warnings

This page is not meant to insult anyone's artistic skill, I believe that anybody who can create something pleasing to the senses is an artist... and I applaude those who can make a living at that art. I do, however, feel that when a customer is buying artwork that they are led to believe is created by a talented artist to look a certain way, and are instead getting a product produced by another artist, who may or may not create with the same quality standards, well... this is in my opinion a "crime". It's like being shown pictures of a Ferrari, and having a Chevette arrive in the driveway.

Let me explain;
It has come to my attention over the decade that I've been in the monument industry that many dealers show customers photos of other people's work in order to sell their own. When it comes to etchings, I know for a fact that there are a few monument dealers and funeral homes out there that I "used to" do business with who are still exhibiting samples of my work, when the actual etching is being done by someone else entirely. This practice is devastating to me and my products, and will ultimately hurt the businesspeople who are participating in this farce.

The following are a few examples of other artists' work next to my own, again - I am NOT trying to belittle the work of the other artist, more power to them. I simply want to warn people that sometimes, they are not getting what they expect.

NOT ETCHED BY GREG GUISE

Now, the artist above probably did the best job that they could do, and was probably satisfied with the end result... but the customer wasn't. This leaves only one option; to have the stone retrieved from it's resting place in the cemetery, brought to a facility with polishing capabilities, and having the entire face of the stone re-polished and lettered over. This cost usually falls upon the customer, who was not at fault. They assumed they were going to get a detailed, realistic scene of two favorite vehicles by a body of water under a tree. They were extremely disappointed with the result, and the stone has since been re-polished at our facility.

by Guise

NOT ETCHED BY GREG GUISE

by Guise

The above eagle was apparently approved by the customer, I just want to show the difference between artistic visions of the same subject. If you (the customer) are pleased with the work of the artist, please purchase their work... if not, shop around, there are some very talented artists out here eager to please. To me, upon close inpection, the artist responsible for the eagle on the left above seems to work in a big hurry. This is a problem sometimes, especially during the "Memorial Day" season. But it's still no excuse for poor quality.

by Guise

NOT ETCHED BY GREG GUISE

This comparison shows two extremely different interpretations of a tractor in a field, beware of who is doing your work. Ask questions of the monument salesman you are working with. Know that even if they show you pictures of hand-etchings, they may not be done by the artist they are currently with. Many times, dealers drive through the cemeteries taking pictures of beautiful monuments (and there is no crime in that), but to show them to a customer who naturally assumes that the work came from them... well, that is just plain wrong. And it happens all the time. Make them take you back into their shop, make them show you projects currently in construction, or monuments still on their grounds, that way you can see first hand what kind of product they produce. A visit to the local cemetery is still no guarantee that their firm produced the monuments they show you, anyone can set a monument anywhere (practically), so look around the shop and yard first.

When it comes to etchings, DO NOT TRUST photos. Ask to meet the artist, hopefully he (or she) will be working on an etching at the time, and you can see the quality. Some dealers around Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and Colorado are still using photos of my work to sell etchings of other artists. Help me nail them, ask question after question, you can even give them this website, my address and phone number and request my work. I have the ability to ship my work to all 50 states if necessary, don't settle for something you are not happy with.