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Winsor and Newton Watercolor Set
About $45
Why it landsProfessional grade pigment that mixes cleanly, a noticeable step up from student grade paints.
Passions · Gift guide
Gifts for Working Artists
Materials serious hobbyists actually run out of
Shop by budget
An artist who draws or paints regularly goes through supplies fast and has firm preferences about brands most people have never heard of. This list is built around the materials that show up in art school supply lists and studio recommendations, things that get used up and need replacing rather than decorative pieces that sit on a shelf.
The picks
All 12 picks at a glance
- 1Winsor and Newton Watercolor SetAbout $45
- 2Copic Sketch Markers Set of 12About $65
- 3Strathmore Mixed Media SketchbookAbout $15
- 4Faber Castell Polychromos Colored Pencils Tin of 24About $45
- 5Apple Pencil 2nd GenerationAbout $129
- 6Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils 72 CountAbout $50
- 7Blick Tabletop EaselAbout $40
- 8Golden Acrylic Paint SetAbout $35
- 9Canson XL Mixed Media PadAbout $12
- 10Derwent Inktense Pencils SetAbout $28
- 11Wacom Cintiq 16 Drawing TabletAbout $650
- 12Winsor and Newton Cotman Brush Pen SetAbout $20
All 12 picks
Open the Giftella app and tell it what medium they work in, whether painting or drawing or digital, and it will turn this list into a pick for their studio.
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Straight answers
How these guides work
What is a good gift for someone who loves to draw or paint?
Quality materials in their preferred medium tend to disappear fast, so a well made set of colored pencils, markers, or paint refills is almost always welcome. A tablet like an Apple Pencil also opens up digital art.
Should I get an artist a drawing tablet as a gift?
If they already sketch digitally or want to start, a Wacom Cintiq or an iPad with Apple Pencil is a genuinely exciting gift. Just confirm their setup first since tablets vary in compatibility across devices.
What art supplies do artists actually use up and need more of?
Sketchbooks, colored pencils, and markers get used constantly and run low faster than people expect. Brands like Copic, Prismacolor, and Faber Castell are trusted names that most working artists already recognize and prefer.
Where can I buy these gifts?
Every pick lists three or four stores that actually sell that kind of thing: Amazon, plus places like Target, Walmart, Best Buy, Sephora, Nordstrom, Etsy, REI or the brand's own site. Each button opens that store's search for the exact item, so you can buy wherever you already shop. Compare prices checks the rest of the web.
Does a brand pay to be in this guide?
No. Placement is never for sale. Giftella may earn a small affiliate commission if you buy through a link here, at no extra cost to you, and that never decides what makes the list.
Giftella may earn a small commission when you buy through some links on this page, such as Amazon, at no extra cost to you. The other store links are plain searches with nothing added. Prices and availability are set by each retailer and change often, so treat what you see here as a starting point rather than a quote. Every pick is chosen by a Giftella editor. No brand pays for a place in a guide.