Earlier this year, I was in contact with Paint Your Life about creating a one-of-a-kind gift for my mother. You see, this fantastic company specializes in turning your photographs into stunning portrait paintings. But, I wanted something a little different! I wanted to add my Grandfather, who unfortunately passed away into a photograph of my mother, her sisters and brother, which was taken at my wedding in Italy.
Paint Your Life would then turn this special photo into a stunning oil painting. I provided the artist with two photos, one of my mother and her siblings at my wedding in Italy and the second an old photo of my Grandfather. The artist then expertly stitched these photos together to create the incredible painting.
I will add that I made quite a lot of edits along the way. Including changing the color of my mother’s dress to changing how my aunt’s hair was styled. The artist couldn’t have been more accommodating, and was typically back to me the next day with the edits having been made.
Any time an edit is made to your painting, Paint Your Life will email you with a link to review and approve the changes or make further edits if you wish. I made a total of three edits to my painting.
Once you have approved the painting you will receive a shipping notice with the estimated date of delivery.
Gifting the Paint Your Life Painting to My Mother
I decided to surprise my mother with the painting and had it all wrapped up nicely. When she opened it, she was shocked and it took her a while to recognize my grandfather (her father) as he looked so stylish in his suit. He wasn’t really a suit man! She loved the thoughtful gift and thanked me so many times. Immediately, she texted a photo of the painting to her sisters and brother – who are also in the painting and they too were in awe of the excellent quality.
She now has it pride of place hanging in her living room.
What is Paint Your Life?
Paint Your Life works with over 300 talented artists to create portrait paintings. The most unique offering from them, I think, is their Compilation Portraits – which allows you to stitch together multiple photographs into one portrait! So, if like me a loved one passed before your wedding you can add them into the portrait to make for an emotional painting.
It doesn’t matter if the photos you supply to the artist badly damaged or faded (like my photograph of my grandfather was) they will still expertly paint the person in the photo exactly how they look!
How expensive is Paint Your Life?
Prices range from $199 USD for a 20cm x 25cm painting of one person up to $549 USD for a 60cm x 90cm painting of one person. The more people in the painting the slightly more expensive it becomes. You can see a full price list here.
I received a 75cm x 100cm painting and there were 5 people in the painting. I choose am oil painting as the finish and chose the Scandinavian Gold frame, which is an additional $50 USD.
You can choose from oil, charcoal, watercolor, acrylic and much more as your finish. Oil is the most popular and it’s what I choose too.
Can you make payments on Paint Your Life?
Paint Your Life require a 20% deposit up front and the remainder can be paid once you approve the final painting. If you are unhappy with the painting you will receive all of your money back. Shipping is free too, to anywhere in the world!
How long does it take for Paint Your Life?
On their website, Paint Your Life state that you can receive your portrait in as little as 13 days, but, I would imagine this would be if you didn’t make any edits and are based in the U.S or Canada (quick shipping time from their headquarters in the U.S).
The process for me started on July 26th, and I received the painting on August 20th, which is pretty quick considering I made a lot of edits and I live in Ireland, which is typically a long postal time from the U.S. where the painting was created.
Thanks for reading!
Have you ever thought of gifting a loved one a portrait painting, it is easily the best gift I have ever given. And I would highly recommend Paint Your Life they were so professional and easy to deal with throughout the process.
P.S., you can read more blog posts of mine, including cute towns you can visit near San Francisco and the best NuSkin products!