This is a special time of year, and as artists, we have the benefit of being able to create something beautiful for our friends and family. Sometimes, painting a master copy of a loved one’s favorite painting, or creating a scene that they would love for their home (a landscape, seascape, floral....) would make a great gift for this season of giving.
More importantly, finding a nice frame would put the final touches on your work of art. I have a funny experience to share.
About 10 years ago, when I was just coming into my own as a professional artist, my older brother, Bill, sent me a condescending email about my artwork (he was trying to be funny). As I recall, it included a picture of Monet’s "Bridge at Argenteuil" and he said “I did this on my day off, how do you like it?” I commented back to him and told him that his painting looks quite nice hanging in the National Gallery of Art and that I had no idea he was so talented. My brother was being sarcastic because the images I had sent him of my paintings had caught him a bit off guard. We live in different states, so we don’t see each other often. He had no idea I was a dedicated artist.
That was 2 weeks before Christmas. I printed off an image of Monet’s painting, painted it in less than 8 hours, let the surface dry over a couple of days, purchased a frame (the painting was a traditional size canvas based on the size of the original painting by Monet), and shipped it to him for Christmas. “Merry Christmas Bill! ....you stinker. I will never forget his reaction when he called me to tell me he had received a package from me. “What’s this?” he says. I told him to open it while I had him on the phone. As I sat there listening to him mumble and opening the box, I couldn’t help but smile when he voiced his reaction.... “You’ve got to be kidding, right? This is beautiful! What did you do? ...buy a copy of the painting at the National Gallery of Art?” “No, Bill, I painted it for you on my day off.” My brother has never questioned my abilities as an artist since that Christmas and has been one of my most vocal supporters.
You have to understand our family to understand our strange sense of humor I suppose, but regardless, it was funny, it was a Christmas gift he will not soon forget, and Bill has it hanging proudly in his home after all these years.
Memories like this can’t be bought, and that is why “sometimes” (not all the time, obviously), but sometimes, creating a work of art for a friend or family member can be the perfect gift - and filled with memories for years to come.
Susan
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