FAQ

**Click on question to see answer

Section:

PROFILE

Question:	> What is a Profile on Open Studio Online?
Answer:	Every Open Studio Online member receives a Profile. A Profile is an opportunity for you to share some information about yourself with other members. You can upload a profile picture, add some basic personal information, link your personal website and write a brief Artist Statement describing your art experience, goals, philosophy etc.
Question:	> How do I update my Profile?
Answer:	Just go to My Studio or click on your Profile icon in the top right corner and then select ‘View Profile’. Click on the ‘Edit My Profile’ link above your name and profile picture. When you have finished editing your Profile, click the Save Changes button at the bottom of the page.
Question:	> Who can see my Profile?
Answer:	By default, your Profile page can only be viewed by Open Studio Online members. If you would like to allow non-Open Studio Online members to view your Profile, then you can give permission on your Edit My Profile page. Uncheck the box labelled Only Open Studio Online members can view my profile. Now you can invite your friends and family to check out your Profile and any artwork you have shared on the My Workshop Gallery.
Question:	> What is My Workshop Gallery?
Answer:	You can display any paintings that you complete in an Open Studio Online workshop on your Profile page. When you upload your finished artwork to a Workshop Gallery, remember to check the box that also adds the image to your profile.
Question:	> What are My Favorites?
Answer:	Favorites are paintings by other members or mentors that you want to bookmark, so that you can refer back to them easily. There is no limit to the number of Favorite paintings you can add to your list. For more information, see the FAQ - Favorites section.

Section:

MENTOR

Question:

> What is a fine art Mentor?

Section:

MEMBERSHIP

Question:	> How do I sign up?
Answer:	Click on the sign up button at the top of the screen. Enter your First Name, Last Name, Email address and Password. The password must be a minimum of 6 characters with 1 number. Read through the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and then click Sign Up. Go to your email Inbox and open the email from Open Studio Online. Click on the link in the email body to confirm your registration. Now you can log in to your Open Studio Online account.
Question:	> How do I sign in?
Answer:	Click on the sign in link in the top right-hand corner of the screen. The sign in page loads. Enter the email address you used when signing up and your password and then click Sign In.
Question:	> How do I sign out?
Answer:	Click your profile image at the top right of the screen. Then select the 'sign out' button.
Question:	> I forgot my password
Answer:	Click on the ‘forgot your password’ link on the sign up page. Enter the email address associated with your membership at Open Studio Online. Your password will be resent to that email address.

Section:

PAYMENT

Question:	> Do I have to pay to join Open Studio Online?
Answer:	It is free to sign up for Open Studio Online membership. All members get a Profile page to display some personal information, a Studio space to manage their events and access to the Art Forum to offer tips or ask questions. Mentors have complete creative control over the content and pricing of the events they offer on Open Studio Online.
Question:	> How do I pay for an Open Studio Online class?
Answer:	All our transactions occur through PayPal. When you wish to join an event, you will be redirected to the PayPal website to complete the transaction. Log in to your PayPal account and complete the transaction process. Your purchased item will now be available in your My Studio space.
Question:	> How are the prices for online classes set?
Answer:	Mentors have complete creative control over the content and pricing of the events they offer on Open Studio Online.
Question:	> Can I get a refund?
Answer:	If you are not satisfied with your purchase, please contact us, we will do our best to resolve the matter.

Section:

