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.

:(

This is really tough! DP gave me a blown up photo and DD and me but put it in a really odd black frame the kind you would use for a funeral - it's very weird I can't quite describe it. I smiled through my teeth, put it up in my office and avoid looking at it.

I feel your pain. MIL's wedding gift to us was a picture of the place we got married. She kept stressing that it was painted by a well-known, local artist. It's awful. Like a bad hallmark card, with animals as lifelike as your dogs. We just couldn't hang it up (we know we have to) - luckily the glass broke in one of our moves and we've managed to put off fixing it but it's starting to get awkward now. She asked every time she comes to visit so it's in being framed. I really don't know what we're going to do with it! Like you, it was so thoughtful of her and I really appreciate the sentiment. And I'm sure it wasn't cheap. Hmm.

Well at least I'm not alone!
If I've learned anything from this thread, it's that having a painting commissioned does not a good present make.......

DH made a bizarre print of the three of us (us plus DS when he was a toddler). It was a nice picture originally, then he photoshopped it so DS was in colour and we are in black and white and had it framed for me. I hate it, it looks really freaky. It's been on the dining room mantelpiece for 10 years now with smaller pictures strategically hiding it. Also I've just been up to the loft and stepped guiltily over a print he bought me about 10 years ago and that has never seen the light of day, it's horrible. He knows about the print but I've never said anything about the photo as he did it himself.

OP. I could have written this post 20 years ago.

I had a short lived and very intense romance with a proper right on guy.

We went to an opening of an exhibition of his friends paintings. To say I was blow away by his beautiful work would be an understatement.

On my birthday,he produced this what I thought to be one of these lovely paintings, wrapped in brown paper.

With baited breath I hastily unwrapped it to find this:

BlueBrightBlue I can't see anything?

MrsWolowitz I read this
My DH bought me a sketch portrait of my favourite picture of the DC for my 30th as

"My DH bought be a sketch portrait of my favourite DC" - I thought well at least she's honest!

Neither can I!

this story reminds me of this

so, it could have been worse, eh?

Blue Did you unwrap it and find nothing?

I think Boots do photos on canvas. Is that an option as it would be better than what you have?

Don't lie and say you love it to the artist. They need to be told if they are shit. Did they actually see the photo or just go on your DH's description?

Oh dear. A friend had a similar thing. Presented with a painting of the DC by a family friend and it was really bad, though done with love. I have never seen it up in any of their subsequent house moves.

I'll try again

I cant see it either blue

Your husband deserves much thanks for the idea, OP. it sounds as though you've given it.

He also deserves your appreciation for admitting 'it's not great.'

As for what to do? Many good suggestions, and depending in money available this could turn our to be a marvelous bit of family lore--hang it loud and proud (next to original photo, which I bloody well hope you have in your possession!), hang it only when the family friend artist comes around (and laugh about your scurrying).

Many options, but it sounds as though you ha e a good relationship with your husband, so the only advice I'd give is that you let him know how much you appreciate the effort.

Would also love to see the wonky leg dog picture too - pleeeeeeaasse?

Oh dear. Family member did this for us, commissioned a portrait from a photo of our children. It wasn't awful, but not great, they looked like children at least just not ours! Daft thing was though that my husband can paint and had already done a ( much better) one.

We hung it politely for a year, now it's in the attic.

What a lovely thought.

Unfortunately I too have this problem. except it's of my pfb and it's fucking awful

I couldn't possibly post my recommendations without seeing the offending painting.

Please?

Awkward if it is a family friend. However, if you have commissioned a painting from an artist and it is poorly executed, you are well within your rights not to accept it.

You really need to speak to the artist - I would imagine that most artists who undertake commissions for clients would be very open to such conversations. After all their interpretation of the image, may not be what you commissioned them to do.

I would be very interested in seeing the painting. If the standard of work is poor then all the more reason to go back. If it has been painted in acrylic then alterations can be made, however, not possible really if it is a watercolour.

I want to see the picture too. G'wan!

What a lovely thought and it went so wrong. What a pity.

Could he give the painting as a gift to his parents, as it's their friend ?

Inertia, your regifting idea gave me the giggles. Thanks, I needed a chuckle.

Blue, I really want to see your gift. If you can't post it here, maybe post to free pic hosting site and link? Gwan, you know you want to...

Blue, are you trying to post from your phone? I've tried that before and failed to post pics. Had to use the desk top computer in the end.