To not know what to do about this gift :(

[Ifyourawizardwhydouwearglasses]

Oh dear :(

There is a photo in our house of me and my old dogs on the hills behind the house. It's been missing lately but I didn't notice it until recently. I love it and its one of my favourite pics ever.

Anyway, DH came in the other day with a large package. It was a painting of the picture. As a gift for me. It's a LOVELY thought......but the painting is terrible.

It's just....really bad. It looks like a gcse art project. At best.
I look like a weeble and the dogs are just awful - they could be any chocolate labs. In fact, you can't even tell they're labs. They're just brown dogs with back legs that don't bend properly. It looks like a child did it :(
God I feel awful saying this.

I can't even look at it because its a scene that is so personal to me, which has been totally spoiled.
He hasn't had a bill yet from the 'artist' but I'm sure it'll be eye watering.

The artist in question is a family friend (I don't know them, friend of his parents) so to return is as being substandard would cause huge offence all round.

Wtf do I do!?
Obviously I've said thank you very much etc, and I am SO touched by the thought of it, honestly I'm not ungrateful of the sentiment.

But what do I do with the thing? Should I be honest? He said 'its not brilliant is it...?' and he looked so disappointed.

:(

Oh dear :( Not really sure what you can do unless you want to return it and risk offence?

stick it somewhere that you'll never have to see it?

Oh god, bless him, just be ever so grateful - bless your DH, he meant SO well. Please, DON'T diss the picture. Of course, you'll have to display it somewhere (for now ...) so do it with a good heart (although seething inside). Your DH sounds really really sweet, but maybe with not great taste in 'art'. Never mind - it's the thought that counts!

By the way, hope you got your original photo back. Now that would REALLY piss me off, if you hadn't.

Ouch. Difficult that it's a family friend. At least your DH thinks it's awful too.

Do you have any idea what his parents are likely to think of it? Is the artist normally good? Is it at all possible that something's happened to it which has made the paint run or smudge?

"Wouldn't it be an interesting project to commission a couple more versions by different artists?"

Can't you laugh it off together?
Tell him that what he did by getting your fav picture turned into a painting was a bloody lovely thing to do but yes, the picture is shite.

Did the family friend do it as a freebie or charge for it? If it was free, treat it like you would any gift you don't like - day thank you and stick it in a cupboard. If your dh paid for it though, you might have to ruffle some feathers and either get it redone or get a refund.

That's such a shame . We had one of my parents dog done for them and it was absolutely perfect, made them so happy. Could you not say "what a fantastic idea, let's find someone who will do a decent job of it".

As for the family friend I simply would not pay them and would say why, I am pretty ruthless like that though. Maybe why I haven't got that many friends in RL...........

Oh no :(

Your DH has ordered a painting of the photo and by the sound of it, they haven't delivered. I think you (well, DH) have to tell the person who did it that it is substandard.

Is this a money making venture they're trying to run? What if they do rubbish paintings for non-family/friends who aren't nearly so worried about hurting feelings? You'd be doing them a favour in the long run TBH.

Agree with Nickifury and Bodhranbea. Great idea, awful painting, money back.

The 'artist' should really be told tbh. There are quite a few egos out there who honestly believe they can really paint and have the brass neck to charge for their pathetic attempts. Your poor dh has been ripped off.

Does DH think it's a good likeness?

Oh god my BIL and SIL had this problem - one of their mums got a picture of their child done and it was hideous. A4 sized so not massive (and I assume not eye-wateringly expensive but really have no idea).

They hung it up for a couple of years.

It was bloody awful though - even the frame was horrid.

Sorry, just noticed he wasn't impressed.

You'll have to find somewhere not too prominent to put it and put the photo back up.

To be honest I wouldn't pay for it and would be honest why but also am pretty ruthless. Would get it redone by an actual artist.

Any chance of seeing the painting?

Ah, well, if you display it, you'll save someone else from the terrible fate...

Do you have any idea roughly how much it will cost?

I'd probably write off up to £250 to spare my husband's feelings, but depending on the size, frame etc. I'd be having word with the artist before paying more than that. I certainly wouldn't pay more than £600 for a really rubbishy painting.

Any chance of a photo of the thing? Perhaps your opinion is being skewed by your love of the original photo?

i would stress to him what a lovely gesture, lovely idea etc... don't slag the picture off unless he does. but certainly don't say how lovely it is and don't put it up if it is that bad.
you can't go back to the artist, but dh can (and should, but up to him. it was a gift from him so don't interfere).
i would leave it to him. just stress what a lovely IDEA it was etc... so thoughtful.

I'd have a bad accident with it - but then I'm notoriously clumsy.

I need to see it before I make a suggestion.

Could you get a good version done and do a switch before anyone else sees it? To save wider family repercussions.

Thanks for all the replies.
I tried this approach -

Can't you laugh it off together? Tell him that what he did by getting your fav picture turned into a painting was a bloody lovely thing to do but yes, the picture is shite.

He seems ok about it. I still feel awful. He said he appreciated my honesty, and we'd try to find a better artist and not pay over £150 for this one.

Its fucking huge though and it's just sitting in the hall and we keep having to step over it.

I'm just so glad that he got it and not a parent, as at least I can tell him the truth!

Can't post it as it would out me. Rest assured it's not great.

What a lovely thought by DH. So sorry it has turned out badly.
Is this person a professional artist? Trained at art school?
Tbh I'd want to know the price before deciding if I wanted to take things further re perhaps not paying full price.
If it's done in oils then I think you'd be well within your rights to ask the artist to correct the anatomically wrong legs, deWeeble you etc. obviously not possible if it's a watercolour

Something similar happened to us. I think you just have to grin and bear it. It was a lovely thought by your husband, and anything you do to get money back etc will hurt his feelings.