Your Go-To Gift Guide for Art Supplies
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It can feel overwhelming to identify the perfect gift for everyone on your list, so I’ve made a list of gift worthy art supplies to make your shopping easier. This art supply gift guide will help you purchase thoughtful + inspiring gifts for most people on your list.
Not sure everyone on your list is “creative?”
Here’s 3 reason why art supplies make great gifts:
1. Nurtures Creativity: Giving someone art supplies as a gift is like providing them with a gateway to explore their imagination + express themselves.
2. Encourages Self-care + Relaxation: By gifting art supplies, you're offering more than just physical tools; you're giving someone an opportunity to practice self-care + relaxation through artistic expression.
3. Fosters Skill Development: From beginners looking to explore their artistic talents to seasoned artists seeking to refine their techniques, art supplies provide endless possibilities for growth.
New supplies inspire me to experiment, explore new techniques + indulge in the fun, creative activities I love. The excitement over fresh paints + new colored markers feels like Christmas morning—there’s nothing I love more!
This list features the art supplies that get me excited to create. I’m eager to share my favorite supplies for your holiday shopping, whether you’re shopping for a budding artist, a seasoned artist, or yourself. This art supply list will inspire creativity in all.
Shopping is easy with this list of gift worthy art supplies.
Buy the best gifts for all the people on your shopping list, from seasoned artists to the creatively curious. Each item includes a key point to identify the benefit of the supply + details about why I love it.
I’ve learned that limiting choices allows us to better focus on creating. That’s why I’ve put this painting + doodling kit together with everything you need to create a joyful composition. My DIY watercolor + doodling kit combines the joy of creativity with the convenience of having everything needed in one package. The recipient can explore their artistic side, relieve stress, + enjoy the relaxing benefits of watercolor painting + doodling at their own pace + comfort.
This inclusive kit has everything needed to create 10 beautiful paintings. Just add water + you’re set to paint. Use the Ruby Mountain Paint Co. handmade watercolor paint dots + brush included to create a colorful painting, then doodle over your painting with the provided black pen + inspiration sheet.
This may be a kid’s watercolor set, but the bright neon glow of these colors is worthy of artists of all ages. Featuring 12 stand-out neon colors, this set is fun to work with + won’t break the bank.
Make it a gift set: Pair with my Moon Garden Watercolor Coloring Card Set, as seen in The Ultimate Gift Guide for Getting Through Life’s Hard Moments in 5280 Magazine.
The Ocean Paper Handmade Watercolor Paint
An inspiring gift for the artist ready for an upgrade, these paints solidified my love of watercolor painting! Sold individually or in sets, these pan watercolor paints are made in Kauai using the highest quality pigments + are artist grade. From pastels, to neutrals, to beautiful blues + greens, the names alone will inspire you to purchase them.
Plus, each individually wrapped paint pan is like a tiny little present.
TIP: The Ocean Paper runs a once a year sale over the Thanksgiving weekend. Check out their Instagram page for details leading up to the holiday.
Case for Making Handmade Watercolor Paint
Featuring custom blends + vibrant fluorescent pigments, this San Francisco based company creates watercolor paints with a ton of pigment with just enough natural watercolor medium to make the paints rich, opaque + long-lasting. Plus, they have an awesome mission: We believe in the creative power of all humans, and that to be creative and be truly ourselves we need to be free and safe.
More handmade watercolor companies I love
Favorite Supplies: Handmade watercolor paint addition.
Painting with a decent brush improves the quality of a painting. But you don’t need expensive brushes to see results. Ditching the brush that comes with a basic set of watercolor paints + upgrading to this comprehensive watercolor brush set will do the trick. Featuring a wide variety of shapes + sizes for watercolor techniques from precise detail to large washes, these brushes have great liquid holding capacity + ensure smooth paint flow. This set even comes with a decorative storage tube + black velvet travel bag.
Includes: Rounds brushes in #0 #3 #6 #8 #10 #12, Flat brushes in #6 #3/4", Dagger Striper #3/8", Oval Wash (Cat's Tongue) #¾”
Make it a gift set: Pair with Natural Life’s Ceramic Painter's Cup which has notches to hold your paint brushes. Having beautiful supplies inspires every artist to keep going.
Artegria Watercolor 2 Mop Brush Set
These mop brushes are a new addition to my studio. I’ve enjoyed how these mop brushes highlight the magic of watercolor, holding lots of paint + water for loose brush marks. Ideal for abstract color washes, flowing brush marks, wet into wet blends + broad strokes.
