Original art is one of the most personal things you can give someone. After more than 20 years at Gibson Fine Art, I’m cautious about it.
The Short Answer
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Buy original art as a gift only when you know something specific about the recipient’s taste, such as an artist they follow or a subject they love.
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If you’re unsure, give a gift certificate or bring them to the gallery.
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For a wedding, I usually lean toward something around 24 x 24 inches or smaller.
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For a retirement, give a gift certificate unless you know their taste very well.
Why Art Is Different From Other Gifts
Someone has to live with it.
They see it every day, on their wall, in their home. That makes original art very different from most gifts.
The question is not whether you like the piece. It’s whether they will.
Where It Goes Wrong
It goes wrong when the buyer chooses something they are personally drawn to and assumes the recipient will feel the same way.
That’s easy to do with art, because our reactions to it are so personal.
The better question is: what do I know about what this person responds to?
Where It Works
It works when the recipient already has a connection to an artist or a subject.
At Christmas, someone often comes in looking for a work by Angela Morgan because their partner already loves her work. In that situation, you already know there is a connection.
The same is true if you know someone loves coastal scenes, landscapes, florals or sunflowers. You are choosing something they already respond to.
If You’re Not Sure, Let Them Choose
A gift certificate lets the recipient choose the artwork themselves, which is the best part of the process.
We offer gift certificates at Gibson Fine Art. They also work well when friends or family want to contribute toward a larger piece.
Or Make Choosing Part of the Gift
If you want something more personal than a gift certificate, bring them to the gallery for a special tour.
If you let us know in advance, we can provide the wine and the atmosphere, and we would love to be part of it. It becomes an event, something they will always remember.
What About a Wedding Gift?
For a wedding, I usually lean toward something around 24 x 24 inches or smaller. A work that size can go almost anywhere, so the couple can move it as their home changes.
It may also be their first piece of original art. For some couples, it starts a tradition of buying one piece every anniversary.
If you’d rather give something larger, gather friends and family to contribute toward a gift certificate. The couple can then choose something they both love.
What About a Retirement Gift?
Unless you know the person’s taste very well, give a gift certificate.
A retirement is a good moment to give someone the freedom to choose.
What I Ask When Someone Wants to Buy Art as a Gift
I ask a lot of questions.
Is there an artist they already follow? A subject they love? Do you know what they are drawn to? Couples often have a good sense of each other’s taste, and when they do, the conversation is easy.
When they don’t, we find another way.
Know Their Taste, or Let Them Choose
Original art can be a wonderful gift, but it is a very personal one.
If you know their taste, go ahead. If you don’t, give them the pleasure of choosing.
The best gift is the one they would have picked themselves.