Published in : Culture and Society, Art

We all have some person in our lives who we love dearly but is impossible to figure out what gift we can get for them.  What can you possibly get the person who seems to have it all or just does not really want anything? They have tons of clothes, jewelry, home items and just cannot be bothered with more clutter in their lives. What can there be left that would really make their day when given to them?  It needs to be something unique and meaningful. How about an original work of art that reflects something meaningful in their lives?

A hand painted portrait signed by the artist, one of a kind art work is not something that would not ordinarily come to mind but it is certainly something that anyone would love. It would be especially poignant if it were a portrait of them with a loved one, such as a spouse, child, grandchild or even a pet. Perhaps it could be painted in a way that reflects an important concept such as ethnic heritage.

Obviously the surprise will be spoiled if you have them sit for the artist but you can  get this sort of portrait done from one or more photos so that the giftee will never have an inkling about what you are planning. The hardest part of course will be to find a reputable artist who has done this work before and has a portfolio that they can share with you. Getting personal recommendations and seeing their work in person is also a good idea.

In order to not merely have a painted version of one photo you might want to find a creative individual who can combine more than one photo or can improvise a background or some details to make this gift unique. You could share this person’s interests and preferences with the artist so that while they will be painting the person from the photo, perhaps they can make the background with a special orientation that would appeal to the person who is receiving the gift or maybe they have a love of the ocean, and the background can be an ocean scene, or if they have a certain ethnic affiliation the portrait can have that feel to it.  If they love modern art or all things quirky find an artist whose portraits have a more modern, maybe even unusual slant.

Start off by looking for an artist in your locale or if you find someone who lives at a distance ask for some recommendation, visit their web site and talk to them a couple time on the phone to make sure they re clear about what you want and when you must have it delivered.  Then stand back and take the complements for being a genius to think of such a thing.