Policies

CANCELLATION POLICIES

For classes sponsored by Richland Parks and Recreation, Kennewick Community Education, and Allied Arts, please refer to their cancellation policy.

 

Chris Blevins/Suzi Vitulli Workshops Cancellation Policy
Class sizes are kept small to ensure each student receives ample time for feedback and interaction. Because enrollment is limited, and once you have paid for a spot in a class, we are counting on your participation.

Class fees are fully refundable less a cancellation charge of $25 per person up to 15 days before the class start date.
There will be no refunds after the 15 day mark (unless we have to cancel the class).

You can always transfer your reservation to anyone else, at any time, with no charge to transfer. Can’t attend? Send a family member, friend or colleague in your place!

If for any reason, we must cancel a class, we’ll notify you and your payment will be refunded in full.

 

Individual or Small Group Private Lessons Policies

Reserving your time slot:
I ask for a 50% deposit to schedule a lesson and reserve a time slot on my calendar just for you.  Most lessons are two hours long ($80), which means the deposit would be $40. If you prefer you can also choose to pay in full upfront when you schedule your lesson.  But to pay a deposit, you have two choices:  pay online by clicking here or send a check to 8220 W Gage Blvd, #104, Kennewick, WA 99336.  (FYI, this is my business mailbox, not our lesson location.)

Regarding cancellations;
If I (the artist) needs to cancel for some unanticipated reason, any deposit not already applied toward lessons will be refunded to you. FYI, I very rarely cancel.
If you (the student) cancels, the policy is as follows:

  • Two weeks or more notice – full refund of deposit
  • One week to two weeks’ notice – 50% refund of deposit ,  If no deposit is on account, $20 cancellation fee
  • 48 hours to one week notice – deposit forfeited.  If no deposit on account, $40 cancellation fee
  • Less than 48 hours notice – deposit forfeited plus $40 cancellation fee (total $80)

If travel is involved:
If I need to drive more than 30 minutes to reach your location, a small fuel surcharge will be added well.

 

Private Painting Party Policies

An $100 deposit is required to reserve a Private Painting Party (sorry to have to do this, but I’ve been stood up!). Email me to find out available times and snag your time slot. To make your deposit, click here.

Regarding cancellations:

  • Two weeks or more notice, no cancellation charge
  • One week to two weeks notice, $45 charge
  • 48 hours to one week notice, $90 charge
  • 48 hours or less notice, $180 charge

If I need to drive more than 30 minutes to reach your location, a small fuel surcharge will be added as well. I often waive this if you’re able to put me up for the night and/or feed me. 🙂

 

Public Painting Party Policies

Sorry, no refunds are offered. However, feel free to send someone in your place if you aren’t able to attend. And if you inform me prior to the event so there’s time to fill your seat, you can transfer to a future session for a $10 transfer fee.

 

Inclement Weather Cancellation Policy

If the City or State starts closing roads, an event will likely be cancelled and monies refunded.  Barring road closures for safety purposes however, assume an event will forge ahead!  As always, be safe out there, allow extra time if needed, and drive defensively.

 

Wine & Watercolors / Brews & Brushes Cancellation Policy

Sorry, no refunds are offered. However, feel free to send someone in your place if you aren’t able to attend. And if you inform me prior to the event and I’m able to fill your spot, you can transfer to a future session.

 

PRIVACY POLICY – COMMITMENT TO YOUR PRIVACY

This site is owned and operated by the Artist, Chris Blevins. Your privacy on the Internet is of the utmost importance to me. All attempts will be made to make your experience online satisfying and safe.

 

COMMISSIONED ARTWORK POLICIES

A non-refundable deposit toward your commission is what’s needed to get on my wait list. You can make your deposit online here, or send it via PayPal to chris(at)chrisblevinswatercolors(dot)com. Until I receive your deposit, I won’t begin your commissioned artwork. The remainder is due when I complete the painting.

If you don’t care for the painting, you can choose to not purchase the commissioned artwork. In that case, I keep refused artwork and the non-refundable deposit and you don’t owe any additional fees to me. So far, this has never happened. 🙂

For full information on how the commissioning process works, click here. You can see examples of other commissions here, and testimonials from happy clients here.

Click here to contact me about a commission!

 

CHARITABLE DONATIONS POLICIES

When a patron purchases a piece of artwork at a fundraising event, they can claim the entire purchase price as a charitable deduction. However, when an artist donates a piece of artwork, they can’t claim the retail price of it as charitable contribution. An artist can only claim the cost of the materials (not even labor!), which normally is a fraction of the price of the finished artwork. Bummer, but that’s the way the IRS code works.

So, when a piece of art is donated, it’s different than say a vacation, or a spa visit, or other donation of that kind. Artwork has an intrinsic, deeper value than say a golf package. After donating several original paintings I’ve come to realize many of the people that attend these events expect to get a “deal;” to be able to purchase artwork at less than market value. This devalues my artwork and it is extremely unfair to my clients who have paid full price for my work. In light of this, I no longer donate original artwork outright to any charity. I do like to help fundraising efforts however, and there are a few ways we can still do this.

Option 1 – I can donate a print, vs. an original, of a smaller dimension (5×7 or 8×10, finished size 8×10 or 11×14 once matted and framed). This keeps the art price friendly and is appealing to those seeking a “deal” at a charity auction. To be fair to my current collectors, I do require a minimum bid be set. I am more than happy to mat the print as part of my giving policy, as well as provide an archival backing board, making it ready to mount into a standard sized frame. Craft Warehouse in Kennewick has many, many pre-made frames you can buy off-the-shelf and their framing shop will mount the print into the frame for you for free.

Option 2 – I can donate a two-hour private painting lesson that you can auction off. Or attendance at one of my many public painting parties. Just be aware, I only teach four “paint and sip” type events per year anymore, which sell out well in advance, making your auction recipient’s choices pretty slim.

Option 3 – You can purchase one of my paintings at full price, and then offer it in the auction, where you will be able to price it at more than the cost to you. You could also get the attendees to understand that the event is a fund raising venture and they should get behind your organization by bidding big to raise as much money as possible for this worthwhile cause.

To contact me regarding charitable donations, click here.