Many people shopping on ebay are looking for a great deal...but how can you tell if a piece of "hand-painted" furniture is a one-of-a-kind piece actually created by an artist? Price, for one.

For the fans of true hand-painted furniture, owning a piece of this re-emerging artform is worth the higher pricetag. They know who the artist is who painstaking spent many hours perfecting each piece, picking out the right shades of the right colors, whose imagination turns an ordinary furniture form into a whimsical world of imagery. The artist has to factor their time, materials and the overhead costs of their studio and insurance into the final price of the artwork. Still, the hourly rate of today's artist is still often low and is a good deal for the consumer for such a lovely heirloom piece for their family or art collection.

Custom painted furniture is the ultimate in this category. Hand painted furniture artists solicit ideas and a color scheme from their client, then often come up with a rough sketch of what they have envisioned for the piece. Once the client agrees to the idea and pays a deposit, the artist will get to work on either a piece of furniture supplied by the client, or found for the client.

Prior to the start of the project, the client and the artist should discuss who will be responsible for any repairs needed to shore up any loose parts, if the piece is old or worn. Next comes sanding and priming, followed by at least two coats of each base color, all of the fine-detail decorative painting, and finally a durable, non-yellowing clear coat to protect the artwork.

Artist Aimée K. Wiles of Blue Sky Cottage (see her ebay store Blue Sky Cottage Art and Home Decor) prefers the use of latex and acrylic paints, followed by at least three coats of clear Polycrylic for her topcoat.

"Water-based paints with soap and water clean-up are my preference for their safety and ease," Wiles says. "Many of my clients order furniture for their children, so I am careful about the materials I use both for their health and mine."

Wiles loves to dream up creative pieces that will delight their owners every day. “Bringing more happiness into the world and helping people to feel good is one of my highest priorities.” LINK TO BLUE SKY COTTAGE:

http://stores.ebay.com/Blue-Sky-Cottage-Art-and-Home-Decor_W0QQcolZ2QQdirZQ2d1QQdptZ0QQfclZ4QQftidZ2QQtZkm

See examples of hand-painted furniture and home decor items at the following links:

WHIMSICAL HAND-PAINTED ORIGINAL ART CHECKERBOARD GAME !

Item number: 4408693456

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4408693456&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1

WHIMSICAL 16 INCH HAND-PAINTED SALT& PEPPER SHAKERS !

Item number: 4398341100

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4398341100&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1

WHIMSICAL DIVA GIRLFRIENDS DIAMOND HAND-PAINTED PLAQUE!

Item number: 4404620403

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4404620403&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1

For more questions about the art of hand-painted furniture, please email blueskycottagegifts through ebay.