Should I give his art to his family now that he's dead?

I personally feel like he made the piece for you. I wouldn't be feeling guilty about the money owed - - if you brought it up jokingly to him and he never demanded the amount due to you, he must've really wanted you to have it!

Since the sister really couldn't stand you before, what makes you think she'll change after you give her the piece of artwork?? Your mom is right - - if he wanted his sister to have something, he would've given her something, and who knows, he may have and she's just not revealing that to you. She sounds like a classic case of someone who's greedy! She wants what she has, but what everyone else has of his too...and she'll either treat the owner of it crappy, or really nice, just for the occasion, and afterwards, she'll treat you crappier and not nice = why would she, she's done gotten what she had her eyes on. I'm not saying she IS like this, but she could be - don't weigh out the possibility. And again, who knows, she could just want it cuz she knows it's worth something - she might could be the type who would get the piece, then turn around and sell it for the money....I've heard of it!

I think you should keep the piece of artwork, given to you by your friend. You say you were only aquaintences, but only a friend would make something of the sort, give it to you and not expect a full payment back (like i said above, if he really wanted the money for it, he would've sent you an invoice or something like that).

You need to keep it, Lovey, to have something for you to remember him by...it sounds to me that he may not've made a name for himself, had you not brought it to his attention. It's a special memory between the two of you. I wouldn't want to give it to someone which wouldn't be able to connect, per se, with this memory between you both!

Keep it and Love it! Remember the memory, Remember your friend.

I agree that this piece is a great piece for you to keep and enjoy and, especially for the memory attatched to it. If you feel that it would be better with the sister, especially if you have other pieces of his artwork, then I am sure she would enjoy being able to have something of his art to remember him by. Do not feel as though it is mandatory, but as its been said, it would be a beautiful gesture.

It sounds like he wanted you to have the piece. If there is more than one it might be a nice gesture on your behalf to share with his family but not necessary

i agree it sounds like he wanted you to have it and that you paid for it. I say keep it, and tell the sister that you bought it from him. good luck. Sorry about your friend.