20 Gift Ideas for Artists They'll Actually Use

Gift Ideas for Artists

Today we’re going to take a look at 20 gift ideas for artists you know they’ll love. The last thing you want to do is give them something they won’t enjoy or that will never get used. But how do you know what to get if you’re not an artist yourself?

Well, we’re here to help with that. Whether its a Christmas gift your looking for, birthday gift, or just because you want to get them something fun. Our list of gift ideas for artists will give you some good information to help you find that perfect gift.

What Gift Should Your Give to an Artist?

Be careful when buying big sets of supplies at a discounted price. These materials are usually very low quality and won’t produce good results.

Something like that is fun for young children who are just playing around. But for the more serious artists, someone who cares about improving their skills, this isn’t a good option.

But what do you do if you’re not an artist yourself? This list of gifts ideas for artists will give you some ideas for art supplies that won’t end up going to waste.

* Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. This means I receive small commissions for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you.

Gift Ideas for Artists who Draw

There are certain supplies that all artists need to have available to them. The following are among some of my favorites.

Mechanical pencil – This is the pencil I use for most of my drawings and I absolutely love it. It’s comfortable and has a grip barrel. This is a nice, sturdy pencil.

Factis Pencil Style Eraser – I love this eraser for getting into smaller areas. It allows you to erase with better precision to avoid accidentally erasing lines you want to keep.

Pitt Artist Pen Set – I use these for everything. They are great for inking all types of drawings. And the set includes all the sizes you would need.

Bic Intensity Markers – these are by far my favorite markers to use. You can’t beat the quality for the money.

For more information on this marker set, take a look at Bic Intensity Marker Review – Fine Point.

We also have several step by step tutorials that use this maker set. Check out How to Blend Markers for Beginners., or How to Draw Graffiti Style Letters for Beginners.

This rose was drawn with the marker set as well.

Sketchbooks and Paper

Not all papers and sketchbooks are created equally. You have cheap sketchbooks that work just fine for drawing out rough ideas or doing quick sketches. But these are not sufficient for finished drawings or using color media, such as markers or colored pencils. At least not if you want them to look nice.

This is a list of gift ideas for artists of all levels.

Basic Cheap Sketchbook – suitable for younger artists or for practice sketches. But not the greatest for the more serious artist.

Best Sketchbook for Artists

Hardcover Sketchbooks are really nice for doing finished pieces in. They work really well with colors and hold up a lot better than the cheaper one. These typically have a higher quality paper in them.

Toned Paper Sketchbooks – These are super fun to draw in. I love working on toned paper. They come in a variety of tones, but aren’t always easy to find.

The rose drawing above was done on toned paper.

Mixed Media Sketchbook – This is a nice set of sketchbooks for heavy duty mixed media work. I’ve used these for many different projects and they hold up really well.

Bristol Board – This heavy duty paper is really good for works of art you want to frame. This is what I use when doing a piece of art that will be given as a gift to someone. It’s extremely durable and comes on larger sizes.

Arches Watercolor Paper – Good quality watercolor paper is a must for any artist serious about their watercolor paintings. It holds up much better than the cheaper papers and the colors will be much more vibrant.

Cardstock – I use cardstock for almost everything. My favorite thing to do is to cut them into artist trading cards. They work really well for markers, graphite, colored pencils, and to some extent, watercolors.

Paper Trimmer – I bought this paper trimmer over a year ago and it gets used pretty much every day. It’s perfect for cutting artist trading cards or just to cut down larger pieces of paper.

To learn more about artist trading cards, go to How to Make Artist Trading Cards (ATCs). The rose drawing above is also done on an artist trading card, but here are a few more as well.

Gifts For the 3D Artist

Got a loved one who enjoys working with their hands and building three-dimensional art? Let’s look at some gift ideas for artists who love 3D art.

Sculpey Modeling Clay – Sculpey is easy to use and convenient to bake at home. What you can make with Sculpey is only limited to your imagination.

Take a look at our step by step tutorial using Sculpey, at How to Sculpt a Jack-O-Lantern.

Painted Rock Kit – I recently started painting rocks and let me tell you, they are so much fun to make.

Making and hiding rocks is a really fun activity for all ages and it great for families to do together.

Acrylic Paint – if you’re going to do painted rocks or sculptures, then you really need a set of acrylic paints. This is the set I bought, and use, for my rock painting and clay pieces. There’s a good variety of colors and they work really well for rocks.

Posca Paint Pens – again, something I recently purchased and began using. These work really well for small details on rocks, as well as mixed media art.

Gift Ideas for Artists Who Paint

Got a loved one who likes to paint? We already mentioned the acrylic paint set, but let’s look at some additional gift ideas for artists who paint.

Water Brushes – I love these things. They are pretty much my go to brush for watercolors. The water gets stored right inside the handle, so they are great for painting on the go as well.

Tabletop Easel with Drawer – When creating art it’s beneficial to feel comfortable and organized. This tabletop easel does both. It will hold up to 11 x 14 canvas. Has a built in drawer for storage. And can be adjusted to four different angles. It’s also lightweight, portable, and affordable.

Koi Watercolors Travel Set – this is a great set of watercolors, especially if you want to take it with you some place.

To learn more about this watercolor set you can read our full review at, Koi Watercolor Field Set Review.

Prima Tropicals Watercolor Set – this set of watercolors is extremely bright and vibrant. I love the colors included in this set.

These artist trading cards were painted using the Prima Tropicals set.

Bonus Section

The following items are not under $20, but are great gifts for artists if you want to spend a little more money.

Folding Tripod Easel with Drawer

If you don’t like the tabletop option, there is also a similar product that sits on the floor. I’ve had this easel for years and it’s extremely practical.

It’s light enough to take it with you. And it has both a handle and a strap for easy transportation. Everything folds up nicely and latches closed to keep it secured.

Zentangle Primer Pack

If you have a loved one who is creative but doesn’t draw, Zentangles are an amazing way to develop some artistic ability. It’s also very meditative and therapeutic. This Zentangle Primer Pack is an amazing set and the instruction book is extremely detailed.