Last updated: 20 August 2026
Using this site or buying from it means agreeing to what follows. It is written to be understood rather than to be impressive.
What you are buying
Every piece is an original, one of one. There are no prints, no reproductions and no second editions. Photographs are taken in daylight and represent the work as accurately as a screen allows, but natural specimens vary and colour reproduction across devices does too. Dimensions given are external frame dimensions unless stated otherwise.
Availability and pricing
Because each item is unique, listings can go out of date between a page being loaded and an order arriving. If a piece sells first, you are told immediately and refunded in full — nobody is ever asked to wait for a substitute.
Prices are in US dollars and exclude shipping and any import duties. Prices can change without notice, but never after an order is confirmed.
Orders and payment
Orders for originals are confirmed by hand. A confirmed order means I have replied agreeing to it, not simply that a form was submitted. Payment is taken through a third-party provider; the studio never sees or stores card details.
Commissions
- A 50% deposit is payable before work begins and is non-refundable once materials have been sourced.
- Progress photographs are shared at each major stage.
- One round of reasonable revisions is included before the piece is sealed. After sealing, changes mean building a new piece.
- Commissions cannot be returned, as they cannot be resold.
- I reserve the right to decline any commission, including any request involving a CITES Appendix I species or a specimen of unclear provenance.
Specimens and provenance
All whole specimens sold are farm-raised and died of natural causes. Species and country of origin are stated on each product page and written on the reverse of the finished piece.
Sourcing is through established wholesale suppliers. I represent provenance in good faith and to the best of my knowledge; I have not personally inspected the farms and do not claim to have done so. See Where Our Butterflies Come From for the full and honest version.
Where local law restricts the import or possession of biological material, compliance is the buyer's responsibility.
Copyright
All artwork, photography, illustration and written content on this site is the copyright of The Painting Pisces. Buying a piece transfers ownership of the physical object; it does not transfer copyright or any right of reproduction.
You are welcome to photograph work you own and share it, including commercially adjacent contexts such as an interiors portfolio, with credit. You may not reproduce it as a print, a product, or an item for sale.
Care and liability
Care guidance is given in good faith and is drawn from museum conservation practice. Once a piece is in your keeping, its environment is out of my hands, and no liability is accepted for deterioration caused by unsuitable display conditions — direct sunlight, high humidity, extremes of temperature or pest activity in the building.
To the extent permitted by law, total liability for any claim is limited to the price paid for the item concerned. Nothing here limits liability for death, personal injury or fraud, and nothing here affects your statutory consumer rights.
Site content
Journal articles are provided for general interest. They are researched carefully but are not professional conservation, legal or veterinary advice. External links are offered as a courtesy; the studio is not responsible for anything on another site.
Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina, United States. Nothing here removes any mandatory consumer protection you have in your own country of residence.
Contact
Questions about these terms: [email protected].