How to buy art as a Christmas gift

Thinking of buying a piece of art as a Christmas gift? Art is one of the most thoughtful and personal presents and can be a great way of celebrating a special day; whether it’s Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Christmas, a birthday, christening or wedding.

For the lucky few, buying a gift for a loved-one is a simple business. An exciting, original and heartfelt idea springs to mind, the gift is purchased hassle-free, wrapped with a flourish and delivered to the recipient on-time.

But for some of us, it’s something that needs thought, a little time, forward planning and most importantly, some great inspiration. Luckily we’ve got some top tips to help you pick the perfect prezzie for the art-lover in your life, or yourself!

Think about their style

Think of the personal style of the person you’re buying the gift for. What does the interior of their house look like? Are they a minimalist who may like a drawing with clean simple lines? Or a fashionista who would love a colourful pop art?

Think about the practicalities of their home. Buying a delicate sculpture for a family home full of pets isn’t the best idea; nor is buying a big work for a small home.

Spending some time thinking about their taste in colours, mediums and size will really help with the decision and make sure you aren’t secretly buying for yourself!

To frame or not to frame?

Don’t forget you’ll need to factor in some time and budget for framing. Or, if you know the recipient would want to choose a frame themselves, this gives you a little more budget to play around with.

Again, considering what they already have in their home is a good starting point — do they favour artfully unframed pieces or is their current artwork all framed? If framing is the mode of choice, are they ornate or simple frames?

Get personal

Be thoughtful and think of happy memories you’ve shared to inspire your choice. Had a holiday together to somewhere exotic? A surreal landscape painting may work. Do you all love long walks in the park? A painting of a beautiful garden may appeal.

Taking inspiration from your shared past or things you know they love will really help you to hit the ground running and get some ideas flowing.

Set a budget

Whilst we understand that you may see an incredible piece and know it’s perfect for your loved one, do set a budget.

If you’re shopping online, remember to check the description to note whether you are looking at framed or unframed artwork. If you want to gift art ready-framed, ensure to factor in the time and cost it will take to do this.

Get family and friends involved

If you have fallen in love with a piece but your budget doesn’t quite stretch, don’t be afraid to get the whole gang involved. Another family member might be struggling to come up with a gift idea, and relish going halves, thirds, fourths or fifths on the perfect piece. Likewise, Christmas or a big birthday is the great time to group together with your whole family to invest in art.

Consider your timeframe

Art isn’t traditionally the sort of thing you can grab at the last minute as the shops are closing… so plan ahead, contact the gallery in plenty of time, and make sure you have enough time to pick the work up, or have it delivered to avoid disappointment.

Talk to the experts

You’d be surprised how a chat with a gallerist could help with your ideas. If you’re stuck, they may have a few ideas of their own! What’s more, if you do opt for a piece that doesn’t quite fit the bill, then they will probably allow you to return to the work, or try another piece.

Don’t forget the kids

Buying an artwork for a child is a really special gift – memories of the pictures on the walls of our childhood bedrooms stay with us forever; and depending on the work, it might grow in value as the child grows too. A piece with bright colours, lots of people, or their favourite animal would make a lovely gift.

We hope these tips help you find a gorgeous gift! Christmas… We’re ready for you! If you’ve got a special day or anniversary coming up in the future, our Fairs are a great place to find that special piece.