The loveliest and most meaningful gifts are bespoke! A commissioned piece of art gives artistic freedom to create the vision you wish. This oil painting of Fox Hall was a gift I gave to my husband, Stuart, for his birthday. Our two Jack Russells are now in “biscuit heaven” but live on in the painting. I am wearing a pink gown that I designed for our elder daughter’s wedding reception in Berlin, Germany. In the sky, there are three stars of Orion’s Belt, representing our three children. Helen Galick was the artist, but sadly is longer taking commissions.
What do you give the person who has everything?!
Recently the question, “What do you give the person who has everything” was posed to me. Do you agree that a handmade or bespoke present can be the most meaningful kind of gift? I encourage my children and grandchildren not to buy a gift for me, but to make something instead. These are gifts from the heart, and the ones I cherish immensely. The same concept is applicable when giving a gift to an adult who has everything, wouldn’t you agree? Just knowing the thought, effort, and love that went into customizing a present contributes to making it a treasure. In that vein, if my homemade Grand Marnier pecan pie does not fit the bill to celebrate a notable occasion, I have a go-to, more extravagant gift idea to share with you! It is one that never seems to fail to give joy to the person who has everything: a custom piece of artwork, created just for them!
Our daughter, Caroline, painted this watercolor of our living room at Fox Hall to grace the introduction page of my first book, The Pretty and Proper Living Room.
A custom watercolor, pen & ink rendering, or oil painting of the recipient’s house, garden, interior room, pet, bridal bouquet or something of significance, will be received and become a cherished gift! I am writing about this now in reference to a house painting because gardens tend to be at their peak for flowers and green grass about this time of year, though Connecticut is in a drought, and the grass is brown! Photographs of a house, taken by the artist or you, will enable the artist to better understand what the house looks like in the summer (unless you prefer to feature another season). NOW is the time to commission an artist and take the necessary photographs, especially if you want the artwork completed by the Christmas holidays. This type of gift will be adored forever and ever, especially when created to commemorate a celebratory event such as an anniversary, birthday, marriage, or even a new house.
My parents commissioned this watercolor of my Austrian great-grandfather’s house, Nibelheim, in Tientsin, China. According to my father, who lived there, the artist painted it from a black and white photograph and created a splendid interpretation.
How to find an artist? Ask your friends or an art school for recommendations. I am delighted to share with you three very talented artists:
Emma Schuck is such a brilliant artist and also a joy to work with. She is an Irish born designer who studied at the National College of Art and Design. Upon graduation, she moved to America, where she worked at a textile design studio. Emma is currently working as a custom watercolor artist. Her Etsy shop features custom house portraits, bridal bouquets, and whatever her clients can dream up! Click here to view her website.
Barbara Bellin’s artistic talent and love of architecture drive her passion for commemorating homes, interiors, and buildings. She’s painted over 800 homes, historic buildings, and museums around the world. Barbara’s work has been featured in galleries across the East Coast, The Wall Street Journal, W Magazine, and other publications. Click here to view her website.
Susan Stillman is an accomplished and award-winning artist who is known for her vibrant representations of homes. Her work has been featured in hundreds of publications, including the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. She has a BFA from Rhode Island School of Design, MFA from Brooklyn College and is a faculty member of Parsons New School of Design since 1983. Click here to view her website.
Grandmillennial Tips:
Have the artwork copied and made into fold-over notecards! They can be used to write notes or as lovely invitations.
Be sure that the artist you commission has a painting style that complements the style of the recipient’s interiors… traditional begets traditional!
An alternative to giving a completed piece of artwork is introducing them to the artist and letting them create the artwork vision together.
Keep the colors that are inside the house, or the colors that the recipient loves, in mind to share with the artist, who can then incorporate them into the painting. After all, the painting will be hung inside of the house!
It may be best not to have the artwork framed in advance. I find that everyone has their own particular taste in frames. The recipient will decide where it will be hung, which may require a different style, color, or finish of a frame than what you would have chosen.
Forbidden Faux Pas:
To suggest to the recipient where to hang the painting! Let them choose what they want to do with it and where they want to hang it. It may be quite different than what you have envisioned for it!
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