apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

You have to be REALLY close to someone!

I think these are beautiful, but even if you were designing someone's apartment, you shouldn't surprise them with art. If it's a gift, you'd better have seen them see it, and heard them exhalt it, and they need to have said, "Wow. I have the perfect wall for that, and it would look amazing, but I can't afford it because I have to buy cat food this week, and it will be gone by the time I can scrape up my pennies."

Or something like that.

I really think it depends on the situation. If someone who knew me gave me a piece that they thought really would appeal to my sensibilities (or match my sofa...I know, oh the horror!), I'd really appreciate it--though I think it would always be best to err on the small side...

No offense to the artist, but I'd be really cranky if I got any of these as a gift. Not that they're bad, they're just not me. I think Curtis has the correct idea.

Yup, art is one of the most personal things you can buy. Although you don't have to worry about a physical fit, the psychological/style fit can be so much harder to guage.

In my partners and my gallery we have a $100 or less art sale every December, in which we sell pieces from a wide variety of artists in many different mediums/styles. It's been extremely popular with people buying art as gifts. So along those lines, I think the cost of the piece is also relevent. As mentioned above size is also hugely important. Small pieces that can be juggled around in different living spaces or incorporated into an existing grouping are ideal.

In the end I think it comes down to how well you know the person and how open minded the person is. In general we usually tell people to keep it small, and remember to choose a piece based on their FRIENDS taste, not their own. (something you'd think you wouldn't have to tell people, but nonetheless we seem to need to do all the time)

But, can you imagine getting a 10ft x 10ft painted canvas of a piece you have never seen before and hated, as a gift? Horrifying! What could you possibly do with it?

I must have an ego the size of Texas! Twice i've given HUGE paintings. But I was REALLY close and knew their taste REALLY well (was similar to mine).

But make it SMALL is a good thing to remember!

I have given paintings to my children for Xmas occasionally: they have not complained yet of what I like. Once I give a gift, it does not crush me if they give it away or dispose of it.

My cousin gave me a medium sized piece of art for my apartment when I first moved it. It just so happened to pull on the colors of my place (without her ever having been there) so I hung it immediately.

I might not give someone something as big as what I received, but I think a gift of art has the ability to telling the story of you and that person.

In sum, even if it wasn't "my style" per se, I'd still try and find a place for it. (Unless it was completely gauche or seemed like there was no thought put into selecting it.)

Some of the best and worst gifts I've ever received have been pieces of art. A well-chosen piece of art is an incredibly touching reminder of how well a loved one knows you. A poorly chosen piece of art is a depressing reminder of exactly the opposite.

Don't! I was given a small sculptural piece that I have no where to put and doesn't go with anything. Getting rid of/hiding it is not a current option.

And while I think those paintings are lovely in the abstract, I would hate you for giving me one of them. I don't like them personally, they wouldn't go with my home, and you would be putting me in an awkward position. Not nice gifting.

I bought my partner a piece of art for our new loft last Christmas. It was by an artist we both liked and part of a series we had talked about purchasing from. I was super confident in the gift, but he was dissapointed that he hadn't been able to be part of the selection process. Fortunately, the gallery was very liberal with their exchange/trial policy. It was much more rewarding to select the piece together. And we ended up buying two. A win-win situation.

On the other hand, my boss likes to buy us art and accessories. She takes great pride in "knowing our tastes" and likes to come over and point out all the things she's given us. Little does she know, as soon as she's out the door, it all gets stuffed back into a special section of the closet. We had a "red alert" moment this summer when she did a pop-in. Fortunately we were outside at the time and I was able to find an excuse to go in first for a last minute redecoration. I was throwing things over the loft railing and racing down to place them. My nervous partners' jaw dropped when he walked in and saw the transformation.

I answered "great idea", but I think you get extra points if you made it yourself, and I also like the idea of it being a hideable size. I just feel like people don't buy or display enough original art, even though it can be as affordable as the prints many people have. Any excuse to get people to give money to artists.

I make and give art all the time. And I've never gotten a bad reaction nor would I be upset if the recipient re-gifted it. As long as it eventually makes it into the hands of someone who enjoys it.

