My one-of-a-kind gift guide, for people who deserve more than a tote bag

I woke up at 3 AM in a panic because I hadn’t started my Christmas shopping. Then I realized this was just a silly dream, but it shows what’s on my mind.

Nothing against a good tote. I love one myself, especially when it’s covered in paint. But when you want to give a forever gift—something that carries a story, a memory, or the feeling of a place—nothing quite compares to an original painting.

Original art isn’t mass-produced. It’s not something that shows up on a shipping tracker, or in Black Friday sales. It’s a true one-of-a-kind, a small piece of the world filtered through the artist’s hand and heart. That’s the kind of gift that lasts.

For the new homeowner, a statement painting

Assuming the closing goes well, my daughter will be a first-time homebuyer right before Christmas. That blank wall above the couch? It’s practically begging for something with life and light. Luckily, I know where to go.

A statement painting gives a home instant warmth and character. Think of it as important as good lighting; it changes everything. Whether it’s a landscape that reminds them of their favorite place or a bold scene that anchors the room, a painting makes a house feel like their house.

For the budding artist, Seven Protocols for Successful Oil Painters

Seven Protocols for Successful Oil Paintersis a perfect gift for someone starting in oil paints. Not only do I tell them how to do it, I tell them why they should do it that way. That starts with picking out the right paints (without wasting money) and goes right to the finishing touches of framing and varnishing. This is where every new painter should begin.

For the person who is impossible to shop for

You know that person; heck, I am that person. We buy what we want when we want it. But we’re also always hoping to be surprised by something super-thoughtful and personal. (What a pain in the neck we are!)

A small painting is intimate, something they can place on a bookshelf, a desk, or by a favorite chair. It’s not flashy, but it carries presence. It’s the kind of thing that draws the eye again and again. To search my collection from smallest to largest, just set the sort button to “price: low to high.”

For the traveler, especially one who misses the ocean

A plein air painting is a piece of a place. It’s wind and light, painted on-site, with sand still in the corners of the panel. For someone who loves the coast, the mountains, the Great White North, the desert or New England villages, an original plein air painting brings them right back. And this all reminds me that I never put my paintings of Argentina or the Grand Canyon on my website; silly me!

For the sentimental

Maybe it’s a garden or the view from a childhood porch. A commissioned painting of that place becomes a touchstone. (Note, if this is what you want by Christmas, I need to know ASAP. Just email me.)

In the end, give something that lasts

Totes have their place but real, original art has staying power. It carries stories, captures time, and makes ordinary moments feel meaningful. And that’s the magic of giving art — it continues to unfold long after the wrapping paper is gone.

Browse my paintings here.

Registration is now open for workshops in 2026! Reserve your spot:

• Canyon Color for the Painter | Sedona, AZ, March 9-13, 2026
• Advanced Plein Air Painting | Rockport, ME, July 13-17, 2026
• Sea & Sky | Acadia National Park, ME, August 2–7, 2026
• Find your Authentic Voice in Plein Air | Berkshires, MA, August 10-14, 2026
• New! Color Clinic 2026 | Rockport, ME, October 3-4, 2026
• New! Composition Week 2026 | Rockport, ME, October 5-9, 2026