Gifts for Artists, from Sketchbooks to iPad Art Gear
- 20 gift ideas
- From under $10 to $100 and up
- 10 niche picks
The best gifts for artists match their medium. Strong picks include a cold-press watercolor block, a jelly gouache set, alcohol markers, a tracing light box and a pen tablet for digital artists, plus a studio apron and a good brush cleaner. Ask what they paint or draw with before you buy supplies.
Quick picks
- Best overall: A cold-press watercolor block Keeps the paper flat while a painter works, with no taping down. Idea 1
- Best under $25: A jelly gouache set in twin cups Opaque, matte colors in twin cups that open and close easily. Idea 3
- Best splurge: Alcohol markers for illustrators Refillable markers that illustrators treat as a long-term investment. Idea 15
- Best for beginners: A drawing book for beginners Teaches drawing through seeing exercises, using only a pencil. Idea 18
- Best for digital artists: A pen tablet for digital art A way to start digital art without buying an iPad. Idea 19
Art supplies only work as a gift when the medium matches. A gouache set is wasted on an oil painter, and a pen tablet means little to someone who works in graphite. So we grouped these 20 gifts for artists by what they make: watercolor and gouache, acrylic and oil, drawing and ink, and digital art. If you are not sure what they use, look at their desk or ask them what they are running low on.
This list includes picks for painters, illustrators, sketchbook artists and anyone curious about digital art. For artists who have everything, the specialist tools like a light box or a drawing glove tend to fill gaps. See our Gifts for Someone Who Has Everything guide for more hard-to-shop-for ideas.
Ideas 1 to 3
Watercolor and gouache gifts
For painters who work in water-based color, where paper and pigment quality show up in every wash.
1. A cold-press watercolor block
Cold-press watercolor paper has a slight tooth that holds pigment and takes washes and lifting well, which suits painters who work in watercolor. A block glues the edges of the sheets together so the paper stays flat while it dries, with no taping or stretching. Choose a 140 lb weight and a size that matches their usual paintings, and let them peel off finished sheets.
Tip: Check the size of the paintings they usually make before choosing the block size.
2. Artist-grade watercolor tubes
Artist-grade watercolors have a higher pigment load than student paints, so colors look richer and mix more cleanly. A compact set of six tubes is a gentle way for a watercolor painter still on student paints to try the upgrade. It is the kind of gift an artist hesitates to buy for themselves. Ask what palette they already use so the colors fill gaps.
Tip: Ask which colors they run out of first, and pick a set that covers them.
3. A jelly gouache set in twin cups
Jelly gouache comes in twin cups that open and close easily, and the opaque, matte colors suit illustration and sketchbook work. It suits illustrators who paint on the go or fill a sketchbook at a cafe, since the cups are quick to open and close. Gouache can be re-wet when it dries, so a set stays useful for a long time.
Tip: Add a small waterproof palette or a pad of gouache paper to round out the gift.
Ideas 4 to 10
Gifts for painters working in acrylic and oil
Brushes, paints and studio gear. Match the medium before you buy any supplies.
4. Heavy body acrylic paints for layering
Heavy body acrylics are thick, buttery paints with strong pigment, and a mixing set with a glazing liquid lets a painter work in thin transparent layers as well as bold, thick strokes. This suits acrylic painters who want to move past student tubes. Ask which colors they already own so the set adds new ones instead of duplicates.
Tip: Check which colors they already own so the set adds something new.
5. A starter oil paint set for curious painters
A basic oil set of ten tubes is a good way for an acrylic or watercolor painter to try oils without a huge investment. Student-grade oils mix and blend slowly, which gives a beginner time to work. Oils need a painting medium, brushes and a ventilated space, so check their setup before you order.
Tip: Add a painting medium and a pad of oil paper, and check their studio setup first.
6. A set of synthetic sable brushes
A soft synthetic sable blend holds its shape and moves paint smoothly, which suits painters who work in acrylic, oil and watercolor and want brushes that cross over. A five-piece set with a round, a flat and a few smaller sizes covers most everyday work. Brushes wear out, so a new set is a gift artists rarely buy for themselves.
Tip: Wrap a brush cleaner with the set so the new brushes last longer.
7. Palette knives for mixing and texture
Palette knives mix paint cleanly on a palette and lay down thick, textured strokes on the canvas, so they suit acrylic and oil painters who like impasto. A few shapes (pointed, rounded and flat) give room to experiment. Stainless steel blades wipe clean at the end of a session.
Tip: Pair them with a pad of palette paper for easy cleanup.
8. A tabletop H-frame easel for the desk
A sturdy tabletop easel holds a canvas at a good angle on a desk or table, so painting does not mean hunching over a flat surface. It suits painters who work in a small apartment or a spare room without space for a floor easel. Solid wood stays steady when a brush presses on the canvas. Check the maximum canvas height before you order.
Tip: Check the largest canvas it holds against the size they usually paint.
9. A brush cleaner and preserver
A brush cleaner and conditioner cleans out old paint and keeps the bristles in shape, which helps good brushes last longer. It suits painters who have a jar of stiff brushes sitting by the sink. It is a small, thoughtful gift for acrylic and oil painters alike, and the label says non-toxic, which makes it easy to use in a home studio.
Tip: Give it with a new brush set so both get used.
10. A canvas studio apron with deep pockets
A heavy canvas apron with big pockets keeps paint off clothes and keeps a pencil, rag and brush close at hand, which suits painters who wipe their brushes on their jeans. A cross-back strap spreads the weight across the shoulders instead of the neck. It is listed as a chef apron, but it works well in a studio too.
Tip: Ask whether they prefer a neck strap or a cross-back style before buying.