I give people art as gifts all the time, but it's always something made by me or my partner. He is a photographer so most of his gifted prints were things people expressed an interest in having. I am a ceramist, and occasionally a piece I make will just instantly make me think of someone when I see it coming out of the kiln, so I give it to them. Now I'm worried people are stashing them away in closets!

Ceramics and photos are easier to give. I myself would love to get and give paintings, but the problem with that is, most art is just really shallow or terrible. There's no way I'm going to put anything that I think looks bad (or just vapid) on my walls. And the great stuff is either hard to find or astronomically expensive. (Although I did once find a homeless person who made the most amazing art.) If you ARE going to spring for the astronomically expensive gift, you definitely should include the recipient in the decision process. They'll love to go to the dealer or the gallery with you to pick out what they like. And some dealers are just such a joy to visit anyway, whether you buy or not.

As a pretty successful landscape photographer, most of my friends and family would love to have a piece of my artwork. However, my mom warned me years ago that giving away one's artwork to friends and family cheapens its value. So I only give artwork as a gift when a major event is occuring in someone's life, i.e., marriage, new home, thank you gift. My advice, if your friends want your artwork, they will have already expressed an interest in it. If they haven't, give something else.

thank you everyone for your thoughts, stories and even worries!
clearly there's no one right answer here. As i've been speaking with people about this question, and listening to you - it seems that two things apply -- giving a piece to someone when they've already expressed/hinted interest in it, is a strong indication of hitting the mark -- unless there is a way to include them in the process of choosing it. Also, being open enough to enjoy giving the gift, as well as accepting an honest reaction and re-gifting/recycling/removing! (be you the artist, Lori, or the mother, Francesca) pretty true with all gifts, be they socks, a sweater or a book. I imagine that all things given with a true heart can eventually find their true recipients!

I have both given and received artwork as gifts and it was always good

Last year we gave good friends a pre-raphelite print - we knew they liked that style and we knew the colourway they were using for their room redecoration and chose appropriately - and they loved it

I've had really good luck giving and getting art presents.

You have that tingly intuition that what you are seeing is just right, while being open to the idea that it is not!

Anyway, I like to get paper-based art gifts for people when I travel. These kind of gifts are light-weight, easy to transport in a tube, and support artists.

p.s.
most of the watercolors shown would make excellent greeting cards

I'm really amused at the people who comment that they've had really good luck giving art as gifts. How can you ever know for sure?

For Josh I'll add that most of the time, I wouldn't buy art for someone. And I wouldn't do it for just anyone.
Here's two and a half examples.

My mom was redecorating her bathroom. I'm pretty well tuned in to her taste. I see stuff at shows and *just know* it right for her. Plus it's just a bit of decor.

Instance #2 was a friend who has a lot of really interesting excellent original art on her walls that I love. Other friends thought it was a bold move for me to dare, but again I just had a feeling about it. I gave her four pieces on paper that I thought she'd like, but made clear that she didn't need to hang them, that she was free to give them away, and that indeed she could give them back to me if she didn't like them or got sick of them. She liked them, she framed them, she gave one to her sister. Three eventually went up, and I know they are not there to please me.

The .5 is when my best friend loved a photo, and I got it/framed it for her. I didn't know for sure she'd want it on her wall, but I had a pretty good idea. Plus I thought it would actually look good in her place. She was delighted when she opened the Xmas present - it came off as especially thoughtful.

All of the above were 20" and under - big pieces would be proportionally more difficult to get right.

So much gift giving is a projection of what the giver wants in one way or another, but if realize that and get past it . . . well, then you have the knack.
: )

On how it doesn't work - this isn't Art exactly but
I gave someone a poster from a museum show because it reminded me of her. It didn't see the light of day. It didn't mean anything to *her* - she hadn't seen the show. It was more about me having a warm feeling about my friend than what she might want. No harm, no foul.

"I'm really amused at the people who comment that they've had really good luck giving art as gifts. How can you ever know for sure?"

Because (with the pre-raphelite example) they spent a fortune getting it framed and it hangs as their main piece of artwork in their living room - and it was clear they loved it the minute they saw it