frequently asked questions
Q: What inspires you?
A: I'm fascinated by the colours & textures of feathers & fur & the fun little quirks that make each animal unique. My work combines my love of pop culture, mythology, mysticism, the macabre, Steampunk, cybernetics and the natural world. My cats are my main models (although I adore animals of all kinds), and tiny fat wind-up things make me smile,
Q: How did you develop your painting style?
A: I have over 30 years of photorealistic drawing experience & a BFA in oil painting & photography from Cornish College of the Arts. My cats started getting into the oil paints post-graduation; so for the sake of their health & my sanity, I made the switch to a non-toxic, quick drying, water soluble medium. My watercolour technique is a self-taught process that incorporates my favourite elements of pencil & oil and includes a good bit of trial & error, unpredictability & continued experimentation.
Q: What are your materials of choice?
A: I paint primarily with watercolour & gouache on Arches & Fabriano fine grain cold press watercolour paper. My preferred gouache is Holbein, and my favourite watercolour brands are L'Aquarelle, Daniel Smith, Windsor Newton, Fine Tec & Poems About You's honey-based handmade pigments. I use Kuretake water brushes, super fine point Daniel Smith & Princeton brushes & Micron pens for most of my detailing. I cut my own mats, and I find most of my frames at thrift stores, antique shops & estate sales. All of my painting materials are archival & acid-free.
Q: Why keyholes & gears?
A. The organic & technological worlds are interconnected. Humans & animals & nature & industry all rely on each other to function & survive; and I love imagining the fusion potential of bio, mech & tech. I also believe we hold the keys to our own hearts; sometimes it's just... complicated.
Q: Why cats?
A. Why not? I have 3, and they all model for me. They're cute, cuddly, convenient & they totally pay the rent.
Q: Do you have cat photos?
A: Of course! I'm pleased to introduce Ghost (left), Diesel (centre), & Earl Grey (right). They're frequent features on my social media, and you can visit 'Just Here for the Kittens' on my Patreon for exclusive behind-the-scenes photoshoots with my feline muses.
A: I'm fascinated by the colours & textures of feathers & fur & the fun little quirks that make each animal unique. My work combines my love of pop culture, mythology, mysticism, the macabre, Steampunk, cybernetics and the natural world. My cats are my main models (although I adore animals of all kinds), and tiny fat wind-up things make me smile,
Q: How did you develop your painting style?
A: I have over 30 years of photorealistic drawing experience & a BFA in oil painting & photography from Cornish College of the Arts. My cats started getting into the oil paints post-graduation; so for the sake of their health & my sanity, I made the switch to a non-toxic, quick drying, water soluble medium. My watercolour technique is a self-taught process that incorporates my favourite elements of pencil & oil and includes a good bit of trial & error, unpredictability & continued experimentation.
Q: What are your materials of choice?
A: I paint primarily with watercolour & gouache on Arches & Fabriano fine grain cold press watercolour paper. My preferred gouache is Holbein, and my favourite watercolour brands are L'Aquarelle, Daniel Smith, Windsor Newton, Fine Tec & Poems About You's honey-based handmade pigments. I use Kuretake water brushes, super fine point Daniel Smith & Princeton brushes & Micron pens for most of my detailing. I cut my own mats, and I find most of my frames at thrift stores, antique shops & estate sales. All of my painting materials are archival & acid-free.
Q: Why keyholes & gears?
A. The organic & technological worlds are interconnected. Humans & animals & nature & industry all rely on each other to function & survive; and I love imagining the fusion potential of bio, mech & tech. I also believe we hold the keys to our own hearts; sometimes it's just... complicated.
Q: Why cats?
A. Why not? I have 3, and they all model for me. They're cute, cuddly, convenient & they totally pay the rent.
Q: Do you have cat photos?
A: Of course! I'm pleased to introduce Ghost (left), Diesel (centre), & Earl Grey (right). They're frequent features on my social media, and you can visit 'Just Here for the Kittens' on my Patreon for exclusive behind-the-scenes photoshoots with my feline muses.
Q: Where can I see your art in person?