Ideas 11 to 18
Drawing, ink and sketchbook gifts
Pencils, pens and markers for sketchbook artists, illustrators and comic artists.
11. Soft graphite pencils for sketching
Blackwing Matte pencils have soft graphite for dark, smooth sketching lines and a flat eraser that does not roll away. They suit artists who sketch in graphite and like a pencil that glides without much pressure. A box of twelve means one in every bag and one on the desk. Sharpen them with a long-point sharpener to keep a fine tip.
Tip: Add a quality sharpener so the pencils keep a fine point.
12. Professional colored pencils in a tin
Oil-based artist pencils layer and blend well, which suits colored-pencil artists who build up color in glazes. A tin of 36 is a strong starting range for portraits, botanicals and illustration. They are a clear step up from a school pack. Add a blending pencil or a good sharpener to keep points fine.
Tip: Add a pad of smooth drawing paper, which helps them layer color.
13. Fineliner pens for ink work
Fineliner pens in several point sizes are a staple for ink artists and urban sketchers, because a fine point suits detailed line work and hatching while a thicker one handles outlines. Black pigment ink sits well on sketchbook paper. A set of eight assorted points covers most uses. They also work for lettering and comics.
Tip: Pair them with a sketchbook that takes ink without bleeding.
14. A heavyweight mixed-media sketchbook
Heavyweight paper holds up to watercolor and gouache as well as pen and pencil, so a sketchbook with 270 gsm pages suits artists who use wet media on the go. A softcover bends easily to draw on the page edge. An 8 by 10 inch size fits a bag. It makes a lasting gift because artists always need a fresh book.
Tip: Check that the paper weight matches the wet media they use.
15. Alcohol markers for illustrators
Alcohol markers blend smoothly and can be refilled and fitted with replacement nibs, which is why illustrators and comic artists treat them as a long-term investment. A 24-color set is a solid start with room to grow. They bleed through thin paper, so pair them with marker paper. Check which colors they already own to avoid duplicates.
Tip: Add a pad of marker paper, since alcohol ink bleeds through thin sheets.
16. Paint markers for mixed-media projects
Opaque, water-based paint markers lay down color on paper, wood, stone and canvas, which suits mixed-media artists and anyone who customizes objects. A set of fifteen medium-tip markers covers a wide range of colors. The reversible tips give both a bullet and a chisel shape. They are a fun, low-mess gift for experimenting.
Tip: Give them a few blank wooden objects or canvases to try the markers on.
17. An LED tracing light box
A light box lets an illustrator trace a rough sketch onto clean paper, and adjustable brightness makes thin and thick paper easy to see through. It suits artists who ink over pencil drawings or who redraw sketches cleanly. An A3 size fits a full page of a comic or a large sketch. Check the desk space before you order.
Tip: Check that the A3 size fits their desk before ordering.
18. A drawing book for beginners
Betty Edwards' book teaches drawing through seeing exercises, and it has been recommended to beginners for decades. It suits anyone who says they cannot draw but wants to try, or an artist who wants to return to basics. The exercises need only a pencil and paper. The fourth edition is the one listed.
Tip: Add a sketchbook and a pencil so they can start on the first exercise.
Ideas 19 to 20
Gifts for digital artists
Small tools for artists who draw on a tablet or a computer.
19. A pen tablet for digital art
A pen tablet connects to a computer and turns pen strokes into digital drawing, an affordable way to start digital art without buying an iPad. It suits artists curious about digital painting, or illustrators who already work on a computer. It needs a computer to run, so check software compatibility first.
Tip: Check that it works with their computer and the art software they use.
20. An artist drawing glove for tablet work
An artist glove keeps the drawing hand from smudging paper or brushing a touchscreen, a small add-on for digital artists who draw on a tablet or an iPad. It slides easily over the page and fits either hand. It is small enough for a stocking and gets used every time they draw.
Tip: Tuck it into a stocking alongside a new pen tablet or a stylus.
Frequently asked questions
What are good gifts for artists?
Start with their medium. Watercolor painters like a cold-press block, acrylic painters like a good brush set, illustrators like alcohol markers and digital artists like a pen tablet. If you do not know the medium, a heavyweight mixed-media sketchbook or a studio apron works for almost anyone who makes things.
What are good Christmas gifts for artists?
Pick small supplies they use up and rarely buy for themselves, such as artist-grade paint tubes, a brush cleaner, Blackwing pencils or a drawing glove. For a bigger gift, a tabletop easel, a tracing light box or a set of alcohol markers suits many studios. Wrap a gift receipt with anything where color or size matters.
What do you get an artist who has everything?
Look for specialist tools that fill a gap: a tracing light box, a drawing glove, a brush cleaner or a set of palette knives. Artists also rarely buy themselves better paper, so a heavyweight sketchbook or a watercolor block can be a good upgrade. Ask what they run out of fastest.
What are good gifts for digital artists?
A pen tablet is a low-cost way to start digital art, and an artist glove keeps the drawing hand from smudging a screen or a tablet. Check the software and device they use, because tablets need a computer. A comfortable stylus or a tablet stand also helps.
What are good gifts for painters?
Match the paint: a watercolor block and artist-grade tubes for watercolor, heavy body acrylics and a palette knife set for acrylic and a starter set for oils. A tabletop easel suits anyone who paints at a table. Keep a gift receipt, since painters often prefer certain brands.
Should I buy art supplies if I do not know the medium?
Choose supplies that work across media, such as a mixed-media sketchbook, a studio apron or a brush cleaner. Avoid paints or specific tools unless you know what they use. A gift card to an art supply store is also a safe fallback.
