Frequently Asked Questions
Why do you offer appointments?
Choosing art is a very personal process, often full of questions and connections. The opportunity to work with the artist to discuss your needs and wants, hear first hand about the creation of particular pieces and exchange experiences that connect you to the work can make the selection process more meaningful. We can also navigate all the potential follow-on questions about shipping, insurance and framing. At any given point, I have a trove of photographic work that is not yet published; it may be that you are looking for something I haven’t listed but am delighted to make available for you to consider. Even if you are not settled on buying something but want to hear more about certain pieces or talk about your reaction to particular pieces, I am delighted to have the opportunity to meet with you. Let’s say you just got home from Greece and you didn’t find the memento you were looking for on the trip but would really like to keep the trip present for you. By requesting an appointment we could discuss where you went, what caught your eye and what you remember most. You might have a photo that would be a good basis for a commission or I might make a selection from my as-yet-to-be-published Greek photos for you to peruse. It’s one of the ways that technology creates a new way of doing things — look at my calendar as a chance to meet the artist in her gallery or make a studio visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do you offer appointments?
Choosing art is a very personal process, often full of questions and connections. The opportunity to work with the artist to discuss your needs and wants, hear first hand about the creation of particular pieces and exchange experiences that connect you to the work can make the selection process more meaningful. We can also navigate all the potential follow-on questions about shipping, insurance and framing. At any given point, I have a trove of photographic work that is not yet published; it may be that you are looking for something I haven’t listed but am delighted to make available for you to consider. Even if you are not settled on buying something but want to hear more about certain pieces or talk about your reaction to particular pieces, I am delighted to have the opportunity to meet with you. Let’s say you just got home from Greece and you didn’t find the memento you were looking for on the trip but would really like to keep the trip present for you. By requesting an appointment we could discuss where you went, what caught your eye and what you remember most. You might have a photo that would be a good basis for a commission or I might make a selection from my as-yet-to-be-published Greek photos for you to peruse. It’s one of the ways that technology creates a new way of doing things — look at my calendar as a chance to meet the artist in her gallery or make a studio visit.
What is a limited edition print?
As the artist, I have a particular size and a particular medium that I want to see my photographs printed on, so I set an edition size (usually 100) and offer each piece printed and signed as I specify up to the maximum number of the edition. After that, the limited edition for the piece will no longer be available, which creates value over time. Many of my images are available as posters on Fine Art America at https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/megan-shay
What if I don’t see the image I want on Fine Art America but it’s on this website?
Please email me or make an appointment and I will ensure that the image gets listed on Fine Art America so that you can purchase it.
How is buying a poster/print different from buying a limited edition print?
When you buy a poster/print, you can specify the size and the material it is printed on (paper, canvas, metal, wood). The image will be signed in the print and will not be expected to appreciate in value. When you buy a limited edition print, it can only be purchased in the size I have specified and on the medium I prefer (usually watercolor paper). You can purchase limited editions on this site and you can follow the link above to purchase my work on Fine Art America.
A limited edition print is generally more expensive than a poster/print by 2-3 times, depending on the size you chose and the material you print on. Limited edition prints are shipped to you unframed and you will need to get them framed (I strongly recommend archival matting and museum glass, see the question below about framing my work). You can purchase poster/prints in finished form (framed, mounted) from Fine Art America.
Do you have products like calendars and cards?
Fine Art America automatically makes the following products available on my site by clicking on any image and perusing the purchase format options on the right of the screen. They offer greeting cards, iPhone cases, pillows, duvet covers, shower curtains, tote bags, t-shirts, towels, zip pouches, portable battery chargers, coffee mugs, yoga mats, spiral notebooks, fleece blankets, tapestry, jigsaw puzzles, stickers and ornaments. These are all ordered through their product providers and are not qualified by me, meaning the images may be cropped in ways I don’t endorse and the product quality may not meet a standard that I would stand behind.
In the fourth quarter 2026, I will be offering a limited selection of products (mostly calendars) that are high quality and upon which my images are represented with my approval. Sign up for my quarterly newsletter if you’re interested in following the development process and getting notified when they are available for purchase.
Why should I sign up for your newsletter?
