If you've completed it, I would give it to him. I wouldn't get anything huge for somebody at this point of a relationship, but I think a small homemade gift is fine. He will probably appreciate it...

I was thinking... Maybe if she's completed it, it wouldn't hurt to hold on to for another occasion too..

I think there's quite a difference between a 'small, homemade gift' and a painting. A significant difference. Small, homemade gift at one month implies homemade cookies, maybe with a gift card to a music or video store attached, not artwork. It may not "cost" anything for the artist to create, but it does have a certain amount of emotion inherently in it as par for the course, and therefore a very personal gift. Possibly too personal at this point.To the OP: Save the painting for the Valentine's Day gift. '-).

 CL-Breaking Up Is Hard to DoCL-Understanding MenCL-Ask the dating (online dating with Match.com) DoyenneRead This First:  How to Get Over Your BreakupWe waste time looking for the perfect lover, instead of creating the perfect love.  Tom Robbins..

Just a quick update: He mentioned to me that he has a present for me, so I'm going to go ahead and give him the painting...

That's great! May I make a teensy suggestion: Have two gifts at the ready and wait until he hands you his gift first, because you don't want to bust out first with a painting you made yourself if what he's got for you is a much less personal one-month type of gift. When he gives you yours, you can gauge which to give him that will be the most reciprocal.I know some people will say "I can't believe that!" or whatnot, but whatever, massive awkwardness has been avoided this way in ages past. '-).

 CL-Breaking Up Is Hard to DoCL-Understanding MenCL-Ask the dating (online dating with Match.com) DoyenneRead This First:  How to Get Over Your BreakupWe waste time looking for the perfect lover, instead of creating the perfect love.  Tom Robbins..

Well, he told me while he was in New York on business that he had looked all over for a book about this particular European vintage car I like (but didn't find one), so I imagine it's something along those lines. The painting is of a room scene with some of his favorite furniture designs. So it should be fine I think. We're not exchanging till I get back from my parents' right after Christmas, but I may be able to find something else before I see him...

I'm glad you had somewhat of an idea beforehand and that you felt comfortable with the reciprocity. So how did the gift-exchange go?.

 CL-Breaking Up Is Hard to DoCL-Understanding MenCL-Ask the dating (online dating with Match.com) DoyenneRead This First:  How to Get Over Your BreakupWe waste time looking for the perfect lover, instead of creating the perfect love.  Tom Robbins..

Well, it hasn't happened yet. To make a long story short, we haven't seen each other since before Christmas, and while we've both been super busy I'm starting to lose patience. If he can't commit to seeing me soon I think I'm done with it...

Well, I ran out of patience and he was being really flaky anyway. Disappointing...