$45
Winsor and Newton Watercolor Set
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
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
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.
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 a link on this page, at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability are set by the 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.