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“Kitsch And Tacky”: Woman Refuses To Buy $1,900 Painting She Never Asked For, Drama Ensues
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“Kitsch And Tacky”: Woman Refuses To Buy $1,900 Painting She Never Asked For, Drama Ensues

Interview With Expert
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We all love our families, but let’s be real—sometimes, you just want to say a firm no without feeling guilty. Maybe it’s skipping a family lunch, dodging an over-the-top birthday party, or, in some cases, refusing to buy something you never asked for. Most of the time, people take the hint, but other times, things can get messy.

For instance, a woman shared how her sister-in-law, an aspiring artist, painted a surprise portrait of her family and then expected them to buy it as a wedding gift. The author felt pressured into paying for something she never asked for, didn’t like, and didn’t want. Now, tensions are rising in the family, and she’s wondering if she’s being unreasonable. Keep reading to see what people think!

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    Turning a passion into a full-time career or profession comes with its fair share of challenges

    Image credits: Wesley Tingey / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

    A woman shared how her artist sister-in-law expected her family to buy an expensive painting as a wedding gift for her son

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    Image credits: Nicole Michalou / Pexels (not the actual photo)

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    Image credits: Thirdman / Pexels (not the actual photo)

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    Image credits: tacky-art-help

    The author provided more details about the painting and why she felt uncomfortable purchasing it

    Image credits: Dan Llywelyn Hall / CBS

    Artists invest countless hours of unpaid practice and effort to refine their skills and reach a professional level

    Like any profession, being an artist comes with its own highs and lows. Sure, once you’re an established name, you might start making good money, but getting to that point is no easy feat. It takes years of practice, patience, and persistence to build a reputation and attract buyers. Many artists struggle with inconsistent income, exposure, and finding the right audience for their work. Unlike a traditional job, where paychecks are predictable, art is a career full of uncertainty and constant hustle.  

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    It’s a competitive space, and making a name for yourself takes more than just talent—it requires marketing, networking, and a bit of luck. Some rely on social media to showcase their art, while others spend years trying to get their work into galleries. It’s a tough world where passion alone isn’t enough, and artists often have to find other ways to support themselves while chasing their dreams.  

    To understand the challenges artists face, we spoke with Amey Pirankar, an artist and art teacher. With years of experience in creating and teaching art, he shared his insights into what it takes to succeed in the field. From honing skills to setting fair prices, Amey explained how artists must constantly balance their passion with the business side of art.  

    Amey, who specializes in portrait sketching, pointed out, “It takes years of practice to get the perfect stroke. Every great artist you see today has spent thousands of hours refining their craft before they could sell their work.” He emphasized that true mastery doesn’t happen overnight—it’s built on dedication, experimentation, and learning from mistakes.

     “Artists spend a lot of unpaid time perfecting their skills, and that’s why the prices reflect that,” Amey added. “When people look at a painting, they only see the final product. What they don’t see is the years of learning, the failed attempts, and the hours spent on every tiny detail. That’s why good art isn’t cheap, it represents a lifetime of effort and expertise.”  

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    Image credits: olia danilevich / Pexels (not the actual photo)

    Building a strong reputation in the art world requires dedication, persistence, and continuous hard work

    “Initially, when I started out, I did art for free for family and friends,” Amey shared. “Since my work was good, word started spreading, and people began placing orders. That’s how I built my reputation. But it was important for me to transition from free work to paid work, otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to sustain myself as a full-time artist.”  

    “Here’s the thing,” Amey continued, “in this profession, you can’t rely on your loved ones to build your career. Sure, they can support you if they want, but they shouldn’t feel pressured into buying your work. An artist needs real customers who appreciate their art.”  

    “On the flip side, family and friends might expect artists to do things for free,” Amey pointed out. “It’s a tricky balance. You want to share your work with loved ones, but you also need to be fairly compensated. People wouldn’t expect a lawyer to give free legal advice all the time, so why should artists be any different?”  

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    “Being an artist is like any other profession, and we need to be fairly compensated for our skills,” Amey concluded. “Art isn’t just about creativity, it’s about time, effort, and expertise. People sometimes forget that artists need to pay bills, buy materials, and sustain themselves, just like everyone else.”  

    In this particular case, the author’s sister-in-law surprised them with a painting and expected them to pay for it. While supporting a family member’s passion is great, it’s unfair and unprofessional to assume they’re obligated to buy something they never asked for. What do you think? Should families be expected to purchase an artist’s work, or should the artist focus on finding real buyers?

