Colour pic (flowers mostly have colour, don't they?).

If, shortly after the gift is installed, when you visit the home, ask the Manager of the Manor whether s/he feels that the colour is too bright ... in which case you could offer to take it home and redo it in more subdued colours.

o j

Don't babies see high contrast like black and white first? Could that be what the mother is thinking? As for your gift, I would give what you find joyous. The mother can make the choice of where to hang your art.

Alisande, I know that you have done something like this before with your personal touch that was lovely. The grey and black color (or lack of color) is a little strange. If you don't come up with something that you are comfortable with giving maybe something form the website below would help.

Here is a link that might be useful: Animal art

I just thought of another option. Here's an oil-on-water converted to b&w. I'm thinking it could look good matted and framed. I still want to give that baby some color, though....

It's not a choice I would make, but interesting one at that. I would stick with the parent's wish and do a b&w. I love the one posted above. This sounds like a case of new parents who think they are going to be in charge, lol. Wait until that little one comes along and rocks their world!

I think the pop of color woould be wonderful in a black/white room. I would trust your taste any day. If the mom doesn't want it in the baby's room, she can put it somewhere else. Wouldn't you love to have such a personalized baby gift from your childhood?

I appreciate these votes of confidence--thanks!

Sleeperblues, you nailed it re the new mom. She has so many firm ideas on how things are going to be. Her mother and I said to each other yesterday, "She's gonna be in for a shock." LOL

I'd go for the one you pictured above, and not any with color. I think grey might be cute in a baby's room. I don't know about black though.

I love b&w'w esp the ones with just one part in color~~I have seen like a little boy and girl and he is giving her a flower that is a muted color.

You are the artist, yes you want to please them, but put in a pop of color or something that is totally you;) They will love it I am sure.

The b&w above is perfect.
When the room transitions to color, you
could give another picture...like maybe
for a 1st birthday present.
I'd respect the parents' wishes.
It's not my kid's room.

I would also go with the colors the parents picked. I like the photo you shared.

I would respect the parents wishes. If you don't want to do that then just give them a gift card or something. New parents can be very sensitive about things.
Joann

Oh, I really like that oil on water example.

Oh, and by the way -- please keep us updated on the adventures of this new mom... teehee!!

I understand you want to "give the baby some color," but to do so at this point would be presumptuous and overbearing.

Imagine the baby's room was designed in a "safari" theme, you'd probably never even consider giving them a clown, right? Or if it's a "car" theme, you'd likely not give them a dog, I assume.

Why, then, are you adamant that you give the child "some color" when you know full-well the parents (mom) don't want that? Wouldn't you want to give them something they'll use and treasure?

I never saw anything in Alisande's post that was "adamant" about giving the baby color. She was asking our opinion. Whatever she gives to the baby will be perfect.

I totally agree with Cate, please keep us updated!

Babies see black and white, and are more stimulated by those 'colors'.

Since the OP specifically asked the friend what she should do, I think the OP should honor those preferences.

The nursery colors are black and grey but the OP' s friend said,
"She said if I wanted to do something in color I should go ahead."

Do what you would like. I'm sure it would be cherished for the wonderful piece it is.

Actually, colour is better to help develop baby's vision. They only see in black and white for their first few days:

"Infants start to develop the ability to see in colors very quickly. At one week after birth, they can see red, orange, yellow and green. But it takes a little longer for them to be able to see blue and violet. This is because blue light has shorter wavelengths, and fewer color receptors exist in the human retina for blue light.

Don't be too concerned if your baby's eyes sometimes don't appear to be working together as a team early on. One eye may occasionally drift inward or outward from proper alignment. This is normal. But if you see a large and constant misalignment of their eyes, notify your eye care practitioner right away.

Tips: To help stimulate your infant's vision, decorate their room with bright, cheerful colors. Include artwork and furnishings with contrasting colors and shapes. Also hang a brightly colored mobile above or near their crib. Make sure it has a variety of colors and shapes."

What is the theme of the baby's room? Is it flowers, animals, insects, lollipops? Maybe you could do some kind of black and white study in the theme. Is she using an accent color with the neutrals for a pop?

Young moms today like to head out in new directions in nursery decor and in baby names too.

My DGD's room was done in brown and pink~~with a ladybug theme~~~we did the shower with the same theme turned out very cute.

I'd think about my goal here, are you helping the mom to decorate her nursery, or gifting the baby with something to keep a lifetime. If it's a gift for the baby that you want to reflect your own creativity, and this could be dependent on how close you are to the family (you do say the grandmother is a close friend), I'd go with what you do best - if that's color, it's color.

If it's a small piece, one that won't dominate the room and no expectations of it doing so, I vote why not. I can't imagine directing an artist in an expression of their talent. 'I'd like to have something you created but only if you can present it in this form....' - that doesn't work at all for me.