WORKSHOPS

Question:	> What is a Workshop?
Answer:	A workshop is a fine art project for the artist painting at home.
Question:	> How do I join?
Answer:	Go to the Workshops page and find a workshop project that you would like to paint. If the workshop is free, click on the Join button. If the workshop has an entry fee, click on the Pay Now button and complete the PayPal transaction. You can enter the workshop on your My Studio > My Workshops page.
Question:	> How does it work?
Answer:	Once you have joined a workshop, you will find it in your My Studio, My Workshops. • Enter the workshop and read through the lesson plan. • Each step of the painting process is described by the mentor using text, images and/or video • Download the photo reference to your computer to use as a guide for your painting or to inspire your own unique setup. • Then, start painting!
Question:	> Can I share my finished painting?
Answer:	Can I share my finished painting? • Once you have completed your painting, take a picture of it • Upload the image to the Workshop Gallery • Only members who have joined the workshop can view it • You can choose to share your artwork with members outside the workshop by adding it to your Profile Gallery • You can choose to allow other members to add your painting to their Favorites list
Question:	> Does a workshop have a start or end date?
Answer:	• You can join a workshop at any time once it is launched. • A workshop does not have a set end date, indeed a workshop can go on indefinitely - it is entirely at the mentor’s discretion. • If a mentor decides to close a workshop, no new members will be able to join, but all existing workshop members will continue to have access to the workshop contents and gallery from their My Studio space.
Question:	> What is peer review?
Answer:	• We encourage you to share your thoughts on other member’s paintings – receiving praise and constructive criticism can be a very rewarding experience after all the hard work you put into your painting. • No matter what stage you are at in your fine art journey, we are all here to learn and improve at our own pace.
Question:	> Does the mentor give feedback?
Answer:	• The mentor’s role in a workshop is to use their art knowledge and teaching experience to design an interesting and informative painting project. • A mentor does not have an interactive role in the workshop. • For 1-on-1 feedback, take advantage of our unique Critique service and reserve a session with a mentor on their calendar.
Question:	> Can I review a workshop?
Answer:	• You can add a review of a workshop in My Studio > My Workshop by clicking on the ‘review’ link. You can rate it from 1-5 and add a comment. • If the workshop didn’t meet your expectations, we suggest you first contact the mentor directly. You can send an email to the mentor by clicking on the Mentor Directory in the footer and clicking on the email icon beside their profile entry. • If you are unable to resolve the matter satisfactorily with the mentor, then send us an email at support@openstudioonline.com

Section:

TOOLBOX

Question:	> What is the Toolbox?
Answer:	The Toolbox is a dynamic reference library of tutorials and tips. Build a custom toolbox of painting knowledge that you can refer to for guidance.
Question:	> What types of lessons are offered?
Answer:	Open Studio Online lessons provide an insight into the artistic process of our mentors from blank canvas to finished painting • Tutorials inform the artist on fine art principals, allowing them to brush up on basics, understand a painting concept or learn a new technique • Tips help make your painting session more productive
Question:	> How does it work?
Answer:	Once you have added a lesson to your Toolbox, you will find it in your My Studio > My Toolbox page • Click the View button and the lesson will open in a new browser window • All lessons are rich in media and can include any or all of the following: text, images and video • Any video content is hosted by the mentor and will remain available at their discretion
Question:	> Is there a time limit to view a lesson?
Answer:	• You can add a lesson to your Toolbox at any time once it is published • If a mentor decides to close a lesson, it will be removed from the Toolbox page and no new members can add it to their My Studio. • If you already added the lesson to your Toolbox, you will continue to have access to the written content and images. • Any video content is hosted directly by the mentor and will remain available at their discretion. The mentor is only required to continue hosting video content for a closed lesson for an additional 60 days from the close date.
Question:	> Can I review a lesson?
Answer:	• You can add a review of a lesson in My Studio > My Toolbox by clicking on the ‘review’ link. You can rate it from 1-5 and add a comment. • If the lesson didn’t meet your expectations, we suggest you first contact the mentor directly. You can send an email to the mentor by clicking on the Mentor Directory in the footer and clicking on the email icon beside their profile entry. • If you are unable to resolve the matter satisfactorily with the mentor, then send us an email at support@openstudioonline.com

Section:

