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These solicitations speak directly to the notion of paintings as a manufactured commodity that might be mass-produced for a wider market. Since practically all manufacture of consumer items has moved to the Far East, you can't fault those folks for soliciting prospects to keep their "factories" busy, I guess.
The problem (and this really is one) is in the perceptions and the lack of knowledge and taste among people of reasonable affluence who should be avid "consumers" of original artwork, but instead buy prints or knockoffs when they buy at all.
I find it very difficult to believe the output of these sweatshops is in actual competition with professional portrait painters any more than a Chevy Geo could compete with a Lamborghini or a Ferrari in that market niche.
No one who wants an original Mattleson would settle for an oriental "ripoff", and your integrity in stating that you do, indeed, do all of your own work should go without saying as part and parcel of your professional reputation - but with these proposals becoming so prevalent, no doubt it's a good idea to say so!
(I think I'll add that line to my contract.)
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