Question 1

Live Event Paintings by Cynthia Midori

Accepted Answer

Cynthia Midori is a seasoned artist and owner of By Cynthia Midori LLC. Cynthia has been creating live event paintings for three years.  Cynthia has a bachelor of arts degree in art education from Penn State and has successfully commissioned paintings for over nine years. Today, she is thrilled to provide quality services for weddings and special events across the country, and popularly within the NYC/NJ area. Thanks to her experience, skills, and passion for painting, you can have a one-of-a-kind portrait and painting experience.  Something Cyncerely Yours.

By Cynthia Midori offers live services for your wedding, shower, engagement or event.

HOW IT WORKS:
Before The Event
* Submit and inquiry through the contact form and Cynthia will ask you questions about your event and answer any questions about booking that you may have.  Once details are ironed out, Cynthia will send a quote and contract for signing. 
* Every client will have a call 1-2 months out from their event date to cover their final vision to ensure that Cynthia is prepared to make your love story come to life. 
Your Wedding Day 
Before your event begins, Cynthia arrives around 2 hours early to set up and grab photos and videos for inspiration.  She then begins to paint  your setting and background on canvas through the hours before celebrations begin.  As the guests arrive and the event carries on, Cynthia adds your moment to the painting, live, making your special memory come to life on canvas. Cynthia is known for very meticulous detail in her work and offers touch-ups after your event from her studio.  You are part of the editing process and give your opinion for fine tuning.  Once you give the green light, Cynthia will safely ship your piece to your door.

OTHER NOTES:
- Cynthia has a vendor's COI ready and available for all required events.
- A 50% deposit is due for booking and the final 50% is due after the final consultation call, and at least 30 days out from your event date.
- Price is determined by event location/date/time (for travel), vision/ number of figures, and canvas size.  If you fill in the contact form on the events page with your event information, Cynthia will give you a quote and discuss your booking arrangements.
- Cynthia was a Kindergarten teacher and loves the curiosity of guests and children!  Event paintings are special and can be interactive. Cynthia allows children, guests, family, and the bride and groom add little strokes and love to the canvas to make your piece even more special and memorable for everyone. 
- In studio edits may take from 4-8 weeks depending on your requests and will be outlined in the contract.
- Cynthia uses golden acrylics & golden open acrylics

Question 2

More about commissioning an original piece from Cynthia Midori: Paintings, Invitations, Menus"

Accepted Answer

Though we have our custom shop “Cyncerely Yours”  with merchandise to purchase, Cynthia Midori also offers complete custom and commissioned art work/ design services.  Cynthia Midori has done paintings, logos, corporate and brand promotional/ advertisements art, brand fashion design illustrations, invitations for events, menus for events, and interior design/ decorative services.

Go to our commissioned work page to learn more. Click here.

OIL PAINTINGS:
Cynthia Midori is most popular for commissioned paintings.  Here are answers to frequently asked questions regarding commissioned paintings.

What medium do you use?
Cynthia Midori uses high quality oil based paints.  If there is very tight turn around time for a commissioned piece, she will do the base in oil and do the heavy embellishments and detailed layers in acrylic for safe shipping.

What is the process when commissioning a painting?
Contact:
Browse the artist's gallery.  If you like what you see, then contact the artist filling out the form on the page, or email Cynthia@cynthiamidori.com 
Cynthia Midori will get back to you as soon as possible, leading you into the next step of the creative process!

Consult:
All commissioned creations are made by artist Cynthia Midori.  After reviewing your contact form, she will be reaching out to you within 48 hours to set up a FREE consultation (either by phone or in person, whichever you prefer).  Here we will discuss and brainstorm creative ideas, visions, estimated prices, time frames, and any further questions that you may have.  Once we have a vision and all logistics sorted, details will be sent formally in writing through email, and a contract will be typed up for both parties to sign.

Commission & Create:
From there the creative process begins!  Depending on what work you will be commissioning, you’ll receive a presentation of your own custom concepts created just for you.  Once you choose the perfect starting point, the artist will send you constant updates in addition to unlimited retouch/ editing services. Together we will collaborate to make your creation perfectly personal & Cyncerely Yours.

What sizes are popular/ what size can you do & common rates:
Cynthia Midori can commission any size and any image you desire.
Price quotes and rates rely on these factors:
1. Do you have a hard deadline/ due date? This will determine the time that Cynthia Midori needs to spend on your piece and at what rate.
2. What size canvas are you interested in? Are you thinking of framing it later? If so, I would recommend canvas sheet over gallery wrapped canvas.
3. What is the address I will be mailing to?
4.  Your desired image.  The detail in a desired idea dictates the amount of hours put into a piece
All of these details will determine the money and time I have to put in as the artist.

