Gifts for Artists & Crafters They'll Actually Use Up
By the Giftruly editorsUpdated 22 hand-picked ideas
Artists go through materials. Paper gets painted on, pencils get sharpened to stubs, a good tube of blue runs out halfway through a project. That's the secret to buying for them: the best gifts are often better versions of what they already burn through, not a new object to find room for. The worst is usually the enormous all-in-one art set in a wooden case, which looks generous and ends up in a closet.
This guide starts with artist-grade upgrades to everyday supplies, then explains why bigger sets aren't better, moves on to studio comforts that make long sessions easier, offers a few new mediums and crafts for the curious, and ends with small things that fit in a sketchbook bag.
Shopping for someone whose craft is yarn? Gifts for knitters and crocheters is the page for them. For pen-and-paper people, see gifts for writers and journalers.
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Better versions of what they already use
Most artists work with student-grade materials for longer than they'd like, because the professional versions cost noticeably more and it's hard to justify for practice pieces. That's exactly the gap a gift can fill. Find out their main medium first; an oil painter won't have much use for colored pencils, however good they are.
- Our favorite1
Artist-Grade Colored Pencil Set
~$60
Professional colored pencils have softer, more heavily pigmented cores that layer and blend in a way student pencils simply don't, and many are rated for lightfastness so finished work won't fade. For anyone who draws in colored pencil, the difference shows on the first page. A mid-size tin is a better gift than the biggest set; they can add single colors later.
- 2
Professional Watercolor Paint Set
~$40
Artist-grade watercolors carry more pigment and fewer fillers, so colors are brighter and mix more cleanly. It's a meaningful step up for someone who has been painting with a student set. Watercolor painters are often loyal to particular brands and colors, so a small, well-chosen palette usually beats a giant one.
- 3
Cotton Watercolor Paper Block
~$35
If you only buy one watercolor gift, consider paper. Cotton paper handles water, lifting and layering far better than cheap wood-pulp pads, and many painters say it's the change that improved their work most. A block is glued on all sides so it stays flat as it dries. It's a consumable gift that never goes unused.
- 4
Alcohol Marker Set
~$40
Blendable markers loved by illustrators, comic and manga artists and designers. They bleed through ordinary paper, so add a marker pad if they don't have one. Best for someone already drawing digitally or with fineliners who wants bold, flat color.
Why the 150-piece art set is a trap
Every holiday season, huge art sets appear in wooden cases with dozens of pencils, pastels, paints and brushes in neat rows. They look like the most generous gift possible. For a child, they can be a lot of fun. For anyone who already makes art, they're usually a disappointment: the materials are student or craft grade, the brushes shed, and they cover so many mediums that none of them is good enough to work with.
Artists would almost always rather have three good things in the medium they use than fifty mediocre things in mediums they don't. So narrow it down. Peek at their desk, ask what they're working on, or notice which supplies they keep talking about running out of. A single tube of quality paint in a favorite color is a better gift than a box of everything.
Studio upgrades for long sessions
Making art means sitting in one position for hours, often in poor light, at a kitchen table that has to be cleared for dinner. These gifts make the workspace kinder, whether they have a proper studio or a corner of the living room.
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Full-Spectrum Daylight Craft Lamp
~$55
Most household bulbs throw a warm cast that makes it hard to judge color, which is why so many artists only paint in daylight. A daylight-balanced lamp lets them work in the evening and trust what they see. It's a practical gift that will be used every session, and kind to older eyes doing close work.
- 6
Wooden Tabletop Easel
~$40
A small easel that sits on a table and tilts the work toward them. It gets a painter or drawer out of the hunched-over posture that comes from working flat, and it doesn't take over a room. A great fit for someone working at the kitchen table or in a small apartment.
- 7
Fine Art Brush Cleaning and Storage Station
~$28
A tidy spot for rinsing and drying brushes so they don't end up standing bristle-down in a jar of murky water, which is how good brushes get ruined. It's a thoughtful, slightly nerdy gift for a painter who has spent real money on brushes.
- 8
Digital Drawing Tablet
~$70
A pen tablet that plugs into a computer, for an artist curious about digital painting without the price of a screen tablet. There's a learning curve, since they'll draw on the pad while looking at the monitor, but most people adjust within a few weeks. Check it works with their computer and drawing software.
- 9
LED Tracing Light Pad
~$25
A thin, bright panel for tracing a rough sketch onto clean paper. Illustrators, comic artists and hand letterers use one to ink final versions without erasing a messy draft. It's inexpensive, slim enough to slide onto a shelf, and the kind of tool people wish they'd bought sooner.
A new medium to fall for
Many artists love a reason to try something new without committing to it. These kits and sets are good entry points for a painter who's curious, or a crafter who wants a fresh project.
