What To Buy An Artist For The Holidays

If you are looking for gift ideas for artists this holiday season, I’ve got some amazing recommendations for you!

Note that I have no affiliation with any of the options I suggest. These are gift ideas from an artist, for artists, to get you started down the right path:

• An art print from their favorite artist

  Many artists offer affordable art prints of their original works, and many sign their prints as well. You can casually ask the gift recipient who their favorite artist is and why to get an idea of what might be the perfect art print for them.

• A commissioned art piece

  To really ‘wow’ the artist in your life, surprise them with a commissioned piece by their favorite artist. This could be a pet portrait of their furry friend or children, or a landscape painting of their favorite place (maybe where they got engaged, where they like to hike, or their favorite beach). Note that professional artists typically offer a limited number of commission slots, especially during the holidays, so you’ll have to act fast to ensure you give the artist enough time to complete the piece and ship it to you.

• Art supplies

  You may think the artist you are buying for has enough art supplies already. They don’t. They never will. Buying supplies is their favorite pastime. In fact, they likely have a very long Amazon or Blick Art Materials wish list ready to share. Find their list, buy some items, and put them in a pretty basket (preferably one they can use to store art supplies in).

  You could also surprise them with supplies they don’t have on their list but could use every day, like a beautiful set of Blackwing pencils.

• Art Classes

  Even if the artist in your life is a master at their craft, creatives LOVE to learn new skills. We get bored doing the same things all the time. Know an oil painter? Gift them a graphite drawing course. Are they a digital illustrator? See if there is a local ceramics studio where they can get their hands into some clay once or twice a month. They will appreciate the gift and maybe even discover a new passion, all thanks to you.

• Art Box Subscription

  What could be better than receiving boxes of art supplies each month? There are a number of options available - a quick Google search will lead you to one that fits with your gift recipient. One that I personally subscribe to is the Let’s Make Art watercolor art box and class. It provides supplies and online classes every month. I highly recommend it!

• Artist and Crafting Group Membership

  If you think the artist in your life could use some community support, there are artist groups online and in many local communities that offer live classes and online spaces to create artwork and share tips with like-minded creatives. Check with your local art studios and craft stores.

• Art Books

  There are so many gorgeous art books that make lovely gifts! I wrote a blog last week listing a dozen art book recommendations. Check it out for some ideas. Bundle it with a special bookmark created by an artist and you’ve just elevated this gift to something really special.

• A Sketchbook

  A beautiful sketchbook is a great gift for artists. You can even create a personalized sketchbook through Denik with some of your artist friend’s artwork on the cover. Pair it with some drawing supplies and you’ll be giving a truly special gift.

• A Gift Card To Their Favorite Artist’s Shop

  If you simply aren’t sure what to choose, purchase a gift card to an artist’s online shop or gallery. Any art lover will appreciate a gift that allows them to buy something special while supporting the artist community.

• Offer to Provide Uninterrupted Creative Time

  If the person you are buying for is driven to create but struggles to find uninterrupted creative time (a.k.a. they are a Mom), your gift could be providing child care for a few hours so they can focus on their art. This is something that costs you nothing but your own time, and it will be SO appreciated! I created the cute coupons below for you to print out and slip into their holiday card.

  
  I hope this list helps you find the perfect gift for the artist in your life. Happy Holidays!

Print this “Creativity Coupon” and slip it into a card to offer the artist in your life some uninterrupted creative time. Simply right-click to save the image and print it out.