Question 3

What are your Payment Options?

Accepted Answer

On our website & For commissioned price quotes/ invoices:
We accept all major credit cards and debit cards with no additional charges/ fees and additionally accept payments through Paypal.

Question 4

SHIPPING INFO

Accepted Answer

All orders over $20.00 will include FREE standard shipping. 
Orders are shipped (using USPS). Your order will take less than 24 hours to process.
All paintings and event paintings are shipped via Fedex

ORDER SHIPPING DETAILS FOR STATIONARY & ILLUSTARTIONS:
*Orders with multiple like-sized prints will be packaged in a single plastic sleeve.  If you would like them individually wrapped, the buyer must contact me prior to or directly after purchasing. All cards and illustrations are mailed in sturdy rigid paper mailers.

*PLEASE CONFIRM YOUR ADDRESS IS CORRECT AT CHECKOUT AND MESSAGE US ASAP IF CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE at Cynthia@cynthiamidori.com.  Buyers are responsible for either retrieving the items from the old address or repurchasing items to have them reshipped to the new address.
**IF AN ITEM IS RETURNED TO US DUE TO AN UNACCEPTED ADDRESS, THE BUYER MUST RE-PURCHASE SHIPPING**. Buyers are responsible for reordering the items . Card orders cannot be rerouted once they have shipped. Buyers are responsible for either retrieving the items from the old address or repurchasing items to have them reshipped to the new address.
****We can no longer accommodate exceptions for this policy.*****

*We do not accept orders addressed to third-party shipping services, PO Boxes, or temporary addresses. If we suspect your order is placed via any of the aforementioned methods, you will be contacted and your order will be refunded.

*We are not responsible for shipping charges involved in re-sending the package if items are marked "Return to Sender", and the buyer must wait for us to receive the original package back until we ship the items. In some cases, the post office may not leave the package if there is no safe space to do so. The post office leaves a note for the buyer instructing them to pick their items up at the post office. If they buyer does not pick up their items at the post office in time, they are shipped back to the sender.
*Once a package leaves Cynthia Midori’s studio, we are not responsible for any problems or delays with the carrier (USPS). If you are having trouble, please contact us and we will advise you how to contact USPS support.
* If you are having problems tracking your package please contact me directly. Orders that are suspected "lost" or "stolen" may be replaced after the USPS has conducted an investigation.
Shipping for custom cards:
Your item will be shipped within 1-3 days from the date you submit your order. After we send your order, allow 2-5 days to receive your package. 
If you have questions about your order, email Cynthia@cynthiamidori.com

Processing & Shipping for custom illustration:
Custom cards will require extra time to be completed. Please send your photo and description as soon as possible. I cannot start creating until I receive your media request. Custom drawings take 3-5 business days to create with additional revision time as per your requests. I will be in touch with you to approve your final drawing. Once you approve of your final drawing, you will receive a HQ JPEG & PNG image file of your illustration. I will be shipping your complimentary 8.5” x 11.25” piece and you will receive an email once your piece is out for shipping.

If you are commissioning an original creative service:
The creative time and shipping depends completely on your specific order.  All will be discussed and approved before the signing on commissioned work contracts.

Question 5

What is your Returns Policy?

Accepted Answer

If you are not satisfied with your order or your order appears damaged, items purchased on www.cynthiamidori.com may be returned or exchanged within 21 days of receipt for an item of equal value or for a credit towards a future purchase. Before returning your item, please first send a brief e-mail and photo of the damages item to Cynthia@cynthiamidori.com and include your name, the item, and what you prefer in exchange of the returned item (ex. money back or the same product shipped again if your item is damaged).
Please note, we cannot accept returns or exchanges for custom illustration orders. If you are not happy with your custom illustration, you are offered unlimited revisions.
*  All my products are packaged with great thought and care and leave in quality condition.  If your package or goods have arrived damaged, please send me a photograph of the damage to the item and its packaging and you will be issued a replacement. Email Cynthia@cynthiamidori.com
I gladly accept returns and exchanges
Contact me within: 14 days of delivery
Ship items back within: 21 days of delivery

I don't accept cancellations
But please contact me if you have any problems with your order.
The following items can't be returned or exchanged
Because of the nature of these items, unless they arrive damaged or defective, I can't accept returns for:
Custom or personalized orders
Perishable products (like food or flowers)
Digital downloads
Intimate items (for health/hygiene reasons)

Question 6

How does your custom illustration service work?

