FAQ
If you have any questions that are not addressed here please message me!
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LOCATION
Where are you located?
ArtyPax is based in a studio, surrounded by a typically English garden full of flora & fauna (now the ArtyPax Nature Garden), in the heart of Warwickshire, United Kingdom.
Do you have an ArtyPax bricks & mortar store I can visit?
Not at this time. Currently I sell online only and my artists studio is not open to the public. I do however attend craft fairs & Christmas markets from time to time. Keep an eye on my social media pages or news announcements on the Arty Noticeboard Page for any upcoming events I'm attending.
SHIPPING & RETURNS
How will my order be shipped?
Due to industrial action there may be a slight delay in some areas, however carriers are working as quickly as they can to deliver your order to you as swiftly as they can. Thank you for your patience!
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Each order is packed by hand with the utmost care, using packaging made from recycled & recyclable materials. Feel free to reuse what you can or pop it in your kerbside recycling bin/local recycling center. Find out more about my green craft code©!
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Within the UK I ship orders using Royal Mail wherever possible.
What Are The Order Dispatch Times?
Please see below for approximate dispatch times:
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Ceramics & in stock party kits, 1-3 working days
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Personalised & hand painted products, 3-5 working days
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Commissions, 1-3 weeks
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Bulk orders for groups, organisations & businesses, 1-3 working days for items in stock, slightly longer for larger quantities/items needing additional production.
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Royal Mail Tracked 24 services are estimated as a 1-2 day delivery from the time your order leaves my studio. If you need something expedited please let me know and I will happily work with you to accommodate!
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If your order includes an item on preorder your full order will be held until the preordered item is ready to ship.
How much does delivery cost?
I offer flat rate tracked standard shipping of £4.95 on all UK orders of any size. So you know exactly where your order is. An express Tracked 24 Delivery option is also available, which is calculated based on order weight, item quantities & your location (i.e. delivery destination) during the checkout process. FREE standard delivery on all commissions.
Visit my delivery page for more information.
Do you ship internationally?
Currently all international orders are on hold whilst I work with carriers & customs to be able to offer you the best delivery costs & most efficient service. As soon as international orders open back up a notification will be made here and on my social media pages.
What happens if my parcel is undelivered?
I dispatch orders to the address specified when placing your order. Please check with neighbors, in 'safe places' around your property & with other members of your household in case they have taken it in for you.
If that address is incorrect or undelivered for any reason and the product is retuned to me, the buyer will have the option to pay the shipping again and I will attempt delivery again with a different address, or the buyer can receive a refund for the product, minus the original delivery cost.
My order has arrived and is incorrect what should I do?
Occasionally I may make a mistake! If you receive your parcel and something is amiss please email me straight away so I can promptly resolve the issue.
My order has arrived damaged what should I do?
On rare occasions postal carriers can be a little over enthusiastic when delivering your parcel, resulting in damages! If you receive damaged items please email me straight away so I can promptly resolve the issue. Please also take photographs of the dmaged item(s) & the outer packaging box as these will be required for me to help you investigate further. Also be very careful when disposing of any ceramics as they can become very sharp!
What is your return & refund policy?
I offer refunds for items you do not want as part of the distance selling laws. If you wish to have a refund on an item please email me within 14 days of receiving your order at artypax@hotmail.com, quoting your order number, to let me know you would like to return a product.
All items being returned for a refund should be unused, in a resalable condition and, where possible, in the original packaging. I recommend using a tracked postage service to return your items as I can not be held responsible for it being lost in the post. The cost of return postage is to be paid by yourself. Refunds, minus the original postage cost, will then be processed once the returned item(s) have been received.
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Refunds are not accepted for personalised or commissioned items.
For more information please visit my full delivery & returns policy page.
What Payment Methods Do You Accept?
I happily accept credit and debit card payments (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro & Amex), as well as Apple Pay, Google Pay & PayPal. All payments made through my website are secure & protected, so you can shop with added peace of mind.
Simply choose your preferred method of payment during checkout. For example:
To pay with a credit/debit card click 'Checkout with Credit/Debit Card'
To pay with Apple Pay click 'Checkout with Apple Pay'
To pay with Google Pay click 'Checkout with Google Pay'
To pay with PayPal click 'Checkout with PayPal'
ARTYPAX PRODUCTS
What Is Bisque Ceramic?
Bisque ceramic or pottery refers to ceramics that have been kiln fired without a glaze. Clay is moulded by hand or poured as a slip (liquid clay) into a mould. After drying naturally for 1-2 weeks the pieces achieve a leather hard stage where they can go through a hand finishing stage to remove any surplus clay & any extra detail added, also called fettling.