A: Conventions & galleries! I travel frequently for comic cons, horror shows & cat events, and I encourage supporting fellow small businesses. Check out my Exhibits + Events page for more info on upcoming appearances & visit my Shop Local page to support local galleries & art spaces.
Q: Do you offer original pieces for exhibit and/or wholesale for retail shops?
A: Yes! If you represent a gallery interested in showing my original work, please contact me for scheduling & availability. I also happily offer wholesale pricing for prints, cards, magnets, stickers, enamel pins & washi tape. Feel free to email me with a link to your shop, and I'll send you my wholesale price list.
Q: Do you accept commissions? Can I purchase a custom portrait for a friend?
A: I accept pet portrait commissions on a case-by-case basis as my schedule allows. If you're interested in in a custom portrait, please send me an email & I'll add you to my portrait contact list. You can visit my Pet Portraits page for more info on sizes, pricing & my process.
Q: Can you make prints of the pieces on your Pet Portraits page?
A: No. Prints of client pieces are not available for reproduction or resale without client permission. If you commission your own custom portrait, it will come with a digital file that you can use to make your own prints (for personal & gift purposes, not for resale).
Q: Are you going to paint [insert character here]?
A: Maybe! I paint what I love, so if it's a character I haven't heard of, or I'm not personally a fan, it's not likely to happen unless it's a commission. That said, I receive lots of requests, and the characters are often already on my radar, I just haven't had a chance to paint them yet.
Q: Where do your Art for Charity donations go?
A: I donate 100% of proceeds from original paintings & 50% from prints & cards to the organisations listed in the descriptions of each Art for Charity piece. I started painting koalas in January 2020 to help raise awareness & funds for the Australian bushfire efforts, then wildcats to benefit local animal rescues when the pandemic struck. My current Art for Charity support animals as well as civil rights & socio-economic equality for humans.
Q: Why do you watermark your images?
A: It deters art thieves from illegally downloading, printing & profiting from my work without my consent. Art theft is sadly rampant online & I've had my images stolen more times than I can count. It takes time to track down & report 100's of thieves across dozens of platforms, so watermarking saves me literal days of work each month. It's illegal to use artists' work without our permission & art thieves threaten our livelihoods by exploiting art lovers & stealing sales that would otherwise support actual artists. If you see my work on a site that doesn't properly credit me or link back to my website, it's likely being used illegally. Please let me know if you see my work on a suspicious site so I can file an official DMCA takedown notice.
Q: Do you offer digital downloads?
A: No. I don't license any of my work for personal downloads. Reproduction quality is important to me, and I have no control over how often digital files are printed, or what they're printed on. I've unfortunately had too much experience with online art theft to be comfortable sending hi res digital files to anyone other than my trusted production partners.
Q: What is your stance on NFTs?
A: I don't offer my work as NFTs. I support digital artists having a platform to authenticate & sell digital 'originals,' but the negative environmental impact of current blockchain technology can't be ignored. I'm open to revisiting the possibility in the future if the industry develops a more sustainable model. If you see my work as an NFT, please let me know so I can report it, because it is 100% stolen.
Q: Can I have your piece tattooed on me?
A: I love seeing tattoos inspired by my work! All I ask is that both you & your artist credit me as the inspiration when sharing the finished piece on social media so that we can cross-promote.
Q: Fan Art & Intellectual Property Info
A: My pop culture inspired pieces are based on photos I take of my own cats in imaginary cosplay & the compositions are entirely my own. I respect the intellectual property (IP) of the original creators, and I take care that any fan art I create is transformative & falls firmly under the legally protected categories of parody & fair use.
Q: Copyright Info
A: All artworks on this website are © Braden Duncan (aka Clockwork Art) unless otherwise noted. I do not offer or license my work as digital downloads or NFTs. My art is not free to edit, reproduce (either entirely or in part), sell or otherwise use for monetary gain without express permission from the artist. I encourage social media sharing as long as my watermarks remain intact & proper credit (tagging &/or links to my website) is given. Art is 100% my livelihood, and sharing without credit makes it harder for folks to find & support my work. Thank you in advance for being respectful & considerate when re-posting.
