Your friend's aunt is a Sunday afternoon painter. So when you have some sort of occasion warranting a potential gift, you get a sampling of her work. What do you do? Do you like it? Do you feel like you have to like it? Is she actually any good? What if there is evidence of some technical skill but you really aren't interested in it whatsoever? Clearly there is no problem if you do appreciate the work in question, but if that is not the case, a potentially akward social dilemma has hatched.
Of course, you want to maintain your friendship and not hurt any feelings. Here's where tact and sensitivity rule the day. After the event has passed, then comes the question of where to hang the painting. If your friend stops by frequently, hopefully you can come to some sort of understanding. If not, you might be able to get away with the "stairwell to the attic gallery", or something similar.
But what about being on the artists end? For those of us consistently producing something experimental and heartfelt, we sometimes end up with extra inventory, right? Based on the above scenario, you can guess that I'm not the sort to foist artwork on any friends if they have something to celebrate. I've discovered that the real questions might be: What would be a blessing to them? Or, would they be interested in a custom project? This makes the gift more about them and less about the obligation of the me, or the giver/artist.
Weddings are th WORST. However, I do end up with plenty of sales of pieces specifically purchased as gifts for some couple about to get married. I'm just hoping that these choices are made carefully, by people who really know the couple and their tastes. Then the gift can actually be an expression of celebration, and a blessing.
The green bowl above is one of my many, many bowls that have been purchased as gifts. (Though I still make them occasionally, my main focus is elsewhere these days.) For me, making glass bowls and other giftware has become something I'm careful of since I like to find a good match in a customer, and avoid assumptions through a middle person.
What are your thoughts on this issue? Any other opinions or stories that come to mind? Do tell!