They then enter the kiln for their first firing (a bisque or 'biscuit' firing) for over 24 hours at over 1000 degrees. after a gradual cooling this is then when the ceramics come out white & ready to paint.
They can be painted with acrylics or with glazes. When used with glazes a second firing is required to set & seal the glaze, as well as make it food safe if being used on kitchen ceramics.
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This whole bisque ceramic making process is what has been seen for hundreds of years in the UK pottery industry. With household names such as Wedgewood, Emma Bridgewater & Denby still using this process today. Learn more about my ceramics & more about how bisque ceramic is made.
Are There Health Benefits To Using Paint Your Own Kits?
Yes! Paint your own ceramic kits are extremely good for Art therapy. Art therapy is a proven anti-stress healthy pastime where you can relax, focus and engage. It has many proven health benefits to help relieve stress related headaches, insomnia and anxiety and can also help maintain dexterity, particularly in later life or during rehabilitation/physiotherapy.
Being creative promotes relaxation and the act of painting can improve your focus and concentration. It’s a time to enjoy, take the focus off the negative and reflect on achieving something with no rules! I have a range of premium ceramics designed specifically for adult mindfulness.
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There is new research linking art with postive wellbeing, particulalry for those in older age groups & with differing stages of dementia. Here you can read a short BBC article on how art is boosting well being in care home residents & here you can read the full Age UK report.
What Ages Can Use Paint Your Own Kits?
Paint your own kits are suitable for anyone aged 36 months (due to a potential chocking hazard) or over, with adult supervision recommended for children.
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My kits are designed to be fun & creative for any lover of art & nature, from 3 years old to the still young at heart.
Regardless of age please do not consume any part of my packaging and paints, they may look nice but I still recommend you do not eat them - they do not taste very nice, trust me!!
What Paints Come With The Paint Your Own Kits?
My kits come with a selection of 6 different coloured acrylic paints. All paints are water based and can be cleaned up with soap and warm water. They are also intermixable, which allows you to experiment and create your own colours, blends and shades, should you wish.
Do I Need A Special Area To Paint?
Nope, you can paint anywhere you like. Indoors, at a friends house, in your craft shed or nude in your back garden! Whatever floats your boat.
Before you start it's always a good idea to put a protective cover over your work surface, flooring and of course yourself, just in case your creative juices overflow! It doesn't have to be fancy, old newspaper works a treat, plus it's reusing, yay!
Can I Put My Finished Ceramics In The Garden?
Yes, of course! It's recommend you use water based varnish suitable for outdoor use, such as yacht varnish. I would also recommend bringing in your ceramics over winter to help protect them from frosts & help them last even longer.
How Do I Care For My Ceramics?
To help your ceramics stay in the best condition, please follow the tips below:
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Help protect your painted creation by applying a clear water based varnish once fully dry. Multiple coats will create stronger protection.
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If you'd like to place your piece in the garden follow the above guidance section 'Can I put my finished ceramics in the garden?'
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My ceramics are earthenware bisque & can be fired to cone 05-06 in a kiln if using glazes instead of acrylics. For more information regarding which pieces can be fired to cone 05 & which which to cone 06, please contact me & I can provide more details.
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Keeping your piece out of direct sunlight will help the colours stay more vibrant for longer & prevent any varnishes from yellowing over time.
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To dust/clean: a standard duster can be used to remove surface dust, although please hold your piece to steady it as you clean it to prevent it being knocked over. If you wish you can also use a just damp cloth to lightly go across the surface. Please use this method carefully as rubbing or scrubbing hard can remove the surface of varnish & paint.
PARTIES & GROUPS
Do You Offer Paint Your Own Ceramic Party Kits?
Yes! I accommodate for any sized party over 3 people too, which means no more "minimum of 8" party sizes. Perfect for those little get togethers, soirees or parties with the people you like best. With special prices already applied. Check out the ceramic party kit page for more information or see below if more of your questions have been answered.
Can You Supply Paint Your Own Ceramic Kits To My Group, Club, Business or Organisation?
Yes! I can supply kits to education facilities such as schools & nurseries, to community clubs like Scouts, Guides, Cubs, Brownies & Rainbows (which is a great contribution towards their art badges), to art clubs, the WI, smaller organisations & care homes for those looking for a different activity to try and to businesses for corporate team building.
Check out the page for groups for more information & to get a FREE quote tailored to you, with special discounted prices applied.