Buying gifts for artists is tricky because most people who draw or paint already have strong preferences, and the giant “deluxe art case” that looks impressive in a store is usually the one box they cannot use. Whether you are shopping for Christmas gifts for artists or a birthday upgrade, the safest picks fit how they already work: more of a consumable they burn through, a sturdy desk tool that removes an everyday nuisance, or a step up in a medium they love.
Picks marked “I use this” are from my own kit. Every other idea comes from my research-based guides, where I explain who each product suits and who should skip it; I have not hands-on tested those. Gift sizes are rough tiers, not prices. A card may show a live Amazon price with the time it was read; the button takes you to the current price at Amazon. My method.
The short answer
- Fit how they already workmore of a consumable they use (100% cotton paper, white paint pens, gouache wetting spray), a desk upgrade that never clashes with their favorite paint brand (a ceramic palette or tabletop easel), or a step up in their main medium.
- From my own deskmy 14-well MEEDEN ceramic palette, MEEDEN ceramic brush wash bowl and MEEDEN H-Frame Tabletop Easel suit any painter; by medium, the 24-color Fuumuui CREAMORA watercolor set or my 48-color HIMI Twin Cup Jelly Gouache.
- For Decemberthe MEEDEN art advent calendar, 24 painting and craft gifts, ordered in November.
- Big giftsa refillable alcohol marker set (Ohuhu 48) for someone who draws, a large soft-core pencil set (Prismacolor Premier 150) for pencil artists, a pen display (HUION Kamvas 13) once you know their computer can drive it, or a Cricut Explore 5 for the maker.
- Skipgiant all-in-one cases, a different brand of something they already love, and supplies for a medium they do not use.
Quick gift finder
Filter by what they make and how big a gift you have in mind. Every card links to the full guide that explains the pick.
ARTISTRO 36 Dual-Tip Acrylic Paint Markers
A big color range in ready-to-use paint pens. The dot tip is built for dot art, rocks and pumpkins, and the pens need no pump-priming.
Read why in my acrylic paint pens guide
KALOUR 72 Colored Pencils
A low-cost 72-color set for coloring books and practice. Numbered barrels make it easy to swatch, follow color-by-number guides and reorder what you use most.
Read why in my colored pencils for adults guide
Fuxi 9 × 12 in Spiral Sketchbook, 100 Sheets
An everyday practice pad for dry media: a toothy, acid-free 100 gsm sheet, a top spiral that stays out of the way of either hand, and enough pages to fill without guilt.
Read why in my sketchbooks by medium guide
POSCA PC-5M Paint Markers, Medium Tip, 8 Colors
The paint pen the others are compared with: opaque water-based paint through a reversible medium nib, permanent on porous surfaces and removable from most non-porous ones, per the maker.
Read why in my acrylic paint pens guide
Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Sketchers' Pocket Set, 12 Half Pans
Winsor & Newton's pocket-sized plastic box of 12 student-grade half pans, with a mixing palette in the lid and a pocket brush, from a maker that names every color in the set.
Read why in my travel watercolor sets guide
Sakura Koi Pocket Field Sketch Kit, 24 Colors with Water Brush
Sakura's 24-color pocket kit of watercolor cakes with a 9 ml water brush, a plastic mixing palette and a sponge, so you can paint without a separate water jar.
Read why in my travel watercolor sets guide
LitEnergy A4 LED Light Pad
A thin, USB-powered tracing pad: put a sketch under clean paper and transfer lines without graphite on the back. It also lights diamond-painting canvases from below so symbols are easier to read.
Read why in my light boxes for tracing guide
Glowing Dream Forest Diamond Painting Kit
A small, low-commitment first kit: a square canvas fully covered in round drills, with the basic pen, wax and tray included. The small canvas makes it a much shorter project than a wall-size kit.
Read why in my diamond painting kits guide
Creative Mark Tao Bamboo Painting Desk Easel and Drawing Stand
A low bamboo desk stand that props a sketchbook, pad or small panel at one of five angles and folds flat enough for a backpack.
Read why in my tabletop easels guide
Winsor & Newton Designers Gouache Paint Set, 10 × 12 ml
Ten tubes of Winsor & Newton's long-running Designers Gouache, built around process yellow, magenta and cyan plus white and black, so you learn to mix the colors a big set would hand you.
