Is this a strange/offencive gift?

[moanycoo]

I have a client couple whom ive got to know over a few years. I see them weekly at home.
I got to know and love their Dcat. All our chats were about her, always made a big fuss each week. Cat died, quite young suddenly a couple of months ago. The couple just got engaged.
Here's the question... I am a very amateur artist. I joined a club and have painted the cat. Now it looks quite good, i'm really chuffed. Its not an uncanny resemblance but you can tell its her. Could I cause offence by framing it and gifting it to them as part of their engagement gift? Thoughtful or weird??

Yes. I've also lost pets in old age which for me was more heartbreaking.

My DD's mother-in-law who is quite an accomplished artist painted a picture of my cat and gave it to me as a gift.

It was very kind of her and I really appreciate the thoughtfulness - BUT - it's not my cat. The fur is beautifully done but the face is not remotely like my cat's face. It is a very nice painting of a cat, just not my cat.

So I am left with the problem others have mentioned where I feel obliged to make sure it is on show when she visits but otherwise do not really want to display it

It’s not a competition. Your comment is distasteful. All you had to say is yes. And if you had you’d know how traumatic it is.

I did say 'yes'. I find your comment distasteful.

Sounds a nice thought@moanycoo and I wouldn't be offended... but it seems an odd gift for an engagement gift.... If you do it, then please don't put a note in saying 'this is for your DCAT.' 😬

I'm just messin' 😊 but why do people put D before cat on here, and dog etc???

.

perpetrator..... hahahahahaha

I personally would be over the moon with such a lovely gesture. I am unsure why so many people disagree. You sound like such a lovely, kind and thoughtful person. The world could do with a few more people like you. Just give them your beautiful gift🥰xx

Not offensive, but not suitable for an engagement

What job do you do? I can't understand why all that you and your clients talked about was their cat. It must have been pretty spectacular.

Original art is a lovely gift.

Give them the picture now and I'm sure they'll love it, but defo not as an engagement gift. Engagements are a celebration, it would not be appropriate to gift a picture of their dead cat at this time.

How thoughtful- gift it to them 🥰

It depends whether it actually looks like the cat or not!
If it only vaguely looks like the cat I wouldn't give it to them at all and if it is a good resemblance I'd give it to them but not as an engagement present because that is a bit weird.

Someone made me a poster of a photo of me and my DCat after he died. He died young too. It was a lovely thought but the whole thing was so painful and I haven't been able to hang it up anywhere even though it's a really nice photo.
They might not want or be able to hang up your painting of their cat for that reason.

I would have been really touched by this after my dog died OP, I think it’s a lovely idea

Follow your heart and instinct. If it comes from the heart and they don't like it, thats ok. Up to them

Weird

Don't be silly.

I lost my cat a few years ago and it pains me to look at photos 😢 even if it was the most amazing painting, it might conjure up too many emotions having it put on the wall, and like others have said, they might feel obliged if you visit regularly.
Since you've done it, I would offer it in a casual way but separate from the whole engagement. Maybe they can choose to frame it if that's what they want. I'd be quite touched that you chose to paint Dcat.

Welcome to the world of cats OP 😻
Do you think you might ever succumb to having one of your own?
The card idea is brilliant xxx

why not suitable for an engagment? i just thought a gift is a gift!

Your heart is in the right place but no. Not for any reason other than it could be to soon

The card is a brilliant idea to the pp who suggested it.

I think it’s a lovely idea I imagine they’d be very touched but I don’t know them. Go with your gut, you know them, we don’t

Honestly we need to see it ...😃

Why not forget the painting for a while. If you want to give her an gift, do so, but not the painting. Maybe in six month's time, if you still think it's a good idea, you could mention it.

My DS1's ex GF painted our dog. Its an amateur but wonderful representation of him. They have since broken up and our Darling Dog died. That painting means the world to me.

As a recipient of a painting.I think your gift sounds wonderful.