I often do my best work in my sketchbook because it feels like a safe space to explore. A sketchbook proves to be a way to experiment + perfect techniques, all while tracking progress + keeping paintings all together. This softcover sketchbook lies—mostly— flat when open + features 24 sheets of cold press, 140 lb. watercolor paper.
TIP: Include some decorative binder clips to hold pages down while painting.
Strathmore Wirebound Watercolor Visual Journal
For a slightly larger work surface try this spiral bound sketchbook in 9x12. Featuring 22 sheets of cold press, 140 lb. watercolor paper + a hard durable cover, this sketchbook is a great space to play.
6" x 8" Dot Journal
I have a habit of believing I need a specific notebook for everything. So I have journals + sketchbooks for lots of things. This is the notebook I adopted this summer when I began my daily oracle card reading + journaling + drawing practice. I can get very particular about the paper I write + draw on: I want it smooth, just the right weight + a comfortable size.
I’ve come to love these dotted pages because they are great for writing + drawing all mixed together. The dot grid offers just enough structure to the page while still giving me freedom to cover the page with doodles. With 2 ribbons markers + an elastic to keep it closed, it feels like the perfect journal. Plus at under $10, I don’t worry about “using all the paper up” so I feel comfortable to keep writing.
Available in additional colors.
Recommendation: Look out for Michael’s promotions + sales for discounts.
TIP: Purchase a 12 pack of journals to give as teachers’ gifts or for all your gal pals.
Make it a gift set: Pair with a set of my stickers for a custom look or The Starseed Oracle cards featured in the picture.
PENS + MARKERS
Posca Paint Pens - 7 Pastel Colors
$19.00 for 5M medium tip markers on Amazon
$16.50 for 3M fine tip markers on Amazon
One of my favorite supplies hands down. The discovery of these acrylic paint pens has elevated my doodling compositions + proved to be the perfect pen for adding colorful detail to my watercolor paintings. Purchasing these pens in a variety of colors + sizes means I have just the right marker to complete my paintings.
Posca markers are water-based which means it’s alcohol-free, waterproof + still lightfast. Works on canvas, fabric, acrylic, metal, surfboard, rocks, windshields, or anything else.
Sharpie S-Gel Pen
I’m a little obsessed with pens because their line quality + feel matter when writing + drawing. This gel pen is my new go-to for journaling + drawing in my dot sketchbook. (Don’t touch mom’s pen!) It glides over the pages + doesn’t smear or bleed. Plus the rubber grip offers a comfortable hold.
Gelly Roll Moonlight Gel Pens - 10 Bold Point, Bright Colors
This bold point is key for doodling on top of watercolor paint because it rolls over the paint below. The fine point can be too sharp, scratching the paint + creating a groove where you draw. With bright, opaque colors offering a visible contrast to the fluid paint texture underneath, the Moonlight gel pens create depth + interest in my compositions.
Now available in pastels, too!
Make it a gift set: Pair with one of my medium Carry-all pouches produced by Society6
The joy + excitement that come with new art supplies is like experiencing the magic of Christmas morning all over again.
Art supplies have the power to inspire + rejuvenate our Creative Selves, allowing us to experiment, explore new techniques + indulge in the fun, creative activities we love.
My art supply list is a carefully selected collection of favorites that are sure to ignite creativity in artists of all levels. Whether you're shopping for a budding artist, a seasoned professional, or even for yourself, these supplies will undoubtedly bring delight + inspiration.
So, whether it's the vibrant colors of fresh paints or the endless possibilities of new colored markers, these art supplies hold the potential to bring out the artist within us all. Embrace the excitement + let your Creative Self see the light.
Happy shopping + happy creating!
Don’t forget to pin this gift guide so it’s easy to find.
Are you shopping for kids' holiday gifts? Discover the perfect presents that will spark joy!
Now that the adults on your list are taken care of, check out my Ultimate Kids Art Supply Gift Guide.
In a world dominated by plastic toys + digital gadgets, it's easy to overlook the importance of nurturing creativity in young minds. Instead of gifting yet another fleeting plaything + adding to the clutter in your home, why not consider the lasting impact of art supplies?
Art supplies make great gifts for kids because they encourage creativity + imagination, allowing them to express themselves in a fun + unstructured way. Additionally, art supplies help children practice fine motor skills + hand-eye coordination while they explore, experiment + engage with their surroundings in a unique + enriching way.