Read why in my gouache paint for beginners guide
Faber-Castell 9000 Graphite Sketch Pencil Set, 8B–2H, 12 Pencils
Twelve grades from hard 2H to soft 8B in one set, from a maker with a long record in graphite. Enough range to learn what each grade does before you settle on favorites.
Read why in my sketching pencils for beginners guide
STAEDTLER Mars Lumograph Graphite Pencil Set, 6 Count (8B, 7B, 6B, 4B, 2B, HB)
Six soft-leaning grades from HB to 8B in a metal tin: a focused set for shading, tonal studies and portraits rather than technical line work.
Read why in my sketching pencils for beginners guide
Pentel Arts Oil Pastels, 50 Color Set (PHN-50)
Fifty colors with a carrying case, made for paper, canvas and board. A big palette for the money, so you spend your first weeks drawing rather than mixing.
Read why in my oil pastels for beginners guide
MUNGYO Gallery Soft Oil Pastel Set, 48 Colors (MOPV-48)
MUNGYO's Gallery line of soft oil pastels: 48 colors, one round stick per shade. Soft sticks lay down color with little pressure and blend by finger or stump, which is most of the fun of the medium.
Read why in my oil pastels for beginners guide
Mini Brands Mini Masterpieces Advent Calendar, Series 1, by ZURU
Not art supplies: a 20-day countdown of tiny collectible copies of famous paintings plus a mini statue and accessories, for building a miniature gallery, per the listing.
Read why in my art advent calendars guide
Mijello Airtight Fusion 18-Well Watercolor Palette (MWP-3018)
A folding plastic palette with 18 slanted wells, two large mixing areas and a lid the listing calls airtight and leak-proof, made for carrying tube paint squeezed out and dried into your own pan palette.
Read why in my ceramic vs plastic palette guide
Princeton Velvetouch Series 3950 Mixed Media Brush Set, 5 Brushes
Princeton's mixed-media synthetic line in five shapes: two rounds, a filbert, an angle shader and a tiny spotter. Princeton describes a resilient snap, precise tapering and good color holding, and names gouache among its uses.
Read why in my brushes for gouache guide
Winsor & Newton Foundation Watercolour Brush Set, Round & Flat, 6 Brushes
A student starter set of three small rounds and three small flats in golden synthetic, from the maker of Designers Gouache. The flats lay even color fields; the rounds do edges and details.
Read why in my brushes for gouache guide
Ohuhu Alcohol Markers, 48 Colors, Brush & Fine
Brand partner codeA brush-tip alcohol marker set big enough to blend skin tones, skies and shadows, with refills and spare nibs sold separately, so worn markers can be revived instead of replaced.
Read why in my alcohol markers for beginners guide
Shuttle Art Acrylic Paint Set, 36 Colors
A big bottle set for crafts, rocks, canvas practice and paint nights: fluid, quick-drying craft acrylic in enough colors that a beginner rarely has to mix.
Read why in my acrylic paint sets for beginners guide
Caliart 176-Piece Sketching and Drawing Kit
A complete drawing starter in one case: graded graphite, charcoal and three colors of paper, so a new artist can try value studies, toned-paper highlights and a little color before choosing a direction.
Read why in my art kits for kids by age guide
Pagather Acrylic Paint Markers, 72 Colors, Fine & Brush
The brush-tip option among paint pens: paint-like strokes and lettering on paper, wood and canvas, in a range large enough for shading with color rather than mixing.
Read why in my acrylic paint pens guide
Wacom Intuos Small Pen Tablet, Wired, Black
A screenless pen tablet: a small drawing pad and a battery-free pen that work in any desktop art app. You draw on the pad while looking at your monitor, which takes some practice.
Read why in my drawing tablets with a screen guide
Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor, 20 Tubes
A student-grade set from an established watercolor maker, with a sensible spread of warm and cool primaries and earth colors in tubes you squeeze into your own palette.
Read why in my watercolor sets for beginners guide
Mabef Value Folding Field Easel (M/29)
A folding beech field easel from an Italian easel maker: a tripod you carry on a strap, with a canvas holder that pivots from upright for oils to flat for watercolor.
Read why in my easels for painting guide
U.S. Art Supply Large Adjustable Wooden Desktop Easel with Storage
A tabletop sketchbox: a lidded beech box that stores paints and brushes in four compartments and opens into an easel for canvases up to 34 inches.
Read why in my tabletop easels guide
Jack Richeson Lyptus Wood Table Top Easel
A heavy hardwood table easel with the tallest canvas capacity in this guide: 40 inches per the listing, on an 18 × 18.25 inch base.