CRITIQUES

Question:	> What is a Critique?
Answer:	A critique is an analysis of a painting, where the artist’s technical skills are discussed in the context of accepted fine art principles as well as the subjective interpretation of the subject. It is an opportunity for a member to receive personalized, 1-on-1 feedback from a mentor.
Question:	> What does it offer?
Answer:	A critique offers personalized advice from a mentor, who is both a professional gallery artist and instructor. The critique consists of a detailed written and visual report, addressing all aspects of the painting from a fine art perspective. • Introduction: factual information regarding the artwork, provided by the artist when submitting an image for critique. • Technical analysis: Composition / Drawing / Value / Color / Brush Strokes / Edges / Concept • Interpretation: the mentor describes their subjective response to the painting • Conclusion: summing up the mentor’s opinion of the artwork based on the above information.
Question:	> How do I reserve a critique session?
Answer:	A mentor lists all their available sessions on the Critiques page. Select the next available session for the type of critique that you want. If the critique is free, click on ‘Reserve’. If the critique has a fee, click on Pay Now button and complete the PayPal process. You have now reserved the critique session. Go to My Studio > My Critiques page to complete the Critique Request information and submit it to the mentor.
Question:	> How do I complete a critique request?
Answer:	Go to My Studio > My Critiques page to enter the request details. Try and provide as much information as you can in your request, as it will help the mentor provide a more thorough critique of your work. • Image of the painting to be critiqued and description (dimension/medium/support etc.) • Photograph of the reference used for the painting (even if you painted from life, it is very useful for the mentor to see what you were looking at!) • Background information about the artist (your experience/goals/artistic vision etc.) Once you have filled out the request information, click on the Submit button. Remember, the mentor does not receive your critique request until you click the Submit button.
Question:	> How do I view my critique report?
Answer:	The mentor will complete the report by the date of the critique session. You will receive email notification when the report is available to view in My Studio > My Critiques page. Click the View button and the report will open in a new browser window. If you do not receive email notification by the session date, please allow the mentor a few more days to complete the report. If you are still not able to view your critique, please contact us at support@openstudioonline.com
Question:	> Can I review a critique?
Answer:	• You can add a review of a critique in My Studio > My Critiques by clicking on the ‘review’ link. You can rate it from 1-5 and add a comment. • If the critique didn’t meet your expectations, we suggest you first contact the mentor directly. You can send an email to the mentor by clicking on the Mentor Directory in the footer and clicking on the email icon beside their profile entry. If you are unable to resolve the matter satisfactorily with the mentor, then send us an email at support@openstudioonline.com

Section:

FAVORITES

Question:	> What are favorites?
Answer:	Favorites are paintings by other members or mentors that you want to bookmark, so that you can refer back to them easily. There is no limit to the number of Favorite paintings you can add to your list.
Question:	> How do I add favorites?
Answer:	Hover the cursor over the thumbnail image. Click on the + sign on the heart symbol in the bottom right corner. or 2. Click on the thumbnail image and the full-sized image opens. Hover the cursor over the image and click on the + sign on the heart symbol in the bottom right corner. The number beside the + sign will increase by 1. This is the total number of times this painting has been added to a Favorites list. The painting will now display in your Profile Favorites page. To remove a painting from your Favorites, repeat the process except this time click on the – sign. The painting will be removed from your Favorites list.
Question:	> Where do I find paintings to add to My Favorites?
Answer:	You can add paintings from the following locations on the site: 1. Mentor Profile > Artwork page 2. Member Profile > Workshop Gallery page 3. Member Profile > Favorites page 4. Workshop Gallery page Remember, you can only add a member’s painting to your Favorites if that member has checked the Favorites permission box.
Question:	> Where can I see my list of favorite paintings?
Answer:	All your favorite paintings will be displayed on your Profile page on the My Favorites tab.
Question:	> Who can see my favorites?
Answer:	Any logged in members who view your profile can see your list of favorite paintings.
Question:	> Can my paintings be added to other member's Favorites?
Answer:	When you upload an image to a Workshop Gallery, you can set the viewing permission for that painting. The default setting is maximum privacy, only members who have joined the workshop can view your painting. If you want to allow members to add your painting to their Favorites list, just check the box labelled: ‘Allow members to add this painting to their Favorites’. This means that other members on the site can select your artwork as one of their Favorites. Your Favorites counter will go up by one and your artwork will display on the Favorites list in that member’s Profile page. Remember: Only allow your work to be added as a Favorite if you are comfortable with the image being shared outside the Workshop group.