You’ve been invited to an event, and you’re trying to decide what to give as a gift. It seems like it should be simple—you know the person well enough to make the decision, right? But what about someone you haven’t met before? Or someone who might not have much of an interest in art? Should you ask them what they like and what they don’t? If so, how do you do that without appearing pushy or rude?

Buying art isn’t cheap
An original painting, especially one from an established artist, can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. While some may balk at spending that much on art for themselves, it’s not difficult to justify when you give it as a gift. The special thing about gifts is that they aren’t really about you—they’re about what you want for someone else. And if there’s anyone in your life who deserves to be spoiled with something nice and beautiful, it’s probably them!

How art can build relationships
One of my favorite gifts to give is a hand-painted piece. It’s an extra special gesture that goes beyond a generic store-bought present and lets your friend or family member know that you care about them, their interests, and what they like. And it doesn’t have to be expensive either.

Consider your relationship
Before you choose a gift, consider what you know about your friend or family member and your relationship with them. Do they have any hobbies? Are they allergic to anything? Is there a special occasion that you need to commemorate? This information is going to come in handy later. Another thing to think about is whether they’re expecting something from you, or whether they’ve told you not to get them anything.

Paintings are forever
A painting is unlike any other gift. Unlike a book, which might be read and enjoyed once, or even multiple times—but eventually becomes dog-eared and lost in a bookshelf, unread for months—or clothes that get worn only once, before ending up in some sort of rag-bag collection—paintings are forever. A painting can be hung on a wall and looked at every day.