    Many people online sided with the author, calling her sister-in-law’s actions highly unprofessional

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    Some, however, believed she should buy the portrait to support family and keep the peace

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    Ic_polls

    Poll Question

    What do you think about the sister-in-law's expectation for the family to buy paintings as a gift?

    She should not expect them to buy it

    It's a nice gesture and should be supported

    Only if they like the painting

    It depends on the quality of the art

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    Nikita Manot

    Nikita Manot

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

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    Nikita's knack for storytelling and creativity has led her into the world of writing. With a robust foundation in business studies, she crafts compelling narratives by seamlessly blending analytical insight with imaginative expression. At Bored Panda, she embarks on an exhilarating quest to explore diverse topics, fueled by curiosity and passion. During her leisure time, she savors life's simple pleasures, such as gardening, cooking homemade meals and hosting gatherings for loved ones.

    Read less »
    Nikita Manot

    Nikita Manot

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Nikita's knack for storytelling and creativity has led her into the world of writing. With a robust foundation in business studies, she crafts compelling narratives by seamlessly blending analytical insight with imaginative expression. At Bored Panda, she embarks on an exhilarating quest to explore diverse topics, fueled by curiosity and passion. During her leisure time, she savors life's simple pleasures, such as gardening, cooking homemade meals and hosting gatherings for loved ones.

    Indrė Lukošiūtė

    Indrė Lukošiūtė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    I am a Visual editor at Bored Panda, I'm determined to find the most interesting and the best quality images for each post that I do. On my free time I like to unwind by doing some yoga, watching all kinds of movies/tv shows, playing video and board games or just simply hanging out with my cat

    Read less »

    Indrė Lukošiūtė

    Indrė Lukošiūtė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    I am a Visual editor at Bored Panda, I'm determined to find the most interesting and the best quality images for each post that I do. On my free time I like to unwind by doing some yoga, watching all kinds of movies/tv shows, playing video and board games or just simply hanging out with my cat

    What do you think ?
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    Celtic Pirate Queen
    Community Member
    19 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I hate to admit it, but I would tell a version of the truth, "I'm sorry Susanne, but that's just really not our style. I would prefer to pick my own artwork, but thank you for the thought". If she persisted, I think I would take her aside and just say that it is highly inappropriate to create an art piece that no one commissioned and then expect them to purchase it. But at 62 y/o I don't really give a sh*t if people get offended when I stand up for myself.

    Zoe Vokes
    Community Member
    9 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And SIL is offering it for $1,900 for them to buy as a wedding gift when there are a lot of wedding expenses coming up and more practical gifts for a newly married couple. And SIL doesn’t even consider giving it as a gift herself to her nephew. It feels like SIL is one of those MLM women who see every relationship as an opportunity to extort money.

    Load More Replies...
    Scott Rackley
    Community Member
    17 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've stated it before, "keeping the peace" has never once kept the peace

    Janelle Collard
    Community Member
    Premium
    17 hours ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I agree with the comments that say if OP + hubs buy *this* piece, SIL will paint *more* stuff for them to buy! I'd tell BIL: "Unless she's turned into Monet or Picasso (or whichever artists they like), we won't be buying her paintings."

    Load More Comments
    Celtic Pirate Queen
    Community Member
    19 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I hate to admit it, but I would tell a version of the truth, "I'm sorry Susanne, but that's just really not our style. I would prefer to pick my own artwork, but thank you for the thought". If she persisted, I think I would take her aside and just say that it is highly inappropriate to create an art piece that no one commissioned and then expect them to purchase it. But at 62 y/o I don't really give a sh*t if people get offended when I stand up for myself.

    Zoe Vokes
    Community Member
    9 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And SIL is offering it for $1,900 for them to buy as a wedding gift when there are a lot of wedding expenses coming up and more practical gifts for a newly married couple. And SIL doesn’t even consider giving it as a gift herself to her nephew. It feels like SIL is one of those MLM women who see every relationship as an opportunity to extort money.

    Load More Replies...
    Scott Rackley
    Community Member
    17 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've stated it before, "keeping the peace" has never once kept the peace

    Janelle Collard
    Community Member
    Premium
    17 hours ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I agree with the comments that say if OP + hubs buy *this* piece, SIL will paint *more* stuff for them to buy! I'd tell BIL: "Unless she's turned into Monet or Picasso (or whichever artists they like), we won't be buying her paintings."

    Load More Comments
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