In this guide
The Christmas gift ideas for her that mean the most are personal: a hand-painted portrait of her family, her dog or the two of you, painted from a favourite photo. If she loves a famous painting, a hand-painted reproduction comes next. Order portraits by October, paintings by about 10 November, and a gift card works any time.
Which Christmas gift ideas for her feel truly personal?
Most of what's in the shops this December could be bought for anyone. A painting of the people or animals she loves could only be for her. Every custom portrait is 100% hand-painted in oils on canvas by a professional, university-trained artist, working from the photo you send.
A family portrait for mum or grandmother
Pick the photo she already has on the fridge or as her phone background: the grandkids on the beach, the whole family at a birthday, or her own children when they were small. Our artists can combine several photos into one painting, remove clutter and change the background, so the family doesn't need to have been in one frame together. Start with custom portraits from your photo.
A portrait of her dog or cat
For the sister, friend or partner whose pet is one of the family, a hand-painted pet portrait is hard to beat. Dogs, cats, horses and birds are all welcome. It also makes a gentle, meaningful gift for someone who has lost a pet, painted from a photo she treasures.
A portrait of the two of you, for your wife or partner
A favourite holiday or wedding photo becomes something far more lasting on canvas. Our artists can also set you against a new background, such as the beach where you got engaged.
A painting of a place that matters
The house she grew up in, the family beach shack, a boat she loves. The custom portrait service covers homes, boats and places too. These are quoted individually, so send the photo and ask for a quote on the custom portraits page or call 1300 90 21 53.
Christmas gifts for mum, wife, sister and grandmother at a glance
The order-by dates below are our recommendations based on usual lead times, not delivery guarantees. The lead-up to Christmas is busy, so earlier is always better.
| Who it's for | Gift idea | Order by |
|---|---|---|
| Mum | Family portrait from a favourite photo | October |
| Wife or partner | Portrait of the two of you | October |
| Sister or best friend | Portrait of her dog or cat | October |
| Grandmother | Portrait of the grandchildren | October |
| She loves a famous artist | Hand-painted reproduction of her favourite painting | About 10 November |
| She loves a particular city or view | Canvas print of an Australian landmark or city | Late November |
| She'd rather choose herself | Gift card, $50 to $2,000 | Any time |
For the full timeline, including transit times, see when to order art for Christmas.
How does ordering a portrait as a Christmas gift work?
- Send your photo. Choose the size (40×50, 50×70, 60×90, 90×120 or 100×150 cm), the number of people or pets (one to four on the order page) and a style (realism, impressionist or pop art), then upload your photo at checkout.
- Pay a 20% deposit. That's all you pay to get the artist started.
- Watch it take shape. We send progress photos as the painting develops, and adjustments are unlimited and free.
- Approve, then pay the balance. You see a photo of the finished painting first. Once you're happy, it's stretched (the canvas pulled tight over a timber frame), framed and delivered free, ready to hang.
Painting and dispatch usually take 21 to 28 days, then 3 to 7 business days in transit. Allowing for approval rounds, the portrait page suggests about 4 to 6 weeks from deposit to delivery, and December can run longer. That's why we say October.
Which photo will paint well?
Phone photos are usually fine. If a photo won't paint well, we'll tell you before we start. These tips help:
- Good light. Daylight from a window or outdoors in the shade beats flash or a dim room.
- Eyes in focus. The eyes carry the likeness, so choose a shot where they're sharp and visible.
- The highest resolution you have. Send the photo itself rather than a screenshot or a copy saved from social media.
- The whole subject in frame. Avoid cropped ears, tails or the tops of heads, especially for pets.
- Different photos are fine. If nobody has a good group shot, send the best photo of each person or pet and we can combine them.
What if she'd love a famous painting instead?
Our hand-painted reproductions are painted in oils by hand, with no forged signature and no artificial ageing. Each comes "Rolled in a Tube - Canvas Only (No Frame)", "Stretched Ready to Hang (Gallery Wrap Inner Frame)" (the canvas wrapped around a timber frame, edges showing), in a floating frame (a slim frame with a small gap around the canvas) or in an ornate or classic frame such as "Gold Ornate Outer Frame".
- Almond Blossom by Vincent van Gogh. Painted in 1890 to celebrate the birth of his nephew, it's a lovely gift for a grandmother or a new mum. Available in 60×50, 90×60, 100×75, 120×90, 150×100, 180×120 and 200×135 cm.
- The Kiss by Gustav Klimt. The famous golden embrace from 1907 to 1908, held by the Belvedere in Vienna. Square only: 60×60, 75×75, 90×90, 110×110, 150×150 and 175×175 cm.
- Blue Water Lilies by Claude Monet. Painted from the lily pond in his garden at Giverny, calm and cool for a bedroom. Square only, 60×60 to 175×175 cm.
Hand-painted work will differ slightly from the photo, and screen colours vary. Use "See it in your room" on any painting page to preview it on a photo of her wall, to scale.
What if you've left it too late?
A Direct Art gift card from $50 to $2,000 is emailed within minutes, or on the date you choose, so you can schedule it for Christmas morning. It never expires and can be spent on anything, including a custom portrait, so she can pick the photo herself.
How do you give a portrait that isn't finished yet?
Print the photo you've chosen, slip it into a Christmas card and write "This is being hand-painted for you". If progress photos have already arrived, print one of those instead. It turns the wait into part of the gift.
Questions people ask
Can I order a portrait without her knowing?
Yes. You send the photo, receive the progress photos and approve the painting, so she needn't know a thing. We deliver to any Australian address, so send it to yourself if you want to wrap it.
What if I don't love the finished painting?
Ask for changes. Adjustments are unlimited and free, and you only pay the balance once you've approved the finished painting.
Can you paint someone who has passed away?
Yes. Memorial portraits of people and pets are painted from a treasured photo in the same way.
Can I pay over time?
Yes. Afterpay and Zip are available at checkout.
Related guides
- Christmas gift ideas for him: portraits and art he'll keep
- When to order art for Christmas in Australia
Next step: Browse Christmas gifts for art lovers, or go straight to start a custom portrait from your photo.
