it will never
come off. You can scrub as hard as you can on the tile painting with
steel wool or a wire brush and you'll only scratch the glaze but the artwork
will still be there. If you did this with a painting on natural stone you
would certainly damage the artwork because the paint just lays on the surface.
You don't need to seal the kiln fired tiles (the grout lines should be sealed
when installed) but the entire surface of the natural stone products need
to be sealed and maintained. Consider also, if your tile mural is installed
behind your stove and very hot grease from cooking should splatter on it
your kiln fired tiles will not be harmed. This may not be the case with
natural stone tiles with a seal coat on them.
Second: Kiln fired tiles are durable. Your painting
will not rub off, wash off, fade or be affected by heat. Splashing or splattering
of hot liquids, foods, oils or grease from cooking or moisture from the
sink, shower or bath will not harm or damage the tiles. Kiln fired tiles
can also be installed in exterior locations and withstand cold weather with
proper installation.
Third: You can find many types, styles and shapes of ceramic, porcelain
and glazed clay tiles that can be fired. You're more limited with natural
stone products. For your precious and expensive tile murals or tile art
you may want to consider using kiln fired tiles because of the permanence
and durability discussed. Use the natural stone products as the "field"
tiles. This combination provides great versatility for a stunning look,
feel and lasting value to any decor.