Read why in my tabletop easels guide
HIMI Gouache Paint Set, 24 Colors × 30 ml Jelly Cups
A complete gouache starter in one case: 24 colors in sealed jelly cups, a palette and three brushes. Open a cup and paint; nothing to squeeze or set up.
Read why in my gouache paint for beginners guide
DIYDEC Advent Calendar 2026, Christmas Acrylic Painting Set
A one-medium countdown: 24 days that add up to a basic acrylic painting kit of tube paint, brushes, palette knives, canvases and a small tabletop easel, per DIYDEC's listing.
Read why in my art advent calendars guide
ArtSkills 25 Day Christmas Craft Advent Calendar 2026
A kids' countdown of 25 small holiday crafts, mostly ornaments and decorations to hang once they are done, each with its instructions on the bag, per ArtSkills' listing.
Read why in my art advent calendars guide
Silver Brush Black Velvet Watercolor Beginning Round Set, 3 Brushes
Three soft rounds that hold a lot of paint. Silver Brush makes them for watercolor and also names gouache, so they suit gouache thinned for washes, skies and soft glazes.
Read why in my brushes for gouache guide
Cricut Explore 5 Essential Bundle
The middle of Cricut's range: a full 12-inch cutting width and the common craft materials, without paying for the Maker line's thick-material tools. The Essential Bundle adds vinyl, iron-on, cardstock and card inserts.
Read why in my cricut machines for beginners guide
Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils, 150 Count
The large soft-core set many colored-pencil artists grow into: creamy laydown that blends and burnishes to a painted look, in a range wide enough that you mix less.
Read why in my colored pencils for adults guide
HUION Kamvas 13 (Gen 3) Pen Display, Black
A compact pen display that puts the pen on the picture, with a laminated, anti-glare screen and two dials for zoom and brush size. It is a monitor for your computer, not a standalone tablet.
Read why in my drawing tablets with a screen guide
XPPen Artist 12 (3rd Gen) Pen Display, Silver Grey
The budget pen display here, without dropping the parts that matter: a fully laminated 11.9-inch screen, eight keys and two dials, and a stand in the box. It is a monitor for your computer, not a standalone tablet.
Read why in my drawing tablets with a screen guide
HUION Kamvas 16 (Gen 3) Pen Display, Black
The same pen and glass as the Kamvas 13 (Gen 3) on a 15.8-inch, 2560 × 1440 screen: room for arm movement and a sharper picture. It needs a computer and a bigger desk.
Read why in my drawing tablets with a screen guide
Wacom MovinkPad 11 Android Drawing Tablet with Pro Pen 3
A drawing tablet that is the computer: an Android 14 tablet built around Wacom's pen, with an etched matte screen and drawing apps included. Nothing to plug in, so it works on a couch, a train or a café table.
Read why in my drawing tablets with a screen guide
MEEDEN Portable French Easel, Beech Wood
Brand partner codeA box easel that is a paint drawer, a tripod and a tabletop easel in one: tilt it flat for watercolor or upright for oils, and carry it outdoors on a strap.
Read why in my easels for painting guide
U.S. Art Supply Medium Wooden Studio H-Frame Easel with Storage Tray
A floor-standing H-frame for one spot in your home: a tall mast for canvases up to 48 inches and a supply tray that moves down for sitting or up for standing.
Read why in my easels for painting guide
MEEDEN Christmas Advent Calendar 2026
Brand partner codeA 24-day Christmas countdown of painting, drawing and holiday craft projects, one individually packed gift a day, per MEEDEN's listing.
Read why in my meeden advent calendar 2026 guide
Ohuhu Christmas Craft Advent Calendar 2026
Brand partner codeA 24-day marker countdown from Ohuhu: alcohol and acrylic markers, glitter pens, sketchbooks and small coloring and ornament projects, plus a canvas tote and zip pouch, per Ohuhu's listing.
Read why in my art advent calendars guide
Grabie Christmas Advent Calendar 2026, 12 Days (3D Nutcracker)
A shorter, 12-day countdown built around five guided art projects with QR video tutorials, in a 3D Nutcracker box that stays out as a holiday decoration, per Grabie's listing.