Accepted Answer

COMMISSIONED ILLUSTRATION DIRECTIONS
*READ THOROUGHLY*

Dimensions: 
Your custom illustration will be sent to you through email as both a HQ JPEG & PNG image. In addition, you will also receive a complimentary 8.5 x 11.25 print of your image.

Why: 
This product is sent as an HQ image so that you may do whatever you desire with your new illustration: Get it printed in any size on cardstock or photo paper, get it printed on a phone case, really anything you desire, so long as you do not use it for commercial use/ purposes.

How this works
1. Purchase Your Portrait
You select and purchase what type of illustration you want depending on how many figures are in your desired picture and decide on if you want an intricate background. There are photo references linked to each option in the case that you are confused on what a background includes or not.
2. Send Resources For Artist Reference
You will receive a confirmation email. Reply to this email with 1-3 example photos and a brief description of what you want (following the guidelines listed out below). It is encouraged, that if possible, you provide the exact photo you want recreated.  However, Cynthia Midori does offer the fusing of many photos/ ideas to make a new original portrait.  Many times, she has done family portraits that cannot exist in the current time (maybe someone has passed, maybe your family members are scattered around the world and you wish to bring everyone together in one portrait).  
3. Artist Check In & Review
I will respond to confirm I received your request and will check in to make sure we are on the same page and have the same vision.
4. The Creative Process
Your custom illustration will take 3-4 days to complete. You will receive progression photos via email and then a final product photo. Before the HQ image is sent to you, I need your approval. You have unlimited retouches, so if there is something that you want fixed, be clear and let me know when you receive each image.
5. Final Review & Approval
Once you are completely satisfied with your image, you will receive both a HQ Jpeg & PNG file via email and a complimentary 8x11 print sent to your door.

When sending the artist your desired information use this format:
WHO: (who is this illustration of?)
DESIRED COLORS: (are there any color hues you want to be emphasized throughout the piece – on clothing, background etc.)
FASHION: (what clothes do you want in the illustration? – the same as the photo or not?)
ANY IMPORTANT INFO: (please list any additional background knowledge you would like me to know before making this illustration).
Keep in mind:
Custom portraits are for personal use only. No commercial use.If you want commercial use, please contact me at Cynthia@cynthiamidori.com

Question 7

How does your custom card service work?

Accepted Answer

Custom Cards and how far you can customize each card varies.  Be sure you are reading the product details to know exactly what is customizable for each product.

If you purchased a card from the Cyncerely Yours Shop and it mentions customer characterization, then we will need reference photos.

How this works:
1. You purchased a custom card.  It’s time to customize!
2. You will receive a confirmation email. Reply to this email with 1-3 example photos of each character and a brief description of what you want.  Face, hair, height and shape are subject to change.  Garments, posture, and any other card characteristics are not subject to change and additional alterations are not open.
3. We will respond to confirm we received your request and will check in to make sure we are on the same page and have the same vision.
4. Your custom illustration will take 1-5 days to complete, depending on the current order load. Once the illustration is complete it will then be printed and sent to you.  Look out for a confirmation shipping email! If you would like the HQ image used on your card, reach out at Cynthia@cynthiamidori.com

When sending the artist your desired information use this format:

WHO: (who is this illustration of & characteristics)
ANY IMPORTANT INFO: (please list any additional background knowledge you would like me to know before making this illustration).

Keep in mind:
Custom portraits are for personal use only. No Commercial use.  If you want commercial use, please contact me

Question 8

How does your handwritten greeting & mailing service work?

Accepted Answer

For our SINGLE card orders, we offer a full service greeting & mailing option for an extra $2.00 fee.

How it works:
After you have made your purchase and have paid for this additional service, you will receive a confirmation email.  Respond or email Cynthia@cynthiamidori.com with two things: Your greeting message you would like written in your card, the outgoing mailing address you would like your card to be mailed to.

We will handle it from there!
1.  Cynthia Midori will create and print your card
2.  Cynthia Midori will write your custom greeting and make a custom mailing label.
3.  Cynthia Midori will mail your card with a first class 1oz US postage stamp.
4.  Cynthia Midori will send you and email update on when your card has been sent out.  It will be within 1-3 days of your custom card order.

Question 9

Do you take international orders?

Accepted Answer

At this time we are not able to fulfill international orders.
We apologize for an inconvenience and encourage you to check back soon after the new year!

Question 10

What is the fastest way of getting in contact with you for any reason?

Accepted Answer

If you have any questions or concerns at all, please do not hesitate to email us directly at Cynthia@cynthiamidori.com

Frequently Asked Questions