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AIBU?

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Original poster

Should I bin my friend's art?

410 replies

Joyjazz · 25/03/2024 20:39

My friend painted me a picture. The sentiment was lovely but I really hate it. It's not my taste and not in keeping with my house. I keep it behind the TV and hang it whenever she comes to visit so I don't hurt her feelings as she is really proud of this piece and spent many weeks making it. I'm moving to a new house and I don't want to be carrying things that I don't like or want to my new home. I want to take the frame and bin the actual painting. She's a good friend and she is likely to visit and possibly ask where the art is.

AIBU to put the painting in the bin?

OP posts:
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7
inkpens · 26/03/2024 14:04

I don't think people realise there is NO kind way to tell a friend that it's not to your taste. They'd probably accept it and not hold it against you but they're going to be deeply hurt.

Hartley99 · 26/03/2024 14:04

You can’t bin it, but she’s out of order if she expects you to hang it or display it in your house. People shouldn’t impose themselves like that. It really annoys me when people lend me a book and then keep asking if I’ve read it. I’ve got a whole pile of books I want to read. In fact, I’ve got books I bought ten years ago that I long to read but don’t have the time for. Same goes for films or even clothes. You can’t impose on people in that way. It’s bad manners.

LadeOde · 26/03/2024 13:57

mnahmnah · 25/03/2024 20:44

Those clumsy removal people…

She will only feel sorry for @OP and quickly paint another one.

idrinkandiknowthings · 26/03/2024 13:52

Awkward. My ex is a superbly talented artist and he turned up one day with a painting of one of my cats. I love my cat but I can't stand animal portraits. I didn't feel like I could tell him though so I ended up hanging it in my hall until we had an argument and then removed it. I wouldn't bin it though, that's harsh.

CuriousBetty · 26/03/2024 13:51

PostItInABook · 25/03/2024 20:47

Why did you accept it if you don’t like it? Just tell her you appreciate the technique, composition, work but the style is not to your taste. Art is a very personal, individual thing. As an artist she should understand.

I think this is the way to go. I would be furious if someone binned or damaged something I’d spent hours on. I’d much rather they give it back to me so that I could pass it on to someone who appreciated it or even keep it myself.

Keeping the frame is the worst option.

If you can’t bring yourself to say to your friend “it doesn’t fit with my idea of what I’m going for in my new place.” Then can you at least pass it on to someone else who would appreciate it?

telestrations · 26/03/2024 13:49

I would give it back and tell her it doesn't suit your new house or you can't find the right spot or just fancy something different

As someone who makes and gives art I would much prefer to have something back then suffered with or binned

Pertinentowl · 26/03/2024 13:47

Oh I loathe being given art. And my husband is a professional artist and I don’t like his stuff either. We are completely eons apart in what we like. Putting up paintings requires so much tact and compromise I’ve given up

ilovesushi · 26/03/2024 13:45

It got lost in the move. Or if you are like me, you just haven't got around to hanging it yet.

ChurchOfSeitan · 26/03/2024 13:44

I do really want to see the actual picture now 😂

mrsdineen2 · 26/03/2024 13:44

Goldenboysmum · 25/03/2024 20:43

Could you hang it in your bedroom the first time she visits, and show her.

Then bin it or whatever, she's not going to expect to see it if she thinks it's in your room.

This is actually genius

ChurchOfSeitan · 26/03/2024 13:43

To be fair when I saw that picture and saw it wasn’t the OP I just assumed they had a name change fail (never watched Friends). It wasn’t until someone pointed it out (fairly quickly I might add) that I realised 😂

StockpotSoup · 26/03/2024 13:04

To explain it in the form of a haiku:

The friend’s art is shit
The Friends art is from TV
That’s the difference.

MaybeRevisitYourWipingT3chnique · 26/03/2024 12:56

I realise that love of art is utterly individual, and its enjoyment fiercely personal; but I can't think there is ANY special piece that somebody has carefully and skilfully toiled over for hours, days, weeks that doesn't thus automatically earn the right to be considered objectively a work of beauty for all and forever.

Should I bin my friend's art?
RicePuddingWithCinnamon · 26/03/2024 12:51

Sorry my childish joke has caused confusion 😩

PossumintheHouse · 26/03/2024 12:51

JustWhatWeDontNeed · 26/03/2024 12:48

Grin Now you're gonna have people even more puzzled! OP has already been reported for doing nothing wrong 😂

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I'm sorry. I'm justifying it as a social experiment. 👹

FamBae · 26/03/2024 12:51

RicePuddingWithCinnamon · 25/03/2024 20:50

Here it is

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Oh Dear!

MaybeRevisitYourWipingT3chnique · 26/03/2024 12:51

JustWhatWeDontNeed · 26/03/2024 12:48

Grin Now you're gonna have people even more puzzled! OP has already been reported for doing nothing wrong 😂

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SHE DID IT ON PURPOSE, LYNN!!!

MaybeRevisitYourWipingT3chnique · 26/03/2024 12:50

I like the idea of linking the painting to a very specific (limited) date or occasion.

If she asks, insist to her that it brings back such amazing memories of that glorious night when you both first met, all those years ago on 29th February, that you so love the excitement and anticipation of hanging the painting up in its special place and weeping with joy as you view it, every time that very special date comes around.

JustWhatWeDontNeed · 26/03/2024 12:48

PossumintheHouse · 26/03/2024 12:41

For those who are confused, here is an actual photo of the OP with the artwork in question.

Grin Now you're gonna have people even more puzzled! OP has already been reported for doing nothing wrong 😂

CustardySergeant · 26/03/2024 12:47

JustWhatWeDontNeed · 26/03/2024 12:35

Bloody hell, OP DIDN'T POST THE PICTURE!! OP POSTS ARE GREEN. WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE ARTWORK!

What has happened on this thread? I feel like I'm in a parallel universe 😂

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It's very bizarre and unusual that there are quite so many confused and bewildered posters on a thread. Sometimes there may be one or two who are skim-reading/not paying attention but on this thread there are loads of them! 😕

MaybeRevisitYourWipingT3chnique · 26/03/2024 12:44

"@RicePuddingWithCinnamonis not@Joyjazz"

As my dear old Granny always used to say to me when I sat on her lap as a toddler Grin

PossumintheHouse · 26/03/2024 12:41

For those who are confused, here is an actual photo of the OP with the artwork in question.

Should I bin my friend's art?
Bumblebeeinatree · 26/03/2024 12:37

If you have one put it in the spare bedroom, she can look at it if she stays over. It is at least a talking point not just another vacuous print.

ForTonightGodisaDJ · 26/03/2024 12:37

oakleaffy · 26/03/2024 12:35

That's nightmarish.
That would freak anyone out.

I'd say it got damaged.

I did an etching of a dog once, in an etching class, and offered one to Mum for free -Mum said ''No thanks'' as it wasn't her type of thing.

{She likes cats}

A small dog etching isn't anything like as hard to live with as a bizarre human form climbing out of its frame.

Edit...It now transpires that the creepy pic isn't the one that OP owns.

Edited
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@RicePuddingWithCinnamon is not @Joyjazz

ForTonightGodisaDJ · 26/03/2024 12:35

SheepAndSword · 25/03/2024 23:31

@SmallIslander it's upthread...if you dare!

@Joyjazz I'm sorry but I wouldn't like that on my wall either

That's not the painting that's from another user.

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