Why I Often Choose to Give Away My Paintings as Gifts to Friends, Colleagues, and Family

Whenever I think about giving a gift to my friends or family, I often wonder: would they really appreciate a painting made by me? After all, not everyone collects art, visits galleries, or even talks about paintings in their daily lives. But the more I reflect on it, the more I realize that a handmade artwork is one of the most meaningful gifts I could offer.

Art as a Personal Gesture

A painting isn’t just pigment on paper or canvas. It’s hours of thought, patience, and emotion distilled into color and form. When I give a painting, I am offering more than an object; I am sharing a piece of myself. Even if the recipient doesn’t think of themselves as an “art person,” they often see the effort, the intention, and the heart behind it. That is what makes it special. I have given quite a few paintings of mine in the past, mostly A4 to wallet-size and the recipients tended to give me a heartfelt “thank you” messages, one even told me that she loves it because it’s like I’ve given her a piece of myself. I have so much respect for that person that’s why her words mattered a lot and brought warmth to my heart.

Tonight after I had just painted a landscape art inspired by another painting (to understand the techniques) I got off Pinterest page by Amparo Isabel Reina Zegarra, I rested my hand and looked at my practice piece and asked:

Are humans naturally drawn to art?

Across cultures and centuries, humans have always turned to art as a form of expression—from the earliest cave paintings to patterned textiles and folk weaving, from grand murals to today’s digital illustrations. Our brains are naturally wired to recognize patterns, respond to beauty, and feel emotion in the presence of imagery. Even those who claim they “don’t understand art”, and I counted myself among them before discovering watercolors and other media, still respond instinctively to it. We hang photos on our walls, notice colors that brighten a room, or feel stirred by a melody. I’ve seen this in my own children: as babies, they were easily soothed by music and my singing, and today, they show a genuine joy in listening to and playing music. In that sense, I believe appreciation of art is deeply human. Not everyone expresses it through collecting or museum-going, but it lives in the everyday ways we engage with sound, color, and form. But if this were the case, I wonder:

Why do fewer people visit museums or art galleries these days?

My family loves going to the museum and I noticed that there are less and less people visiting art museums. I have passed by art galleries in malls and they are often empty. Is it because there’s a general notion that paintings, for instance, are often expensive, and that only the elites could buy them?

It’s true that museum attendance has declined in many places according to ChatGPT when I asked this thought-provoking question. It added that it doesn’t mean people value art less. Instead, it reflects how society has changed:

• Digital platforms make art more accessible, instantly, on our screens.
• Street art, murals, and pop-up galleries bring creativity into daily spaces.
• Busy schedules and high ticket prices can make traditional museum visits harder.

People might be spending less time in grand museum halls, but they’re still connecting with art in new and diverse ways.

A Painting as a Timeless Gift

This is why giving a painting is powerful. Unlike store-bought gifts that may fade in use or fashion, a painting carries memory and personal meaning. It becomes a reminder of the relationship between giver and receiver, a story hanging on a wall. Even if someone has never bought a painting for themselves, receiving one as a gift can open a new way of seeing and appreciating art.

For me, this makes painting the most personal and lasting gift I can share. It says: I thought of you. I made this with you in mind. This piece of my time and imagination now belongs to you.

And that, I believe, is a kind of gift that never loses its value.

Photo below is last night’s painting inspired by another artwork from the aforementioned’s Pinterest account: