Frequently Asked Questions
Below, please find a list of commonly asked question about the artist and his artwork. If you have a question that isn’t addressed in this section, please feel free to
Questions About the Artist:
Did you study art in college or university?
How did you develop this style of artwork?
How do you pronounce your last name, "Machacek"?
Questions About the Artwork:
Is your artwork computer generated or Photoshopped?
What is the difference between your prints and posters?
I purchased one of your prints or posters. Can you custom frame it for me?
Where can I learn more about your artwork?
Questions About the Website and Online Store:
Are all of your paintings displayed on your main website?
What methods of payment do you accept?
Why aren’t any of your paintings listed in your online store?
How can I purchase your greeting cards?
I have placed an order in your online store. Will you e-mail me a tracking number for my purchase?
Do you offer discounts on your artwork?
Questions About the Artist:
1. Did you study art in college or university?
Yes, I completed a four-year program in Visual Communications at the Alberta College of Art and Design (ACAD) in Calgary, Canada. Most of my formal training at school was in graphic design and architectural rendering, and I didn’t develop this particular style of painting until well after my graduation.
2. How did you develop this style of artwork?
Many people wonder if my painting style was influenced by another artist (such as Dali, Van Gogh, Escher, or the architect Gaudi), but my creative inspiration actually came directly from nature. In particular, I was captivated by the weathered old barns I rode past in wind-swept prairies during my cycling training, as well as by the reflections of buildings I saw in water or in glass.
I combined my loves of architecture, world travel, and nature into a cohesive art form, which I call architectural etherealism. My paintings borrow the curving, bending contours of nature and apply them to the otherwise rigid and precise structures in the man-made world, lending them a feeling of buoyancy or weightlessness. My style is consistently evolving, and I appreciate the challenge of creating the most dynamic compositions to highlight each building or landmark I feature in my paintings.
3. How do you pronounce your last name, "Machacek"?
In the Czech Republic where I was born, my last name is relatively common. It is pronounced with ease there as people in North America might regard a “Mr. Johnson”. Here in Canada where I live now, however, the letter combinations in my last name are regarded with wariness and pronounced with great difficulty, which I completely understand and appreciate!
To put an end to the confusion: ‘Machacek’ is pronounced ma-HA-check.
Questions About the Artwork:
4. Do you paint custom pieces?
Yes, I accept commissions for custom paintings on an ongoing basis. Commissioned pieces take anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks to complete, depending on my workload and on the size/complexity of the particular custom piece. A current size and pricing guideline for my custom paintings can be found here.
5. Is your artwork computer generated or Photoshopped?
No, all of my compositions are created using my imagination and are hand-drawn and hand-painted in acrylics. Although similar (but not the same) effects can be achieved with the use of tools such as fish-eye lenses or computer imaging software, I choose not to use these in my artwork.
A giclée is the highest quality of art reproduction available for two-dimensional pieces of work. Special photographs are taken of the original piece of artwork and are then painstakingly colour-matched to the original. (I am personally involved in matching the colours for all of my giclées.)
The inks used to print giclées are highly fade-resistant and are of significantly higher quality than the inks that are often used for other prints, lithographs, and reproductions. Giclées are more expensive than other types of prints because of the time, skill, and specialized materials that are involved in creating them. However, the higher cost is well worth it—giclées will outlast other forms of art reproductions and will always look crisper and truer to the original.
7. What is the difference between your prints and posters?
There are three main differences between my photographic prints and posters: size, quality, and layout.
My prints are a standard 8” x 10” size and can fit into any store-bought frame. They are also of a higher quality than my posters, because they are printed onto special photographic paper with archival-quality inks. (This means that they will not fade over time or stick to glass like lower-quality prints will.) Photographic prints do not have any text on them—they only feature the images of my paintings.
My posters measure 12” x 16” and also fit into standard, store-bought frames. They are printed onto acid-free, heavy card stock paper and feature both an image from my artwork as well as the artwork title near the bottom. Posters do not require any additional matting, because they are pre-printed with a classic black border around the edges.
8. I am having a hard time finding a frame to fit the posters I purchased from your booth at the Harbour. Where can I find a 12” x 16” frame?
Although this size of frame is less commonly found in stores such as Walmart, here is a list of places you can try:
- Ikea (sells a standard 12” x 16”/ 30cm x 40cm frame in black or natural wood finish)
- Any art supply or framing shop (such as Opus or Island Blue in Victoria)
- London Drugs
- Photo finishing stores (such as Black’s Photography)
- Some locations of Michael’s
9. I purchased one of your prints or posters. Can you custom frame it for me?
No, my custom-shaped wood frames are only designed for original paintings and some of my limited edition giclées.
10. Where can I learn more about your artwork?
My artist biography and statement can be viewed here. Information about upcoming art events and special art projects can be found on my art blog. Finally, both background information and special ‘behind-the-scenes’ glimpses into some of my individual paintings are provided exclusively to subscribers of my free monthly e-newsletter.
Questions About the Website and Online Store
11. Are all of your paintings displayed on your main website?
I have created several hundred paintings since I first started working in this style in late 2002. I continuously update the artwork on my website, so many of my earlier works and/or custom paintings are no longer included online.
12. Can I order artwork online?
Yes, artwork can be browsed and ordered online in my online store. Items that are for sale but not currently listed in the store (e.g. original paintings, certain limited edition giclées) can also be added to the store on request.
13. What methods of payment do you accept?
My online store accepts Paypal and all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discovery). If you are purchasing artwork in person, I can accept cash, cheque, Visa, or Mastercard.
14. Why aren’t any of your paintings listed in your online store?
At the current time, my online store features prints, posters, and canvas giclée reproductions of my artwork. However, any of my original paintings can be added to the online store on request to be purchased. Paintings and giclées can also be purchased using the “Painting Deposit” amounts in my online store. Just be sure to add a "Note to Seller" during checkout, so I know which painting(s) you wish to purchase.
15. How can I purchase your greeting cards?
Many—if not most—of my paintings have been reproduced as standard greeting cards (blank inside). My greeting cards are currently available at select retailers in Victoria, Calgary, and across Vancouver Island. They can also be purchased directly from my art booth at the Inner Harbour in Victoria (weather permitting from April to October every year).
Greeting cards can also be added to my online store in multiples of three to be purchased remotely and shipped. The current price of my greeting cards is $10 + applicable taxes for three. Each card comes with an envelope and is wrapped in a plastic sleeve.
16. I have placed an order in your online store. Will you e-mail me a tracking number for my purchase?
Items that can be shipped as regular lettermail—8” x 10” prints and greeting cards—will not be given a tracking number by Canada Post. However, all other purchases—12” x16” posters, block mounted prints, and canvas giclées—will be provided with a tracking number. I will e-mail you this number as soon as the order has shipped.
17. Do you offer discounts on your artwork?
Limited time offers are provided to the subscribers of my free monthly e-newsletter. Other special offers are given to those who “Like me” on Facebook.