In this guide
The best Christmas gift ideas for him are the ones he'd never buy himself: a hand-painted portrait of his dog, his family or him on his pride and joy, painted from a photo. For the art lover, try a hand-painted Australian classic. Order portraits by October, paintings by about 10 November, and a gift card any time.
Which Christmas gift ideas for him will he actually keep?
Men are famously hard to buy for, and another gadget is forgotten by February. A painting of what he loves goes on the wall and stays there. Every custom portrait is 100% hand-painted in oils on canvas by a professional, university-trained artist, working from the photo you send.
A portrait of his dog
If the dog follows him from the shed to the couch, this is the gift. A hand-painted pet portrait captures the eyes and character of his best mate, and works just as well for a cat, a horse or a dog he's lost. Our artists can set the pet in the backyard, your own room or a classic plain background.
A family portrait for dad or grandfather
The grandkids, all his children together, or a photo from a family trip. Our artists can combine several photos into one painting and change the background, so you don't need the perfect group shot. Start with custom portraits from your photo.
A portrait of him with his motorbike, boat or car
A photo of him with the thing he spends his weekends on can become a painting for his study, shed or man cave. Homes, boats and places are quoted individually, so send the photo and ask on the custom portraits page or call 1300 90 21 53.
Christmas gifts for dad, husband, brother and grandfather at a glance
These order-by dates 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Dad | Portrait of his dog, or of the family | October |
| Husband or partner | Portrait of him with his bike, boat or car (ask for a quote) | October |
| Brother | Portrait of his dog | October |
| Grandfather | Portrait of the grandchildren | October |
| He loves Australian history | Hand-painted reproduction of an Australian classic | About 10 November |
| He loves a particular city or view | Canvas print of an Australian landmark or city | Late November |
| He'd rather choose himself | Gift card, $50 to $2,000 | Any time |
For the full timeline, including transit times, see when to order art for Christmas.
How does a portrait 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 the 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 it 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.
What makes a good photo for a portrait?
Phone photos are usually fine, and if a photo won't paint well, we'll tell you before we start. For the best result:
- Good light. Daylight, or outdoors in open shade, beats flash and dim rooms.
- Eyes in focus. Sharp eyes carry the likeness of a person or a dog.
- The highest resolution you have. Send the photo file itself, not a screenshot or a copy saved from social media.
- The whole subject in frame. No cropped ears, paws or motorbike wheels.
- Several photos are fine. If the dog won't sit still for a good shot with him, send one of each and we can combine them.
What painting suits his study or man cave?
If he'd rather have a famous work, our hand-painted reproductions are painted in oils by hand, with no forged signature and no artificial ageing. These three are offered in 60×50, 90×60, 100×75, 120×90, 150×100, 180×120 and 200×135 cm, "Rolled in a Tube - Canvas Only (No Frame)", "Stretched Ready to Hang (Gallery Wrap Inner Frame)" (canvas wrapped around a timber frame), in a floating frame (a slim frame with a small gap around the canvas) or in a traditional frame such as "Dark Brown with Gold Inner" or "Gold Classic Frame".
- Shearing the Rams by Tom Roberts. Painted in 1890 and held by the National Gallery of Victoria, it's one of the best-known images of Australian working life.
- Down on His Luck by Frederick McCubbin. A swagman by his campfire in the bush, painted in 1889 and held by the Art Gallery of Western Australia.
- The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh. Painted in 1889 and now held by MoMA in New York, a favourite for anyone who knows exactly one painting.
For the golfer, The Golfer is a loose, textured hand-painted work of a player lining up a putt, in portrait sizes from 50×60 to 135×200 cm. More Australian options are in our Tom Roberts and Frederick McCubbin collections. Screen colours vary and hand-painted work differs slightly from the photo, so use "See it in your room" on the painting page to preview it on a photo of his 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, including Christmas morning. It never expires and can be spent on anything, including a custom portrait of his dog.
How do you give a portrait that isn't finished yet?
Print the photo you've chosen and put it in a card with a note: "Your dog is being hand-painted. Coming soon to your wall." If progress photos have arrived, print one of those. For extra fun, wrap a single picture hook with it.
Questions people ask
Can I keep the portrait a surprise?
Yes. You send the photo, receive the progress photos and approve the painting, so he needn't know a thing. We deliver to any Australian address, so send it to yourself if you want to wrap it.
Can you paint a dog that has passed away?
Yes. A portrait from a treasured photo is a meaningful way to remember a much-loved pet.
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 I pay over time?
Yes. Afterpay and Zip are available at checkout.
Related guides
- Christmas gift ideas for her: personalised portraits and art
- When to order art for Christmas in Australia
Next step: Browse Christmas gifts for art lovers, or go straight to start a pet portrait from your photo.
