Unique gift ideas for special occasions:

A portrait always makes a very nice present for any occasion. It shows the person that you put some thought into your present and went out of your way to give them something very special.

If you're ordering a portrait of your wife, girl-friend or mother make sure that you pick a photo that she actually likes. For an older woman I suggest picking a photo where she is younger (nobody wants to be reminded of their wrinkles). A portrait of her at a younger age will show her that in your heart you'll always see her as somebody young and vibrant, (the way she would want to be remembered by the future generations of her descendants).

Please, don't forget that it's also appropriate to give a thoughtful present to somebody who has lost a special someone. A beautiful portrait of a person who has passed away will not only keep their memory alive, but could also serve as a reminder that they are always around the ones who are still here.

But what if you want to do something playful? In that case I suggest turning the person (or people) for whom you're getting a present into illustration characters. Think of their hobbies, professions, etc. If they like antiquing turn them into a couple from the late 1800's. If somebody is a dentist who lives on an alpaca farm - order a whimsical painting of them performing a tooth extraction on an alpaca...

Be creative! Get something that's one of a kind. For Mother's Day get your wife or mother a painting that shows her surrounded by her children each doing whatever it is they like doing the most, (e.g. swinging upside down from a chandelier, texting, playing their trumpet, etc.). For a baptism get the child being baptized a personalized picture of their Guardian Angel. For an anniversary, wedding or an engagement party turn the couple's first meeting into a fun painting. Caricatures are fun, but an illustration type of painting is fun as well as unique.

For big anniversaries of birthdays you can get a whimsical illustration of your whole family (see a sample above) or better yet turn your family tree into a painting (click here to see an example of a family tree painting). It will be a present that your parents, grandparents, friends, etc. will treasure forever.

Think outside the box and if you can't think of anything original contact me and I'll come up with some unique artistic gift for your special someone(s).