10 Tips for Buying Art as a Gift

Art makes lovely personal gifts for family and friends, get it right and it’s a gift that can last a lifetime! Something the gift recipient can go on to appreciate and treasure for years to come. Art can add that personal touch to any space as well as inspire us and evoke emotions. However art can be very personal and it is worth taking a few things into consideration when buying art as a gift.

Luckily buying art has never been easier, with lots of options to buy art online or directly from local artists. We have put together a list of things to think about when buying art as a gift, taking all budgets into consideration. We have also included an some art gift ideas from our own collection.

10 Tips for Buying Art as a Gift 2 Colours

1. Be Personal…

Think about the gift recipient taste and interests. If you know the person well, you can probably trust your instincts, and buy something that you think they would like. If you need bit of help choosing, look at any art the recipient have on display in their home already, to see if you can find something in a similar style. What is their interior decorating style? Do they like vintage, modern, maximalist or minimalist interiors? Make your art gift all about the recipients taste!

2. Think About Colours….

What colour schemes does the gift recipient have in their home? Do they have a favourite colour? Black and white art is a safe bet, if you are not sure what colours they like. Maybe consider buying brightly coloured artwork for someone that need a bit of cheering up? Calming colours will work well in bedrooms and more invigorating colours might do better in office spaces or living rooms. Rainbow coloured artwork will brighten any home!

3. Think about Size and Space….

Does your gift recipient live in a small flat or big house? Where would they hang the artwork? You will have to think about this when you choose the size of your artwork. For a student, a smaller print might work better. For a big house with lots of empty walls, maybe choose a bigger size for a big impact.

4. Art as a Memento…

Buy art as a memento. Make your gift an artwork that remind the recipient of a special occasion, a person, or time in their life. Maybe the artwork could be inspired by a trip you’ve shared? Some other ideas: art depicting the area they live in or a favourite city, artwork to remember their wedding day or other special dates, a from a music festival they have been to, an artwork to remind they of you, or someone else special to them. A lot of artist now offers personalisation of artwork and you might want to consider adding dates or names to the artwork.

5. Consider Interests or Hobbies….

For art gift ideas, do consider the recipients interest and hobbies. Maybe they have a special interest such as travelling, music or architecture. Maybe buy some moon or celestial prints for someone with an interest in astronomy? Or illustrations of famous buildings for someone interested in architecture…

6. Set a Budget

Art prices can vary greatly depending on what kind of art you are looking to buy. It might be worth setting a budget before staring your gift search. There will be big difference between buying art prints online, at a gallery or an art commission directly from an artist. However, nowadays it is easy to go online and buy affordable artworks to fit any budget.

Prints

Prints make great gifts as they are often more affordable than original art. For digital prints go for giclée print (high quality inkjet prints) for the best quality. Lino cut or screen prints are other art print options. Limited edition print will usually be a little more expensive than open edition print runs. Digital print often come in standard sizes so framing will be easier cheaper to frame.

Original Art Painting and Drawing

Original art is great as they are a truly unique one-of-a-kind gift. Original artworks are generally a bit more expensive than prints, but works by up-and-coming artist can be surprisingly affordable, and they might even increase in value once the artist becomes more established. If you really want to get an original piece of art, but you can’t afford the price of painting, consider buying a drawing or sketch by the artist you like, as they might be a bit more affordable.

Downloadable Art

If you have your own printer, you could consider buying a high resolution digital download art file to print at home. Use good quality paper and photo setting on your printer for best results. This is definitely one of the most affordable ways to give art as present! Consider getting a frame with a mount. Mounts can really make the artwork stand out and look amazing.

7. Where to buy Art?

Online

Buy art from artist own websites, on online art markets such as Etsy or Artfinder, or in museums and galleries online gift shops. Have a look on social media to find new and upcoming artists and designers. Many artists sell their work directly through Instagram. You could look in different hashtags to find local artists or certain art styles. Facebook groups can also be a good place to find local artists. You could always ask if someone has any recommendations for artist in your area.

In person

To buy directly from an artist look out for Artists Open Studios, where artists will normally have a selection of art for sale at affordable prices. Art galleries and exhibitions are great for finding work by more established artists, but the price will usually be a little higher. Framing shops will often have a selection of artist from the local area and small independent gift shop sometimes also stock local artists. Or why not find a local craft markets or art fair to visit and buy art directly from the artist there.

8. To Frame or not to Frame?

Is it best to give framed or unframed artwork? This will depend on your budget and how you are planning to get the artwork to the recipient. The benefit of giving a framed artwork gift is that it’s ready to hang immediately when opened, however it is a bit more fragile and heavy to transport. Unframed art is great for shipping and the gift recipient can choose a frame style that they like. A lot of art prints are sold in standard sizes and you (or the gift recipient) can easily find off-the-shelf ready frame.

9. Commissions

A commissioned artwork will make the most unique and special gift. To commission an artwork to give as a gift, get in contact with an artist you like to see if they are open for commissions. If you need the artwork for a particular date, do make sure you contact the artist well in advance of that date. Make sure to agree on a brief, a budget and a timeframe at the start, to make the commission process as smooth as possible. To read more about how to go about commissioning art, see our handy guide here.

10. Gift card / Voucher or Art Subscription

If you really can’t decide on what artwork to give, but you know the recipient would love a certain artist, then consider giving them a gift card or voucher. That way that the gift recipient can choose their own pieces from the artist’s online shop. Some places even offer art subscription packages, where the recipient will keep receiving art gifts through out the year! A brilliant idea for someone moving into a new house perhaps? Gift cards are also a great last minute gift!