FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS...
about this fascinating
art form, Ne’Qwa Art and the product line.
Q. How long has
Ne’Qwa art been around?
A. Although some
scholars have dated the Chinese art form of painting on the inside of glass to over 1000 years ago, it was not until the mid-17th
century that it became a prized and collected art form within the imperial court.
Q. What makes this art form unique?
A. In addition to being an accomplished artist,
the painter must master several techniques.
(1) The artist is required to paint through a small opening in the ornament on the inside of the glass.
(2) To
paint in this art form, the artist has to paint in reverse order with the foreground completed first and then finishing with the background
(3) Certain ornaments used are opaque mouth-blown
glass. These ornaments don’t allow the artist to see the tip of the brush and
all painting must be done by “feel”.
Q.
How are they painted?
A. Through a small opening in each ornament, the artist uses delicate brush strokes
to hand-paint on the inside of mouth-blown glass. From outlining to shading to color application,
all work is painstakingly done in freehand. This reverse-painting art form flourished during the 17th century however today there are only
a few artist groups, living in remote villages throughout China, who possess the skill to create
these Ne’Qwa ornaments. We have assembled a group of these artists, at our studio in China, to create these masterful renderings of contemporary life.
Q. Who is the manufacturer?
A.
We are. Ne’Qwa Art has a studio in China and a distribution facility
in Texas. The artists work only for Ne’Qwa Art and
are Ne’Qwa Art’s employees.
Q. How long
does it take to complete a single piece?
A. Depending on the intricacy of the design, and the size of the ornament,
it may take several hours to several days.
Q. What
type of glass is used?
A. All Ne’Qwa Art
ornaments are created using mouth-blown glass. Mouth-blown glass is lighter in weight, better quality and more transparent
than oven molded glass. The exceptional glass quality provides a lustrous appearance bringing out the color and brilliance
of each design. Each piece of glass is etched with the Ne’Qwa Art logo.
Q. Why do the ornaments
have a different look?
A. In some pieces
the glass remains transparent. In other pieces, an iridescent coating is applied. In those ornaments that appear frosted or
non-transparent, the technique of sand-blasting the inner surface is employed to create the abrasive inner surface to which
certain paints can adhere.
Q. What kinds of brushes are used?
A. The brushes are hand-made of a steel wire stem and horsehair
tips. The brushes are slightly bent in order to access the complete surface area of a three-dimensional object. A variety
of tips are hand-formed and used throughout the creation of one piece, ranging from a fine tip for outlining to cotton buds
for shading.
Q. Are
these ornaments just for the holidays?
A.
No. Since these are truly works or art, many of our customers display them year-round using a display stand or in the gift
box.
Q. Can you describe the gift box?
A. Each box is entirely made by hand. Carefully
crafted from sturdy wood and covered in luxurious velour, the padded top opens to reveal a silk-lined padded interior that
both protects and displays its luminous treasure.
Q. Is
the velour gift box included with the ornament?
A. Yes. Each ornament comes with a gift box. The box is perfect
for storing the ornament and also does a great job protecting the ornament during shipping.
Q. How
are these ornaments displayed?
A. Our customers display their ornaments on ornament stands, Christmas trees, or in the velour gift box.
Q. Who designs
the art?
A. All scenes are created by North American and European artists and are licensed by Ne’Qwa Art.
They include Peggy Abrams, Paul Brent, Diane Knott, Barbara Lavallee, D. Morgan, Betty Padden, Steward Sherwood, Susan
Winget, G. DeBrekht, The Edith Collection, Dona Gelsinger, Joseph Holodook, Clare Mackie, Beverly Niffenegger, Michele Palmer,
Nathalie Parenteau, Norman Rockwell, Jim Shore, Fire Cloud Studios.
Q. What kind
of paints are used?
A. The paints used vary from piece to piece. They include the use of watercolor, acrylic,
enamel and oil.
Q. How can I order a custom design or special order?
A. Let our artists create a custom design for you. We can use your photo, your design or they can create a
design for you. Please note there is a 200 piece minimum for custom
orders. Contact us for information about custom orders.
