PaintingMethods
and Print Products
THIS
BECAME THIS
Painting Methods
Flower Paintings and abstracts:
I “find flowers”—I create an abstract with various mediums and then look for shapes within the mess. I block out negative spaces to find the positive ones.
For most paintings, I begin by spraying and blotting a surface (usually yuppo paper) with acrylic paint or alcohol inks, and then scribble all over it with colored pencil, oil pastel, pen and ink, or graphite. I experiment with various materials. Once I am satisfied, I try to figure out what I see and how to make it visible to others.
Cyanotype Botanicals: In 2023 I became enamored with the Cyanotype process—first used in 1842 to create simple photographs on paper or cloth, and slightly predating daguarreotypes (which were printed on metal). I cover a canvas with cyanotype solution, then dried botanicals from my garden, and then leave it in the sun to develop. Sometimes I also throw on some acrylic paint or alcohol ink, before looking for what I can find.
Burning River Series: Cuyahoga River caught fire many times in the 20th century but in 1969 a fire caught the attention of National Geographic Magazine, which used its image to promote “Our Ecological Crisis” in 1970. In response, 1,000 students gathered for what became the first Earth Day. Some say it also led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, under the leadership of Cleveland Mayor Carl Stokes. Regardless, it did lead to the cleaning of the Cuyahoga River, which no longer swirls with oils and industrial waste.
I began painting my imagined version of the fire while listening to stories of the fiftieth anniversary in 2019. I imagined—because I could not find—the colors of the fire and river if you could see them from the level of the water.
Dreaming Woman/Girl Series: I am a historian of American women by training and a portraitist by interest, so I naturally began a series depicting famous and not famous (anonymous) women who have changed or might change American culture. I’m just getting started so the list is short. I am currently working on Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Deborah Haaland, and Alice Paul. I have plans for Zitkala-Sa, Pauli Murray, and way too many others! So that series should be growing soon.
Originals:
Originals available for sale are marked with an asterisk in the paintings section of this site. If there is no asterisk, the painting is not available.
Please email if you are interested in buying an original: reneesentilles@gmail.com
Please note: discounts are not eligible on original paintings, and they do require an additional shipping charge (to be determined upon date of shipment).
Prints of Paintings
You can only buy prints of my work through this website. I am responsible for every step except the actual printing and mailing. Each order comes with a certificate of authenticity indicating that it is a proprietary print of my original work (which is a fancy way of saying that prints are exclusive to my shop).
Prints are made to order and can take 2-4 weeks to produce and deliver.
Prints are made with the finest materials on the market to last a lifetime (or more!). You can custom size anything by contacting me.
In this site I offer five printing options, but there are more available if you email an inquiry.
Important Caveat: the measurement given is of the IMAGE, not the finished piece.
Paper prints are Canon Lucia Ink on luminous Hahnemüller paper, with a ½” border included for ease of framing. This paper is extraordinary in the way it absorbs ink and reflects light. Prints on paper need to be protected from the elements in frame of some kind.
You can frame smaller versions of my work yourself with commercially made frames.
Contact me if you would like the print to come matted in black or white and mounted on foam core (with a slight price increase).
Floating Framed Prints: Canon Lucia Ink on acrylic, framed with black acrylic frame. There is a 2” margin around the image of clear space, plus the 1.5” frame (so a floating frame of a 12x12” image will result in a 15.5x15.5” framed image). Ready to hang. This is an economical framed option.
Framed and Matted Prints: Canon Lucia Ink on Hahnemüller paper, usually matted in white, usually framed in black wood, and protected from U. V. light with conservation acrylic glazing. I do sometimes use different matting and frame colors because of the piece, so look carefully before you buy. These are beautifully finished and ready to hang.
You can ask for custom matting and frame colors and materials by emailing me (the cost will be the same, unless the size changes). I can generate a picture of the product before you purchase it, so you know what you will be getting.
Canvas Prints: Stretched canvas prints are made with Canon Lucia Ink on Artisanal Archival Canvas, with 1.5 inch thick sides. Because most images cannot wrap around the sides without losing something, the sides are often colored to work best with the image on the front. Be sure to look closely at the image in case that design does not suit you. You can request plain black or white sides if you prefer (no extra charge). No need to frame. Ready to hang.
I also offer unstretched canvas prints. This is an economical choice. Since you do not have to protect canvas behind glass, so you can hang them using magnetic hangers you can buy online. Canvas prints are also a more durable choice for moist environments, like bathrooms and beach houses. I do not recommend stretching these canvases yourself!
Returns and Refunds
When things do not go well…
I offer replacement for items that are damaged during shipping. You will have to repackage the item and mail it back to the printing company. Shipping costs will be reimbursed.
If an item arrives with obvious production errors—glue that shows, wrong frame, etc—you can send me a picture detailing the problem and I can either refund your money or replace the item.
I do not offer refunds or replacements in any other case so please look and measure carefully before you buy!
Alcohol Abstract on the left became Polka Dot Vase, on the right.
Each painting is one-of-a-kind. I do not plan them and it is impossible to replicate them.
Returns
Returns are only allowed on misprinted items or ones that arrive damaged in transit. They must be returned within 15 days of receipt in their original packaging. Please contact me directly about where to send returns.
For that reason, please read descriptions (particularly measurements) carefully and double-check your order before sending it.