Custom Painting as a Christmas Gift
A custom hand-painted painting is a meaningful Christmas gift for your partner, your parents, your family or that person who is always so hard to buy for: it turns a place, a trip or a shared memory into an original artwork, far from the usual gifts.
Rocío Arrupe is an artist based in Málaga, Spain, who specialises in custom hand-painted paintings made from photographs, places and memories. It is not a photo printed on canvas: every commission is painted from scratch for one specific person.
Because every piece is made by hand, Rocío takes on a limited number of Christmas commissions.
- From €400
- Original hand-painted artwork
- Certificate of authenticity
- Shipping to the EU, UK, US and more
Would you like it for Christmas?
Christmas commissions are booked on a first-come, first-served basis: tell me your idea and secure your spot.
I already know what I want · Share my idea →
I'd rather message on WhatsApp →
Running late? On the 25th you can give the printed preview and receive the painting afterwards.
How to order a custom painting for Christmas
- Send your photo and tell the story behind it.
- Rocío helps you choose the size, composition and style, and sends you a free preview of your painting.
- If you love it, you secure your Christmas spot and Rocío starts painting.
Rocío paints meaningful places, landscapes and cities from your photos. She doesn't paint portraits of people or pets: she paints the place where the story happened.
Before you book, you see how your painting could look
Rocío improves your photo's composition and colour and, if you like, places it on your wall. You only book if you love it.
The preview is for deciding composition, format and colour; the final painting is made by hand and has its own brushwork and texture, as in this example.
What clients say
-
★★★★★“Rocío managed to turn the photo into a beautiful painting, keeping the memory completely intact but giving it much more life. My parents loved it and were deeply moved when they received it.”
Rosa · Burano painting, Christmas gift
-
★★★★★“Talking to Rocío was a before and after: she guided me through the whole process, suggested the size for my living room and even made a mockup of the painting on my own wall. That took my fear away at once.”
Google review · Florence painting, a childhood memory
-
★★★★★“She captured the light, the sea and the very special atmosphere of the Baños del Carmen at sunset so well. […] On top of that, working with Rocío was very easy.”
Rebeca · Balneario painting, Málaga
Excerpts from real Google reviews, translated from Spanish.
Price your painting and share your idea
Pick a size and, if you're giving it together with others, how many of you there are: you'll instantly see the reference price and each person's share. No obligation.
An indicative estimate. The final price may vary slightly based on composition and detail, and I always send a written quote before starting.
Continue with my commission →A trip to Burano turned into a Christmas gift
Their children wanted to give them a Christmas memory of their trip to Venice: the colourful houses of Burano. Working from a photo of that trip, Rocío hand-painted an original artwork that keeps the light, colour and joy they remembered.
| Occasion | Christmas gift from their children |
| Place depicted | Burano, Venice (Italy) |
| Size | 65 × 54 cm |
| Technique | Acrylic on canvas |
More of Rocío's custom paintings
Every commission starts from a different photo and story. Here are some of the latest.
Why a custom painting makes a different kind of Christmas gift
- It means something. It isn't picked off a shelf: it comes from a place or a story that matters to the person receiving it.
- It works for the person who has everything. When no object feels like enough, a painted memory does.
- It stays long after the holidays. A gift made to become part of the home: signed, with a certificate of authenticity and a handwritten dedication from Rocío (and yours too, if you'd like).
Christmas gift ideas for everyone on your list
- For your partner: The city of your first trip together or the place where it all began.
- For your parents or grandparents: The village house, the family home or the beach of every childhood summer.
- For siblings or family: A place tied to your childhood, the family home or a landscape you share.
- For someone who lives far away: Their city, their street or the landscape they miss.
- For a new home: The place that marks the start of that new chapter.
- As a group gift: Among friends or family, a special artwork everyone can give together that tells a shared story.
Prefer a finished painting?
Rocío has original paintings that are finished and ready to ship, painted in her studio in Málaga.
-
La Malagueta
-
From the Alcazaba
-
Crimson Pier
-
Stillness on the Danube
Frequently asked questions about custom paintings as Christmas gifts
How early should I order a custom painting for Christmas?
The sooner, the better. Every artwork is painted by hand and Christmas commissions are booked on a first-come, first-served basis. The timing of each painting depends on its size, the approval of the design and shipping.
Can I still get it in time for Christmas if I order late?
Write to Rocío anyway and you'll find the best option together. If the painting can't be finished by the 25th, one option is to give the preview of your painting as an A5 print on the day and receive the painting afterwards.
Do I need a high-quality photo?
No. Any photo works, even an old or blurry one. Rocío doesn't copy the image: she reinterprets the composition, light and colour so the painting looks more like how you remember the place than how the camera captured it.
How much does a custom painting cost?
Commissions start at €400. The final price depends on the size and complexity of the artwork. Sizes, prices, process and terms are on Your idea, on canvas. Framing is optional and shipping is quoted separately; you'll get a written quote before work begins.
What if I'm not happy with the result?
Rocío doesn't start painting until you approve the preview, and during the process she shares progress shots so you can adjust what's needed before it's finished. The preview is a guide: the painting is made by hand and will have its own brushwork and texture.
What's the difference from a photo printed on canvas?
A print reproduces the photo as it is. A custom painting by Rocío Arrupe is an original hand-painted artwork: unique, signed and with a certificate of authenticity.
Rocío Arrupe
Rocío Arrupe has been painting for more than 30 years. From her studio in Málaga, Spain, she turns places, trips and memories into original acrylic-on-canvas artworks, signed and with a certificate of authenticity.
This year, give a hand-painted memory
A place, a trip, the family home. From your photo and the story behind it, Rocío creates an original artwork to give at Christmas.
Secure your Christmas spot: tell me your idea as soon as you can.