Gifts for Artists and Creatives

It’s probably not surprising that I love art supplies and have a tendency to accumulate them at a faster than average rate. It would be helpful if I narrowed down my focus to one or two media, but I can’t help it. I love it all. Creating this list of gifts for artists and creatives was so much fun! I am sticking to the kinds of supplies I’m currently using so you can be sure this is up to date info.

If you are shopping for a watercolor enthusiast this supply list is more exhaustive than the simple list I’ve made here. Additionally, I created this gift list for kids who love art if you are shopping for a younger artist.

All of these supplies are linked at my favorite place to shop for supplies, Blick.com. 

I trust their commitment to quality, wide variety of product offerings, customer support and competitive pricing. 

You can find their phone number or live chat listed at the top of their homepage and every page and a real person will answer and offer you support! And, you can get reliable free shipping over $35.

I’ve organized the gifts for artists by media type for simplicity. 

Watercolor Gifts

1. High quality basic brush set – This Princeton Series 4050 Heritage Synthetic Sable Brush Set– Blick Exclusive, Set of 4 has a Round 2, Round 6, Round 12, and Angle Wash 1/2″. This is at the top of my personal list!
2. Watercolor Pencils – I have this set and love it. They are water-soluble which allows you to switch back and forth between brush and pencil.
3. Professional grade watercolor paper – Arches Watercolor Pad, 140 lb (300 gsm), cold press is my favorite. If you’re looking for less texture go for the hot press option.
4. Watercolor Tin – These empty watercolor tins are helpful for creating a customized, portable palette. I use them at home and traveling. You need the half pans below to hold the paint.
5. Watercolor Half Pans – Several of these affordable sets of 12 half pans pair well with the watercolor tin above.
6. Paint Palette – I always have an extra palette or two for mixing. This porcelain flower is my favorite because paints stay moist longer, colors appear true, and clean up is quick and easy. 
7. My favorite pan watercolor set – Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolor – Lightweight Sketchers’ Box Half Pan Set of 24. I use this almost daily!
8. Small watercolor sketchbook – I love this moleskine folio. Just be sure to scroll down to select watercolor paper.
9. Watercolor Tubes – a basic set of professional watercolor tubes or a few individual tubes of colors not included in basic sets would be fun for any watercolorist. If you scroll down you will see options for sets and tubes. Some colors I have my eye on are gray of gray, brilliant pink, lilac, horizon blue and quinacridone magenta.
10. Storage Palette – This one is air tight so paints will not dry out!

Acrylic Painting Gifts for Artists

1. Brushes – Princeton Real Value Series 9100 if you scroll down there are several sets to choose from.
2. Paint – This Golden Heavy Body Artist Acrylic Set – Class Theory Color Mixing Set is the perfect starting set of my favorite acrylic paint.
3. Palette paper – I love this Bienfang Multi-Palette paper for acrylic palettes.
4. Canva Paper – This textured paper is economical and portable and great for practice.
5. Palette – This covered palette is great for every acrylic painter. It’s heavy-duty and has a large area in the center for mixing, which is where I put the palette paper.
6. Gel Mediums – I love this introductory Golden Acrylic Medium Sampler Set.
7. Brush Cleaner – This is my favorite kind.
8. Brush Holder – Leaving a brush sitting in water for too long can ruin it quickly. This porcelain holder gives you a place to set your brush out of the water without having to worry about paint getting everywhere.
9. Palette Knives – Always useful! I love this set.
10. Gessobord – This is another lightweight painting surface option that I love.

Sketchbook and Art Journaling Supplies

1. A sketchbook/journal – I prefer one with watercolor paper like the moleskine listed with watercolor supplies and additionally this Hand Book Paper Co. Travelogue Watercolor Journal.
2. Pencils – I love this Blick Studio Set!
3. Posca Markers – These markers are an opaque, water-based ink marker that can be used almost any surface.
4. Neocolor crayons – These are softer than colored pencils and harder than a pastel. My favorite thing about them is that they are water soluble.
5. Drawing pens – LePen Drawing Sets are my current favorite drawing pens because of their durability and life span.
6. Copic Markers – Considered the gold standard for alcohol based markers, I love these for drawing, lettering and illustrating. I prefer the Sketch Line as I find the brush and chisel tip options the most useful. I started with the “Perfect Primaries” set and added from there.
7. Finetec Artist Mica Watercolor – I have the Pearlescent Set of 12 on my list!
8. Colored Pencils – An often overlooked and under rated art supply, colored pencils are easy to blend, waterproof and Prismacolor is the leader in quality here.
9. Brush lettering pens – Tombow Fudenosuke are my favorite for brush lettering as their harder nib offers more control.
10. Two for one – Finally, my favorite eraser for on the go and my favorite white pen.

I hope you find this list of gifts for artists and creatives helpful! Art supply gifts have always been a favorite for me.

(This post contains some affiliate links and I may be compensated, but all opinions are my own. Any compensation I may receive helps with expenses to keep this blog up and running! Thank you for your support!)