A: Conventions & galleries! I travel frequently for comic cons, horror shows & cat events, and I encourage supporting fellow small businesses. Check out my Exhibits + Events page for more info on upcoming appearances & visit my Shop Local page to support local galleries & art spaces.
Q: Do you offer original pieces for exhibit and/or wholesale for retail shops?
A: Yes! If you represent a gallery interested in showing my original work, please contact me for scheduling & availability. I also happily offer wholesale pricing for prints, cards, magnets, stickers, enamel pins & washi tape. Feel free to email me with a link to your shop, and I'll send you my wholesale price list.
Q: Do you accept commissions? Can I purchase a custom portrait for a friend?
A: I accept pet portrait commissions on a case-by-case basis as my schedule allows. If you're interested in in a custom portrait, please send me an email & I'll add you to my portrait contact list. You can visit my Pet Portraits page for more info on sizes, pricing & my process.
Q: Can you make prints of the pieces on your Pet Portraits page?
A: No. Prints of client pieces are not available for reproduction or resale without client permission. If you commission your own custom portrait, it will come with a digital file that you can use to make your own prints (for personal & gift purposes, not for resale).
Q: Are you going to paint [insert character here]?
A: Maybe! I paint what I love, so if it's a character I haven't heard of, or I'm not personally a fan, it's not likely to happen unless it's a commission. That said, I receive lots of requests, and the characters are often already on my radar, I just haven't had a chance to paint them yet.
Q: Where do your Art for Charity donations go?
A: I donate 100% of proceeds from original paintings & 50% from prints & cards to the organisations listed in the descriptions of each Art for Charity piece. I started painting koalas in January 2020 to help raise awareness & funds for the Australian bushfire efforts, then wildcats to benefit local animal rescues when the pandemic struck. My current Art for Charity support animals as well as civil rights & socio-economic equality for humans.
Q: Why do you watermark your images?
A: It deters art thieves from illegally downloading, printing & profiting from my work without my consent. Art theft is sadly rampant online & I've had my images stolen more times than I can count. It takes time to track down & report 100's of thieves across dozens of platforms, so watermarking saves me literal days of work each month. It's illegal to use artists' work without our permission & art thieves threaten our livelihoods by exploiting art lovers & stealing sales that would otherwise support actual artists. If you see my work on a site that doesn't properly credit me or link back to my website, it's likely being used illegally. Please let me know if you see my work on a suspicious site so I can file an official DMCA takedown notice.
Q: Do you offer digital downloads?
A: No. I don't license any of my work for personal downloads. Reproduction quality is important to me, and I have no control over how often digital files are printed, or what they're printed on. I've unfortunately had too much experience with online art theft to be comfortable sending hi res digital files to anyone other than my trusted production partners.
Q: What is your stance on NFTs?
A: I don't offer my work as NFTs. I support digital artists having a platform to authenticate & sell digital 'originals,' but the negative environmental impact of current blockchain technology can't be ignored. I'm open to revisiting the possibility in the future if the industry develops a more sustainable model. If you see my work as an NFT, please let me know so I can report it, because it is 100% stolen.
Q: Can I have your piece tattooed on me?
A: I love seeing tattoos inspired by my work! All I ask is that both you & your artist credit me as the inspiration when sharing the finished piece on social media so that we can cross-promote.
Q: Fan Art & Intellectual Property Info
A: My pop culture inspired pieces are based on photos I take of my own cats in imaginary cosplay & the compositions are entirely my own. I respect the intellectual property (IP) of the original creators, and I take care that any fan art I create is transformative & falls firmly under the legally protected categories of parody & fair use.
Q: Copyright Info
A: All artworks on this website are © Braden Duncan (aka Clockwork Art) unless otherwise noted. I do not offer or license my work as digital downloads or NFTs. My art is not free to edit, reproduce (either entirely or in part), sell or otherwise use for monetary gain without express permission from the artist. I encourage social media sharing as long as my watermarks remain intact & proper credit (tagging &/or links to my website) is given. Art is 100% my livelihood, and sharing without credit makes it harder for folks to find & support my work. Thank you in advance for being respectful & considerate when re-posting.