Refund & Cancellation Policy

1. Booking Guidelines & Advance Payment

Active Commission Slots:

To secure an active commission slot and commence the drawing process, a non-refundable advance payment of 50% of the total portrait price is strictly required. Your slot is not confirmed until this advance is received. The remaining 50% balance, plus shipping costs, becomes due upon the final completion of the portrait, prior to dispatch.

Waitlist Slot Reservations:

When all active slots are full, you may reserve a waitlist slot by paying a 25% Slot Reservation Fee (deducted from the total portrait price). This fee holds your place in the queue for the next available batch. When a slot opens up and the artist is ready to begin your piece, you will be contacted to pay the remaining 25% advance. The final 50% balance, plus shipping costs, is due upon completion.

2. The 48-Hour Cancellation Window

I understand that circumstances can change. The cancellation grace period applies only to your very first (initial) payment (whether that is the 50% active deposit or the 25% waitlist reservation fee).

• Within 48 Hours of Initial Payment: If you decide to cancel within exactly 48 hours of making your first payment, you are entitled to a 100% full refund of that amount. The slot will be released.
• After 48 Hours of Initial Payment: Once this window has passed, the initial payment becomes completely non-refundable. Your reservation or slot is locked in.
• Subsequent Payments (Waitlist Clients Only): When your waitlist slot is confirmed and you make the second 25% payment to begin work, this authorises the artist to start drawing immediately. This payment and all previously made payments are non-refundable from the moment of transfer. No new cancellation window is opened. By paying, you are confirming your full commitment to the commission.

3. Completed Artworks & Strict No-Returns Policy

Because every custom portrait is a deeply personal, hand-drawn original artwork created specifically for you:

• All Sales & Deliveries Are Final: Once the final artwork has been approved by you and dispatched, under no circumstances are physical returns accepted.
• Risk of Transit Damage: Delicate hand-drawn artwork requires specialized packaging. Returning an artwork carries a high risk of damage during return transit.
• Non-Resalable Labor: Custom artwork cannot be restocked or resold. The extensive time, labor, and delivery costs invested into creating your piece cannot be recovered.
• Digital Resolution Policy: If your package suffers genuine transit damage (verified through your continuous unboxing video), you do not need to return the artwork. Resolutions are handled directly via framing fee refunds or water damage compensation as outlined in Section 5.

4. Liability & Circumstances During Creation

If, for any unforeseen reason or due to an error during the drawing process, I (Atharva Sherlekar) accidentally compromise, ruin, or am entirely unable to fulfill your commission after work has begun:

• You will be notified immediately.
• You will receive a 100% full refund of all advance payments made (whether the 50% active deposit or the 25% reservation fee plus any additional advance collected), as the failure to deliver stems entirely from an artist-side default.

5. Damaged in Transit & Unboxing Proof Policy

I take great personal care in packing every portrait with rigid backing boards, bubble wrap, and heavy-duty protective packaging. However, because hand-drawn artworks are delicate, the following verification and resolution protocol applies:

Mandatory Continuous Unboxing Video:

To claim any resolution for transit damage, you must record a single, continuous, unedited video from start to finish.

1. Take a photo of the sealed outer box showing the shipping label and send it to me via DM or email.
2. Record the unboxing process continuously without cuts or pauses (placing your camera on a stand or having someone record for you).
3. Inspect the artwork and frame clearly on camera under good lighting.
4. Contact me with the video within 48 hours of marked delivery.

* Please note: If you choose not to record an unboxing video, I cannot verify whether the damage occurred during transit or after delivery, and no refunds or redraws can be provided.

Transit Resolution Guidelines:

• Framed Artworks (Broken Glass or Frame): If the frame or glass arrives damaged during transit but the core drawing is intact, I will promptly refund the full framing charges you paid so you can have it reframed locally. The original artwork is retained by you.
• Severe Water or Liquid Damage: If the package suffers catastrophic water or rain damage during transit that irrecoverably ruins the drawing, I will issue a 100% full refund, and if you wish to have the piece redrawn, I will offer a complete redraw at a 70% discount of the total value of the original commission (meaning you only pay 30% of the total value).
• Folds, Creases, and Accidental Bends: Because all portraits are dispatched inside rigid, unbendable protective packaging, claims for folded or creased drawings are not eligible for refunds or free redraws once delivered.