The art of giving art

Gift giving is an act that crosses cultures and even species. To give a gift is to acknowledge that someone matters and holds a special place in your heart and mind.

Gift giving can also be stressful and anxiety inducing. Will they like it? What if they don't? How much should I spend? Is this gift appropriate? Does it express the right sentiment? What if they already have one?

We want the gifts we give to be cherished; to communicate in object form the thoughts and feelings we have for and about the person we're giving the gift to. 

People often think that art is far too personal, too subjective to gift. Not true! If you want to give someone something they definitely don't already have, and something that means infinitely more than socks, art is the perfect gift.

But, there is an art to giving art. Co-founder and curator of Artfull, Jessica Agoston Cleary shares her thoughts on the three most important things to consider when giving artwork as a gift.

1. Start by thinking about the style of the person you're giving the piece to.

Do they wear loud patterns, or is their wardrobe built around a monochromatic palette? Is their home inspired by Scandinavian minimalism or mid-century modernism? Would you describe their interior leanings as classic and timeless, or ultra contemporary luxury? 

2. Don't assume that original art has to cost thousands of dollars.

Depending on your budget, you could spend a large sum of money on an artwork, which might be ideal for a group of friends of siblings who want to contribute to buying a more significant work by an established artist to mark a significant milestone such as a 60th birthday or wedding.

However, artworks by emerging artists, outsider artists, and independent artists, many of whom you'll find on Artfull, range in price from $100 up to $10,000.

Buying the work of these artists now means that there's potential for the artwork to become far more valuable over time. And, the benefit of an original artwork, irrespective of appreciating in value, is that the owner has the pleasure of looking at the work for many, many years. What could be more special for a newlywed couple or a new home owner?  

3. Start small.

Small works that are intimate in scale are always the easiest to incorporate into any home — they could even be small enough to sit on a table or bookshelf, amongst other objects of delight and significance.

Giving a small artwork as a gift should be viewed similarly to giving jewellery — small, precious, beautiful, and something to be cherished for a lifetime. The Mona Lisa for example is a work or modest scale at 770 x 530mm and is one of the most valuable artworks in the Western world.

Unlike jewellery, original paintings, photography, and sculpture artworks don't go out of style or wear out. In fact, they're far more likely to increase in value.

4. Don't be afraid to ask questions

My final piece of advice is to ask questions. Very few people know everything there is to know about art in all its myriad forms and styles. At Artfull, we offer one-on-one consultations to help our clients select the perfect artwork from our extensive online gallery.

During the consultation, you can ask questions as simple as what's the difference between acrylic and oil painting? Or, how do you know if a print is a genuine limited edition print? All the way through to discussing an existing collection and identifying works that will enhance the collection as a whole.

We also facilitate commissions, meaning that if there is an artist's work that you've fallen in love with but it's a little too big, or a little too small, or already sold, we work with you and the artist to create the perfect piece.

Ultimately, regardless of the artwork you choose to give someone special, there's very little risk that they won't thoroughly appreciate the thought and effort you've made to choose a gift full of meaning and beauty that lasts.