- 10~$30
Gouache Paint Set
Opaque, matte watercolor's cousin. Lovely for illustrators who want flat, bold color and the option to paint light over dark.
Artists & Craftersfun - 11~$40
Water-Mixable Oil Paint Set
Oils that clean up with water instead of solvents. Lets an acrylic or watercolor painter try oils at home without the fumes.
Artists & Craftersexperience - 12~$56
Linocut Printmaking Starter Press Kit
Carve a block, roll on ink and print. Satisfying for anyone who draws, and the prints make great homemade cards.
Artists & Craftersexperience - 13~$60
Beginner Stained Glass Craft Kit
A beginner stained-glass-style project with pre-cut pieces, so no glass cutting. A colorful, patient afternoon for a crafter who likes decorative work.
Artists & Craftersunique - 14~$34
Bookbinding Awl and Waxed Thread Workshop Set
Tools for sewing their own sketchbooks. A natural next step for an artist who fills a lot of them.
Artists & CraftersBook Loversexperience - 15~$35
Calligraphy Dip Pen and Ink Set
Pointed nibs and ink for traditional lettering. Rewarding for someone with a steady hand and a bit of patience.
Artists & CraftersFashion Loversluxe
For the teenager who draws in every margin
Some of the most dedicated artists you'll buy for are teenagers covering every notebook in characters. They often work with whatever's in the house, so one proper tool or a structured kit can feel like being taken seriously. Ask what they draw; a manga fan and a portrait sketcher want different things.
If they share their work online, that's a good sign they'd welcome supplies that look and feel like what artists they follow use.
- 16
Learn to Draw Manga Starter Kit
~$30
A kit with guidance on proportions, expressions and panels plus the pens to practice with. It suits a younger teen who loves anime and copies characters but wants to start drawing their own. For an older teen who's already confident, the alcohol markers above are the better gift.
- 17
Sketchbook and Colored Pencil Art Case
~$30
A portable case with a sketchbook, colored pencils and a sharpener that fits in a school bag, so drawing can happen on the bus or at lunch. It's a solid all-round starter that doesn't overwhelm. A good choice when you know they draw but aren't sure in which medium.
- 18
Pastel Pencil Portrait Set
~$35
Pastel pencils with a toned sketchbook and blending stumps, for soft skin tones and portraits with more control than stick pastels. A nice step for a teen who already draws faces in graphite and wants to bring in color. Pastel is dusty, so it suits someone with a desk of their own.
Under $25 for the sketchbook bag
Small, useful things for artists who draw on the go, plus one that feeds their curiosity. Good for stockings or alongside a bigger supply upgrade.
19.Hardcover Mixed-Media Sketchbook ~$20
Artists fill sketchbooks constantly, and nobody minds a spare. Heavier paper that lies flat and takes light washes is always welcome.
20.Canvas Paintbrush Roll ~$18
Slots protect brush tips in a bag on the way to class or a sketch outing. Cheap insurance for good brushes.
21.Brush Pen Hand Lettering Set ~$18
Flexible brush-tip pens for lettering, quick gesture sketches and adding a splash of ink. Fun for beginners and handy in any pencil case.
22.Museum Collection Curator Talk Streaming Pass ~$25
Talks from museum curators they can watch at home. A thoughtful pick for an art lover who rarely gets to galleries.
Shop this guide by price
Under $25
$25–$50
How to buy art supplies for an artist
Learn their medium before anything else. Watercolor, oils, acrylics, colored pencil, digital and printmaking all need different things.
Buy fewer, better materials. One artist-grade set beats a large box of student supplies.
Consumables are safe. Paper, sketchbooks and paint all get used up, so even a duplicate isn't wasted.
Consider an experience. A local workshop, a life drawing session or a museum membership feeds their practice without adding clutter.
Not sure where to start? Our gift finder can suggest ideas once you tell it what they make.
Questions about buying for artists
What do artists actually want as gifts?
Usually better versions of the supplies they already use: artist-grade pencils or paint, good cotton paper, sketchbooks. Studio upgrades like a daylight lamp or tabletop easel are also popular, as are classes and museum memberships.
What's the difference between student and artist-grade supplies?
Artist-grade materials have more pigment and fewer fillers, so colors are richer, mix better and often resist fading. Student grade is fine for practice, but most artists notice the difference immediately.
What's a good gift for a beginner artist?
A good sketchbook, a small set of quality pencils or paints in one medium, and a class or two. Avoid giant all-in-one sets, which spread a budget thin across materials they may never use.
What can I give an artist who has everything?
Something to try: gouache, water-mixable oils, linocut printing or bookbinding. Or an experience, like a workshop with a local artist. Consumables like cotton paper are also always appreciated.