Forget gift cards, jars of candy, and another bottle of wine that nobody needs. There is a gift that beats them all, that hangs on the wall for ten years and makes people ask, “What the heck is this, and how did you come up with it?” It’s a hand-painted oil painting based on an AI-generated artwork. And it’s easier to arrange than you think.
Table of content
Quick Facts
🎨 The best AI tool for image generation is Midjourney, far superior to any other when it comes to creating art
🏭 Dafen Village in China is the world’s largest center for hand-painted oil paintings
📦 Delivery time from China is about a month
🏭 Choose portrait or landscape format depending on the wall it will hang on
👩🎨 The artist’s interpretation of the original is part of the magic of the order
🖼️ Canvas via Photowall is a faster option if you want it ready in a few days
🏠 Framing should always be done by an expert, such as the company Frame It.
Create the artwork with Midjourney
Step one is to create the image. And here, Midjourney is the clear first choice. It’s like having an artist in your pocket who never complains, never takes a break, and never asks for a third chance to “truly grasp the vision.”
Midjourney is an AI image generator that transforms text descriptions into images. You write a so-called prompt, which is a text description of what you want, and then the AI delivers four options to choose from. The quality is consistently superior compared to other tools. New users can test the service for free, but to produce really good images in high resolution, a subscription is needed.
The trick to writing good prompts is to be specific. Not “a portrait of a person” but rather “a painterly portrait of a woman with lantern light in the background, oil painting style, warm colors, detailed”. The more details, the better the result. Always write in English; that is the language Midjourney understands best. You can always choose to add “in style of Andy Warhol” or any other famous artist. You will be surprised.
Also think about the format right here. Portrait format (vertical) fits above a sofa or in a hall. Landscape format (horizontal) works better above a desk or along a long wall. In Midjourney, you control the format with the parameter that is written at the end of the prompt, for example --ar 2:3 for portraits or --ar 3:2 for landscapes.
A really expert tip if you run out of inspiration is
1. Go into create in Midjourney and search for, e.g., Abstract Art in the search field
You get everything related to Abstract Art, scroll up and down, change a bit in your search. When you find something, click on the image and then the small icon for the search. You will get all results that resemble that image then. Extremely useful.
Example of what you can create in Midjourney
Upload and upscale the image for high quality
When you are satisfied with one of the four options, you choose to upscale that image. This is called upscaling and means that Midjourney enhances the image and increases the resolution. The standard image from Midjourney is 1024×1024 pixels, which is sufficient for a screen but not for an oil painting or canvas.
If you need an even higher resolution, there are external services that can further upscale the image without losing sharpness. With the right upscaling, you can reach 4K resolution or even higher, which is what you need for a large canvas or to send to a painter who will reproduce the image.
Then download the image in the highest possible resolution and save the file.
Dafen Village and the magic of a hand-painted copy
Now we begin the really exciting step. Dafen Village in Shenzhen, China, literally has the world’s densest concentration of oil painters. The village covers barely 0.4 square kilometers but houses over 1,200 painting workshops and tens of thousands of artists. At its peak, the village produced more than 60 percent of all oil paintings sold worldwide.
You send the high-resolution image to dafenvillageonline.com, specify the desired format, and an artist gets to work. It takes about a month to receive the painting. It is delivered rolled up in a tube, just like real artworks are usually transported.
What makes this even more interesting is that you never know exactly how the final result will look. The artist makes an interpretation of the original. It may differ slightly in color, brushstrokes, and feel. And this is not a flaw; it is a feature. It is a human who has put their stamp on your AI-generated image. The artwork is unique, handcrafted, and has a story.
Frame it the right way
Now it’s time to frame the painting. Trying to do it yourself with lots of tape and a questionable measurement is not recommended. It’s about as sensible as performing your own dental surgery to save a bit of money.
Frame It is a great option. They have stores in Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Uppsala, as well as an online shop, and specialize in framing. They have the expertise to choose the right matting, the right glass type, and the right frame style to truly elevate the artwork. Bring the painting there and let the professionals do their job.
A small extra detail that really enhances the “wow factor” is to add a signature to the painting. Either your own as the giver, or something that references the recipient. It makes the gift even more personal and adds that final touch.
The option that is quicker
Maybe there isn’t time to wait a month. Maybe you are the kind of person who remembers a birthday three days in advance. There is a faster option.
Photowall is a Swedish service that lets you order your own image as a canvas print. You upload the high-resolution file and Photowall’s image team checks the quality before it is printed. The canvas is delivered fully assembled on a wooden frame and ready to hang. Delivery takes a couple of days, not a month.
It is not exactly the same experience as a hand-painted oil painting, but it is still an extremely personal gift that does not resemble anything you find in a store. And it looks genuinely great on a wall.
Why this beats everything else
The real strength of this type of gift is how personal it is. You create it from scratch. You define the motive, the style, the format, the feeling. There is not a single copy of that gift in the entire world except for the one you hold in your hands.
And unlike the majority of gifts, which end up in a box or on a shelf, this one ends up on the wall. It is something the recipient sees every day. It becomes a memory that lasts for many years, literally.
“A hand-painted oil painting based on an AI-generated image is not just a gift. It is a work of art with a story about how you thought, what you chose, and what you wanted to give.”
| Alternatives | Delivery time | Format | Feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil painting via Dafen Village | About 1 month | Portrait or landscape | Handmade, unique interpretation |
| Canvas via Photowall | 1 to 3 days | Optional | Digital print, high quality |
Fast advantages of this gift choice
- Extremely personal as you create the design yourself
- Only one exists in the whole world
- Hangs on the wall for many years instead of gathering dust in a box
- Combines modern AI technology with traditional craftsmanship
- Can be tailored exactly to the recipient’s taste and decor
Pro
- Unique and personal gift that cannot be bought in a store
- Hand-painted by a real artist gives the artwork added value
- Can be customized in design, style, and format
- Hangs on the wall and is used daily
Con
- A delivery time of one month requires advance notice
- Framing comes at an additional cost
- It’s a bit difficult to hide a canvas as a Christmas gift
FAQ
Do you need to have experience with Midjourney to get started? No. The service is designed for everyone to use. New users can try it out for free and create their first images without paying anything.
How much does a handmade oil painting from Dafen Village cost? The price varies depending on size and complexity. A standard portrait painting has historically cost around 1,000 to 2,000 kronor, which is low considering it is a handmade original.
Is it possible to send a regular photo instead of an AI image? Yes, it works perfectly. However, AI-generated images in the right style, such as oil painting style, often result in a more cohesive and impressive final result.
Is canvas a worse alternative than oil painting? Not necessarily, it depends on what you want. Canvas is faster and cheaper. The oil painting is more unique and has added value for being handmade.
Do you have to frame the painting? No, but it significantly enhances the result. Without a frame, even the finest artwork looks a bit unfinished.
Sources
https://www.dafenvillageonline.com << To turn it into a real piece of art
https://www.photowall.com << If you want a canvas instead, choose your own image from their menu and upload it
https://www.frameit.se << To frame it in a good way
https://www.midjourney.com << To create art with AI
