GIFT GUIDE: 20 Creative Presents For The Emerging Art Enthusiast
Cultivate art appreciation by giving the gift of beauty, imagination and art
Art may be one of the most priceless things you can ever own. Just imagine the creativity, effort, and love that was poured by the artist into that piece. It’s like a breathing representation of an artist’s heart and mind, forever immortalized on canvas, print, or whatever medium he or she chose to use.
But the truth is, there is a price tag attached to art. Sometimes, it entails real and big bucks. While there is a market for appreciating these rare and precious treasures, not everyone is ready to jump into the wagon. Many of us are budding art enthusiasts who are just developing our taste for artful creations, and can only reach so far down our purses for an artwork or an art piece.
In fact, because of the creativity that’s abound in the world, there are now so many forms of art for every type of art enthusiast. Art is not just the big canvases seen in exhibits anymore; art has now taken different forms and shapes and media. And this is beautiful! Art is alive. Art is breathing. So it only makes sense that it’s accessible in different forms and avenues.
This year, we’re encouraging everyone to cultivate the emerging art enthusiast within you or your friends and family, by giving the gift of beauty, the gift of creativity, and the gift of imagination—without breaking the bank. Deck those walls and those tabletops with pieces that resonate! Check out these works that make for a perfect gift this Christmas.
Photo Gallery
Photo Gallery
“Plantita Series” - Mosaic Artwork
A tribute to the plantitos and plantitas, this mosaic artwork is made by the NVC Foundation’s Artisans of Hope from discarded coffee capsules, broken ceramic tiles, and eggshells. Negrense Volunteers for Change (NVC) Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization of private citizens who believe that by pooling the energies, resources, talents, and skills of individuals, we can bring about a better future for Filipinos. One of the projects of the foundation is Artisans of Hope, where they train artisans to create high-value, handmade products that give their makers a sustainable source of livelihood.
Photo Credit: Arte Fino
Vintage Black and White Portraits
Do you miss the good ol’ days where you only got once chance to make the money shot? You can now relive the art and effort that goes into every photo with Box Camera PH, photographer Jovel Lorenzo’s way of bringing back attention and interest to the forgotten art of box camera photography. As a way to capture and remember this year, you can book private portrait sessions, complete with backdrops, concepts, and studio lights. You’ll get 10 black and white prints at the end of the session, which you can hang at home or frame.
Photo Credit: @boxcamera.ph
The Geisha Scarf
Cartellino is an online-only platform and shop that seeks to become a cut and curated source of Asian Contemporary art. In Italian, “Cartellino” means “little paper,” which was a prominent marker in early Renaissance portraiture. The shop seeks to recreate this same feeling—to be something innocuous, but could be a community for those looking to learn and engage with contemporary art. This Geisha Scarf is one of their available items, which is a silk scarf design that takes after the artist’s—Ronald Manullang’s—2018 oil canvases, “The Origin of the Japonaiserie.” Great as a functional scarf or framed.
Photo Credit: Cartellino
“Similar But Different” - Silk Screen Art Box Set
In the 1960, Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol were vital to the popularization of silk screen printing, which essentially gave birth to the Pop Art movement. If you’re the type of person who appreciates the effort and energy in creating multiple prints using this traditional method, definitely check out this box set of 20 different prints featuring artists Argie Bandoy, Valeria Cavestany, Lena Cobangbang, Mike Crisostomo, Jigger Cruz, Maria Cruz, Tracie Anglo Dizon, Erick Encinares, Romeo Lee, Manuel Ocampo, Jayson Oliveria, and Gerry Tan. This inaugural box set titled “Similar But Different” is available at Primal Screen Manila, and comes in unique handpainted cases.
Photo Credit: Primal Screen Manila
Framed Andy Warhol x Kidrobot Polaroids
Do you fancy a legitimate Ardy Warhol merch in your home? You can get these framed Andy Warhol polaroid photos from The Museum. Each frame contains 4 official polaroid photographs produced by Kidrobot, with stamped signature and Kidrobot logo on each one. There are two styles available: self-portraits and self-portraits in drag. In photo is self-portraits in drag.
Photo Credit: The Museum
Van Gogh Porcelain Plate
How about Van Gogh on a plate? Since we can’t visit the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam just yet, we can settle for these official Irises Porcelain Plates from the Van Gogh Museum. Each plate is made from porcelain and is printed with one of Van Gogh’s iconic paintings, “Irises.” “Irises” was one of the several paintings that he made at the Saint Paul-de-Mausole asylum in the last year before his death.
Photo Credit: The Museum
Abstract Originals by Rina Albert-Llamas
Rina Albert-Llamas is known for her signature playful style, whose works have graced the pages of numerous publications and brands. This Christmas, you can have an authentic and unique Rina piece in the form of these abstract acrylic paintings on wood, mounted on gold-painted wood and ready to hang.
Photo Credit: @artbyrinaalbertllamas
“Isabela” – print on canvas
Bibsisita is a homegrown brand based in Isabela, that aspires to weave the Filipino narrative into every home with traditional art prints and artworks translated into functional, everyday items. This “Isabela” print is a framed wall art depicting the strong-willed Filipinas, and is available for pre-order in 22.50” or 10.25". The print is hand-signed by the artist and is printed on canvas fabric.
