Artist Rachael Cassiani at The Field Gallery.

Born and raised on Martha’s Vineyard, twenty-six year old painter Rachael Cassiani is largely self-taught, with an intuitive sense of composition and color. She began selling her bold, color-rich paintings and cubist-style landscapes at Island flea markets and craft fairs, and is now represented by the Field Gallery in West Tisbury.

Here she talks to Artifacts about what to consider when gifting art and why the best holiday gifts are handmade.

Do you think art makes a good holiday gift?

Absolutely! I give a lot of my own art as gifts. I feel that creating something with my own hands shows more love, consideration, and thought. I also prefer to buy other artists’ and makers’ handmade and locally-made items when I’m gift giving.

What do you take into consideration when selecting art pieces for others?

When I’m shopping or making a gift for someone I think of a few key things: If I know the person’s home, I try to think about what size, color scheme, and style will go best in their space.

Another important thing to consider is whether a piece of art will make the person think or relate to something personal in their lives. For example, if I know that my friend’s favorite beach is Lucy Vincent, I’d prefer to paint that beach or purchase a piece related to that location. This applies also to jewelry, home goods, etc. I have always felt that making gifts personal gives them great meaning.

Have you noticed that people commonly buy your work as gifts for other people?

Most often my small/mini work is purchased as gifts. I think that my larger works are more of a statement, whereas a small piece you can easily pick for a loved one based on the fact that it's easy to ship, will fit just about anywhere in a home, and has a reasonable price point.

My 6”x6” and 3”x3” wood panel pieces and smaller cubist-style landscapes are big gift sellers.

Is there a particular type of art that tends to work better than others as gifts?

It’s all about the person you’re shopping for! Generally I tend to go for medium/smaller items just to ensure the piece will work in someone’s home.