Not quite the same thing, but my brothers wife was adamant about clothing that didn't shout gender, their first baby - girl - was going to wear primary colors. I was fine with that, did lots of black/whites prints, plaids, navy, red, hunter and softer greens, pretty on a golden skinned blonde baby and things more like I would wear myself. The instant she could begin to voice her own taste, the little stinker insisted on pink and glitter, little princess-y stuff, her clothing, bedroom furnishings, even bike. I think she was about 18 before she outgrew that girly-girl stage :)

i'd love to see what mom is registered for, esp bedding...you might be able to use something from those colors...cause i'm pretty darn sure they don't make baby bedding in black and grey, lol...and take into consideration the sex of the baby...

Adamant? Chloe, nothing I said should have indicated that I'm adamant about exposing the baby to color--although after reading Colleen's quote I hope somebody does. In fact, I said this, which I think is pretty clear:

However, I realize it's not my place to impose color on the mother's plan. I haven't yet decided which way I'm going to go on this--color picture, b&w picture, or something else entirely.

The black & white oil-on-water, BTW, is a conversion I did last week, before I was thinking of baby gifts. I'd like to see how it looks matted and framed anyway, so that's still a possibility.

We don't know the sex of the baby. As far as I know, she's not using an accent color. They live several states away, so I'm hoping she'll share some pictures.

I'll do my best, Cate. ;-)

In the 90s I wanted a black and white wedding. My mother made green bridesmaid dresses - because she felt black and white was too stark for a wedding.

That's all I'm going to say about that and I hope your reaction to my little tragic story suggests what I think you should do :)

Alisande,

Since you stated - twice - that you "want to give this baby some color," I interpreted that as adamant.

Coupled with the statement that the grandma told you the nursery colors, but then said "go ahead" with whatever you want to give would set off warning bells in my head. I'd get them something they'd want - not something YOU want. But hey - it's your friend and her grandchild so...

(BTW - I really like the greyscale oil-on-water image you posted.)

I realized this morning that babies spend very little time in their rooms. At least mine didn't. Presumably their home has plenty of colors elsewhere, even if we're only talking a red KitchenAid mixer. Plus they're hiring a nanny. Maybe she'll wear purple sweaters. LOL

What I'm going to do is send the above image and several others to Mpix and see how they look printed. Then I'll pick one. I don't care much for primary colors or pastels, so if I choose something besides b&w you can be sure it'll be subtle.

Thanks for all your input. This was fun.

You want to give them a picture for the baby's room.
The room is themed b/w.
A b/w picture is appropriate.
I can't for the life of me understand why you
would consider a colored picture.
The parents probably would hang it somewhere else.
Now it's not a gift for the baby's room.
Please explain your logic.

I don't believe "logic" was ever a factor here, Lindakathy. But it seems to me a 20x30 print in chartreuse and fuchsia would carry more appropriateness than the unwarranted tone of your post.

It's your choice what to give. You seem to be leaning toward a color photo. Fine. But the parents may choose to put it somewhere other than the baby's room. That's their choice. Don't obsess about it.

I'd do something similar to the bubbles in tones of black and white and then add the child's name by painting each letter in one of the balloons. No parent will reject art with their child's name on it. I'd use soft colors for a girl and a little stronger for a boy. Limes and yellows would look great with the black and white.

I agree with morz. A nursery will only be decorated a certain way for a very short time (child or mother taste will likely change within a few years) so customizing such a personal gift to the nursery theme sort of limits the use, especially if it is a version that is modified solely for a color scheme and not truly reflective of what the gifter really wants to give.

My advice would be to give a photograph that you want of the subject that you want in colors that you want and don't worry so much about the color scheme because that will likely change as the child grows. I think it is a very sweet and unique gift.

I'm an artist and see your dilemma. However, I don't always create my artwork the way the customer wants it. A lot of times, I can picture in my mind what they want and know I can do better...that's what an artist does. The end result always makes the customer happy(ier).

I would do the photo in color. If the photo has enough colors (or not), it will go with anything she puts in the room, and I'm sure she will introduce a pop of color somewhere...if not, it will certainly be a boring baby's room, IMO. And, if she doesn't, your photo will stand out even more when entering the room...as the eye will go right to it.

I agree with many of the posters to follow the parents to be lead as far as color but I LOVE color and you can send me one of your beautiful creations any time, any color, any size! You are kind to share your talents with the family of the baby to be. Satine

We all know the surprises these new parents are in for. Also, most of us if not all of us were there at one point, thinking we knew everything and thought we were actually in control of everything! Ha

Let them have that certainty in their lives for a little longer.

I would absolutely respect the parents wishes of black and gray, because I would want my wishes respected.

alisande you can gift me anyday! lol lol lol actually, was thinking the bubble picture was masculine, where a floral might be feminine...