Photo Credit: Bibsisita
“Lockdown” by Jerika See
Jerika See is an acrylic storyteller who paints everyday life scenes on canvas through clean lines and bold colors. Architect by day and painter by night, her signature style is a top-view rendition of everyday life—work life, your family’s favorite meals, and your work-from-home desk, to name a few. Her first series entitled “Lockdown” is now available for purchase, which depicts our work-from-home and study-from-home lockdown experiences. She is also available for commissions.
Photo Credit: Jerika See Art
Desenyo Custom Maps
It’s said that the beautiful things that happen in our life are already written in the stars. So why not bring a piece of the stars in your home to commemorate the most important dates and events in your life? Desenyo Custom Maps lets you see how the stars aligned on your important dates—birthdays, first date, anniversaries—and then you can hang it in your home as a reminder of the most memorable times of your life.
Photo Credit: Desenyo Custom Maps
“Gather 2” – A Martie Datu Print
Artist Martie Datu embarked on her journey in 2013 to not only follow her passion for art, but also wage war against children abuse. This print, titled “Gather 2,” is a framed limited edition 11x13” print, where a percentage of the sale goes to the International Justice Mission (IJM). Martie’s advocacy is to help protect children in the fight against Online Sexual Exploitation of Children (OSEC).
Photo Credit: Martie Datu
Gallery Wall
Been wanting a gallery wall that celebrates each member of your family? You can print and frame your favorite memories with The Wallery, an initiative from Nice Print Photography that aims to create art galleries through photographs. The Wallery lets you customize the frames and borders of your photos, so you can start creating a gallery wall in your home.
Photo Credit: The Wallery
Customized Wooden Peg Dolls
Level up your family portraits by commissioning a hand-painted wooden peg doll instead! Wudiis recreates your family and loved ones using wooden peg dolls, made from recycled scrap wood. Made with love, and meant to last a lifetime.
Photo Credit: Wudiis
Papel Papel Bespoke Greetings
If your goal is to own one of Ryan Villamael’s breathtaking cut paper artwork, but have to wait a little longer to achieve one of them, maybe these paper cuts encased in lovely glass domes will do for now! Papel Papel creates these customized greetings in the form of cut paper enveloped in a glass cloche, which looks just like your own little magical world. Show your love and share your sweetest message with your loved ones by giving them one of these.
Photo Credit: Papel Papel
Garamasks by Garapata
Number Over Number has partnered up with artist Dex Fernandez—more popularly known as Garapata—to create these Garamasks. Garapata became prominent for his “garapata” (ticks) inspired artworks, which are whimsical and provocative. Dex shares that his style was inspired from his childhood experience when their house became infested with ticks because of their pets. When he started doing graffiti, he thought of the same concept, where places can be infested by art instead. Let your face become infested with art with these Garamasks!
Photo Credit: Number over Number
Cat Painting and Postcards
Attention cat lovers! Why not grab this cat watercolor painting by The Postcard Makers for your wall or table? In this painting is Lala, one of the rescued cats found in Lakandula Street. Earlier this year, the paintings and postcards of Lala and other rescued cats were put on sale by The Postcard Makers as part of their fundraising project that will benefit the stray cats around Salcedo Village. 50% of the proceeds went to the spaying, neutering, feeding, and medication of stray cats in the ares, in partnership with Cat Crusaders. The fundraising project has raised over P9,000 pesos and has concluded, but you can still purchase the postcards and paintings at The Postcard Makers.
Photo Credit: The Postcard Makers
Customized Portrait Gift Tags
Sending out gifts this Christmas? Make every gift personal by commissioning your portrait, and then have it printed on gift tags, gift wrappers, or notepads. Clems on Paper is an art page and shop by writer, photographer, and illustrator, Chris Clemente, who specializes in minimalist and line drawings. You can also opt to have your favorite K-drama or K-pop stars on the gift tags!
Photo Credit: @clemsonpaper
Lockdown Plant Prints
Jar Concengco is a notable photographer who shoots food, interiors, and portraits for the biggest publications and brands in the Philippines. During the lockdown, he captured these mesmerizing textures and photographs of plants in his home, and made them available on print initially through Shelter Fund. During its run, part of the proceeds of the sale went to a group fund to support fellow photographers made vulnerable by the pandemic. Now, you can order these prints directly from Jar through his photography page on Instagram, Campfire Media.
Photo Credit: @campfiremedia
“LA DEFINITIVA SANSÓ: A LIFE LIVED THRICE” BY DR. REUBEN CAÑETE
Not quite ready for a Sanso? A book has been published to mark the occasion of Mr. Juvenal Sansó’s 91st birthday. Fundacion Sansó is launching LA DEFINITIVA SANSÓ: A LIFE LIVED THRICE by eminent art historian and art critic Dr. Reuben Cañete. La Definitiva Sansó covers the entire body of work of Juvenal Sansó, the Spanish artist who claims the Philippines as his home, and who carries the distinction of being recognized by three countries for his stellar work in the visual arts. Among Sansó’s accomplishments is that he is one of the very few Filipino artists of his time to be collected by important museums abroad, which include: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Chicago Art Institut, Brooklyn Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the New York Public Library, Musee d’Art Moderne in Paris, among many others.
Photo Credit: Fundacion Sanso
Christmas Ornaments Made Of Vintage Barong
Follow @gloriousdias and catch these Christmas ornaments made by Jodinand Aguillon on the rare occasions that they are dropped for sale. Don't snooze on these. They go fast! Each one is made of vintage barong material. Literally laced with nostalgia!
Photo Credit: @gloriousdias
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