The only email you will receive from me is my quarterly newsletter. In it, I cover upcoming shows, significant career notes, travel notes and itinerary tips, the occasional recipe, what’s happening in the studio. It’s a great, low effort way to stay in touch with my career development and get a few ideas that might be of use to you if you’re planning travel.
What is an iPad Painting?
I use my iPad to sketch and paint while I am on travel. I use my iPen just like a pastel or a brush and draw/paint on the glass as if it were a piece of paper or canvas. I offer these as limited edition prints at the size they look best and on the medium I think is most suited to them. They are shipped to you unframed for you to frame to your preference. My framing recommendations are under their own FAQ question.
What’s the best way to frame your work?
Photographs and iPad paintings: I prefer a simple, black, low profile frame for photographs and a natural wood frame for iPad paintings. I recommend archival matting and acid free backing for the safety and preservation of the work. I specify museum glass because it has a UV coating that reduces harmful light rays from fading the work over time. I don’t care for glare-free glass because I feel it reduces the immediacy of the work with it’s slight haziness.
Pastels: Because pastels are raw pigment, they can shed tiny particles when moved. To help with this, I recommend framing with a spacer under the mat so the particles fall down into the gap and don’t gather on the rim of the mat. Otherwise, frame like an iPad painting.
Why don’t you ship framed work?
Shipping framed work is costly. Also, shipping glass, which I prefer to plexiglass, is hazardous and can ruin the work when it breaks in shipping. For pastels, the rough handling by common shippers like UPS and FedX would likely produce a lot of shedding by the pastel and you would receive a piece in need of reframing to remove the pastel dust that would have penetrated between the mat and the glass. It is perfectly possible to ship you framed work, which I am happy to do, using a specialized art shipper whose fees run in the high hundreds to a couple thousand dollars depending on the size, destination and weight.
What if a work says it is framed?
I frame work for shows frequently. If it is one of my standard sizes, I am happy to unframe it and ship it rolled up. Sometimes, usually if it is a large piece, I prefer not to put the work through the wear and tear of unframing and I offer it “framed only”. You are getting a significant deal on the framing because I pass along my wholesale costs to you. You are welcome to pick up framed work from my studio in Florida and transport it. We can also arrange for an art shipper, noting that this will probably be a significant expense. Depending on where you live, we might be able to deliver it. I recommend you set up an appointment through my calendar and we can discuss how best to get it to you.
What if I really like an original painting that is sold?
Many of my paintings are available on my Fine Art America site as prints and posters. If there’s a piece that you like that is not on FAA, make an appointment or email me and I can make it available for you. Alternatively, send me an email letting me know you like a certain piece and if something comes off my board with a strong affinity to it, you can be the first to see it.
Do you accept commissions?
It depends. I’m not a people or portrait painter, nor am I an urban painter. I am invested in nature and landscape because it allows me to convey the importance of nature in our well being and to discuss the role that the human species has on our land. If your idea for a commission fits in my raison d’etre, I would be happy to explore a commission with you. The best option is to schedule an appointment and tell me what you’re interested in. We can then mutually decide a way forward.
What is a limited edition print?
As the artist, I have a particular size and a particular medium that I want to see my photographs printed on, so I set an edition size (usually 100) and offer each piece printed and signed as I specify up to the maximum number of the edition. After that, the limited edition for the piece will no longer be available, which creates value over time. Many of my images are available as posters on Fine Art America at https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/megan-shay
What if I don’t see the image I want on Fine Art America but it’s on this website?
Please email me or make an appointment and I will ensure that the image gets listed on Fine Art America so that you can purchase it.
How is buying a poster/print different from buying a limited edition print?
When you buy a poster/print, you can specify the size and the material it is printed on (paper, canvas, metal, wood). The image will be signed in the print and will not be expected to appreciate in value. When you buy a limited edition print, it can only be purchased in the size I have specified and on the medium I prefer (usually watercolor paper). You can purchase limited editions on this site and you can follow the link above to purchase my work on Fine Art America.
A limited edition print is generally more expensive than a poster/print by 2-3 times, depending on the size you chose and the material you print on. Limited edition prints are shipped to you unframed and you will need to get them framed (I strongly recommend archival matting and museum glass, see the question below about framing my work). You can purchase poster/prints in finished form (framed, mounted) from Fine Art America.
