Should I bin my friend's art?

[Joyjazz]

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?

Ha ha. My in-laws have being doing this with one of their friend’s art for 40 years.

they’re still friends, and value the friendship- just hate the painting. Not sure the friendship would have lasted if they’d chucked it.

Has it!?

Yes, and it wasn't posted by the OP, but by another poster as a joke. It's extraordinary how many people on this thread have been confused by it. There was no need to report it!

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I've de-reported it. Sorry.

Take it with you and hang it in your bedroom. Your friend sees it when you show her around on her first visit. And then she'll never see it again, so after a while you can quietly bin it.

Oh. Um, well, yes - that is pretty awful. It looks like the sort of thing that you'd stick pins in to hex someone.

I think it would be rude to get rid of it and worse to bin it but keep the frame. Hurtful, even though it's hideous.
My suggestion is to keep it in a less prominent place downstairs (but not the bedroom) but with another (nice) picture fastened over the top of it. That way you don't have to look at it day to day and when she comes round you can quickly whip the nice print off the top of it.
In time some mishap may befall her picture.

Don’t report me. I am scared of MNHQ.

Sorry. You've gone over the line.

Why not take it back to her house and say "I am so sorry, but this just won't fit into my new house. I have enjoyed having it but now is the time to let go......"
I would also indicate you are planning an extremely minimalist decor in order to avoid a replacement.

Wow wasn't expecting it to be quite so awful, I'm totally with you on the taste thing , but she did it for you because you are her friend, so I would say put in your bedroom and show her it there then stick it up.in the attic ,you never know, might be worth something one day 🤣
I have opposite problem someone painted me a picture, I like the picture but don't like the person much anymore (long story) . I'd throw pic in bin not to be reminded of person, but too nice a picture, nothing special but like the colours

For pity's sake, surely people are just on the wind up at this point?!

We had one of these "artists' in our friendship group. Loads of us had utter shite in our walls for fear if offence.

Once she made miniatures on easels for the whole team at work and we had to have them on our desks until thankfully she left.

The worst bit was not how bad her art was, it was how much she rated herself as an artist to the extent of patronising anyone else's artsy efforts.....

She also fancied herself as an amazing Baker and when we did team bake off brought in a really mediocre cake which again, no one cares about, because we were all bang average in our efforts... but the way she went on.... ugh...

I speak as someone who has quite a few pieces of lovely art from friends on my walls... made with love and really beautiful, so I don't expect expensive gifts, I love home made... but don't pass off an abstract that looks like the toilet from Trainspotting as the perfect complement to the neutrals in my freshly decorates lounge.

In many other ways than being a pompous self congratulatory artiste.... she was also a total nob.

I would be wary of choosing art for someone else, but I have been given some things done by a friend and I absolutely love them. She gave us some coasters and a painting and they make me smile every time I see them. Art should be a joy to both the creator and the recipient, though, so it is always a risky option.

Surely moving is the perfect time for it to be 'damaged during the move' but only say that IF she brings up the painting.

Ok here’s what you do. I’m a professional artist and I suspect your friend might be new to the business because no serious artist would take it upon themselves to give a piece to someone who was not begging for it. If you have not pleaded with her to paint you a piece or commissioned one then why she is gifting it is - because she’s amateur. Never in the field of brushes have so many amateur artists thought they were so good. They talk about mental health and no confidence etc, well Facebook is chockablock full of crap art, big egos with all their friends liking it and saying it’s amazing. If she went to art college she would have trained and known about critique etc. It’s just so awkward giving away your art if someone hasn’t said ‘please can I have this one!’

So, get an a4 small canvas, thin edge deep edge whichever you prefer. Find an image off Pinterest you like, can be anything, abstract, the colours you like etc. Then say, I’m moving, this piece won’t go in any of my rooms and I know how long you spent on it, can I swap it for this (tiny blank canvas) and can you do me this on it. That way she comes away with her own precious art to admire and also with a special commission! And maybe she’ll grow as an artist!
Now if she’s not getting this, get a big canvas, have a go yourself and gift that to her. See if she displays yours? Maybe the penny will drop. Definitely don’t chuck it, if she loves it, she’ll love it back with her.

Personally I couldn't be mean enough to bin it. I would probably carry on doing what you already are and just hang it up when she comes over

lol. That’s not the art. It’s from the TV show friends 😂

If she asks can you not just say, "well we didn't feel it was really in keeping with the decor but we were really touched by the effort you went to so we've still got it, we've put it in [safe but not visible place] for safe keeping. Sorry, I know it might seem rude not to have it on display but we really were thrilled that someone would go to the trouble of hand painting something for us."
it's not a lie

Sorry OP. Can't help.but think of this ep of Friday night dinner

Rottweilermummy "Wow wasn't expecting it to be quite so awful"

The OP has not posted a photo of the picture this thread is about. Only pictures of paintings from sitcoms (in which someone had a similar dilemma) have been posted by other people.

I came here for this comment 😁
If it is indeed Gladys, get that legless witch outta here! 😁

That's Gladys from Friends lol

Offer it to her back. Explain you are not going to be able to keep it as moving and want her to have it back so that she can gift it to the next person to enjoy. Explain you have taken pictures of it and will get a small print made of the photogrph to hang as you love it so much but will sadly not be able to bring it with you and you would like the next person to enjoy it as much as you did.