Do you have products like calendars and cards?
Fine Art America automatically makes the following products available on my site by clicking on any image and perusing the purchase format options on the right of the screen. They offer greeting cards, iPhone cases, pillows, duvet covers, shower curtains, tote bags, t-shirts, towels, zip pouches, portable battery chargers, coffee mugs, yoga mats, spiral notebooks, fleece blankets, tapestry, jigsaw puzzles, stickers and ornaments. These are all ordered through their product providers and are not qualified by me, meaning the images may be cropped in ways I don’t endorse and the product quality may not meet a standard that I would stand behind.
In the fourth quarter 2026, I will be offering a limited selection of products (mostly calendars) that are high quality and upon which my images are represented with my approval. Sign up for my quarterly newsletter if you’re interested in following the development process and getting notified when they are available for purchase.
Why should I sign up for your newsletter?
The only email you will receive from me is my quarterly newsletter. In it, I cover upcoming shows, significant career notes, travel notes and itinerary tips, the occasional recipe, what’s happening in the studio. It’s a great, low effort way to stay in touch with my career development and get a few ideas that might be of use to you if you’re planning travel.
What is an iPad Painting?
I use my iPad to sketch and paint while I am on travel. I use my iPen just like a pastel or a brush and draw/paint on the glass as if it were a piece of paper or canvas. I offer these as limited edition prints at the size they look best and on the medium I think is most suited to them. They are shipped to you unframed for you to frame to your preference. My framing recommendations are under their own FAQ question.
What’s the best way to frame your work?
Photographs and iPad paintings: I prefer a simple, black, low profile frame for photographs and a natural wood frame for iPad paintings. I recommend archival matting and acid free backing for the safety and preservation of the work. I specify museum glass because it has a UV coating that reduces harmful light rays from fading the work over time. I don’t care for glare-free glass because I feel it reduces the immediacy of the work with it’s slight haziness.
Pastels: Because pastels are raw pigment, they can shed tiny particles when moved. To help with this, I recommend framing with a spacer under the mat so the particles fall down into the gap and don’t gather on the rim of the mat. Otherwise, frame like an iPad painting.
Why don’t you ship framed work?
Shipping framed work is costly. Also, shipping glass, which I prefer to plexiglass, is hazardous and can ruin the work when it breaks in shipping. For pastels, the rough handling by common shippers like UPS and FedX would likely produce a lot of shedding by the pastel and you would receive a piece in need of reframing to remove the pastel dust that would have penetrated between the mat and the glass. It is perfectly possible to ship you framed work, which I am happy to do, using a specialized art shipper whose fees run in the high hundreds to a couple thousand dollars depending on the size, destination and weight.
What if a work says it is framed?
I frame work for shows frequently. If it is one of my standard sizes, I am happy to unframe it and ship it rolled up. Sometimes, usually if it is a large piece, I prefer not to put the work through the wear and tear of unframing and I offer it “framed only”. You are getting a significant deal on the framing because I pass along my wholesale costs to you. You are welcome to pick up framed work from my studio in Florida and transport it. We can also arrange for an art shipper, noting that this will probably be a significant expense. Depending on where you live, we might be able to deliver it. I recommend you set up an appointment through my calendar and we can discuss how best to get it to you.
What if I really like an original painting that is sold?
Many of my paintings are available on my Fine Art America site as prints and posters. If there’s a piece that you like that is not on FAA, make an appointment or email me and I can make it available for you. Alternatively, send me an email letting me know you like a certain piece and if something comes off my board with a strong affinity to it, you can be the first to see it.
Do you accept commissions?
It depends. I’m not a people or portrait painter, nor am I an urban painter. I am invested in nature and landscape because it allows me to convey the importance of nature in our well being and to discuss the role that the human species has on our land. If your idea for a commission fits in my raison d’etre, I would be happy to explore a commission with you. The best option is to schedule an appointment and tell me what you’re interested in. We can then mutually decide a way forward.
I use my iPad to sketch and paint while I am on travel. I use my iPen just like a pastel or a brush and draw/paint on the glass as if it were a piece of paper or canvas. I offer these as limited edition prints at the size they look best and on the medium I think is most suited to them. They are shipped to you unframed for you to frame to your preference. My framing recommendations are under their own FAQ question.