Read why in my art advent calendars guideGifts for painters who already have paint
The safest gifts for painters sit on the desk rather than in the paint box, so they never clash with a favorite brand. These three MEEDEN pieces are on my own desk:
- A ceramic paletteas I share in my 14-well MEEDEN ceramic palette review, I have a habit of mixing all the colors of a painting before I start, so its 12 smaller rectangular wells and 2 larger central wells in a sturdy, stain-free porcelain tray really suit my workflow.
- A ceramic brush wash bowlmy two-well MEEDEN Ceramic Paint Brush Wash Bowl keeps one compartment for rinsing brushes and the other for clean mixing water, without getting stained by paint like plastic bowls.
- A tabletop easelon my MEEDEN H-Frame Tabletop Easel, MEEDEN’s beechwood feels genuinely very sturdy and the natural H-frame design looks clean and aesthetic on the desk; per the listing, it holds canvases up to 23 inches high across 7 tilt angles and folds flat when a session ends. For plein air, a MEEDEN Portable French Easel adds a supply drawer and tripod legs.
My videoMEEDEN Ceramic Watercolor Paint Palette, 14 Wells
Paid link · I may earn from it
- Material
- Ceramic (glazed white porcelain)
- Wells
- 14 (12 smaller rectangular + 2 larger mixing wells)
I have a habit of mixing all the colors of a painting before I start, so this 14-well ceramic palette really suits me—and it is very sturdy and does not stain.
MEEDEN Ceramic Paint Brush Wash Bowl
Paid link · I may earn from it
- Material
- White porcelain / ceramic
- Compartments
- 2 deep divided wells
A heavy, two-compartment ceramic brush wash bowl on my desk: deep, roomy wells with one side to rinse brushes and the other for clean mixing water, glazed ceramic that does not stain like plastic, and a stable, non-slip weight that holds brushes upright even when empty.
My videoMEEDEN H-Frame Tabletop Easel, Beech
Paid link · I may earn from it
- Wood
- Beech
- Canvas
- Up to 23 in high
A tabletop easel I really like on my desk: MEEDEN's beechwood is genuinely sturdy and the H-frame design looks clean and aesthetic in my workspace.
Gifts for watercolor artists
When people ask for gifts for watercolor artists, paper and porcelain are the two answers that never go to waste. Even an artist with a full tin of pans always needs fresh 100% cotton paper and a non-staining surface to mix washes, like the ceramic palette above.
- 100% cotton, 300 gsm (140 lb) watercolor papercotton absorbs water evenly so washes glow instead of streaking, and a glued block keeps sheets flat without taping. Choose cold press for everyday texture or hot press for smooth ink-and-wash detail; see my watercolor guide and sketchbook guide.
- A new paint setmy kit includes the 24-color Fuumuui CREAMORA set—24 muted gray tones in a semi-solid opaque watercolor format, per the listing, for atmospheric palettes. For traditional transparent tubes, the Winsor & Newton Cotman 20-tube set.
- A travel set for painting away from the deskan all-in-one kit with its own palette and paper, or a pocket box that sits beside their sketchbook; I compare four in my travel watercolor sets guide.
My videoFuumuui CREAMORA Watercolor, 24 Colors
Paid link · I may earn from it
- Colors
- 24 muted gray tones
- Format
- Semi-solid opaque paint
24 muted gray tones in opaque, semi-solid pans that the maker says cover like gouache and blend like watercolor: what the listing claims, and what my unboxing Short shows.
Gifts for gouache painters
Most of my own paintings are made with my 48-color HIMI Twin Cup Jelly Gouache set—while HIMI is not a premium brand, the paint quality is very good and widely used by artists, provided the box is aired regularly and misted with clean water or a gouache wetting spray so the cups do not mold or dry hard. The spray is the small add-on for anyone who already paints with jelly gouache; a ceramic palette and wash bowl suit gouache as well as watercolor. Compare HIMI with tube sets in my beginner gouache guide.
My videoHIMI Twin Cup Jelly Gouache, 48 Colors
$29.69List Price: $32.99Save 10%
as of Nov 3, 2026, 11:15 UTCDetails
Price and availability show on Amazon.
Paid link · I may earn from it
- Colors
- 48 × 12 g
- Format
- Jelly gouache in twin cups
The gouache set I use for most of my paintings: not a premium brand, but very good paint quality that is widely used by artists—as long as you air the box and mist the cups so they do not mold or dry hard.
Gifts for marker artists
For someone who paints with acrylic markers, a 60- to 72-color brush-tip acrylic marker case is the gift—see my hands-on ENMY 60 review (best coverage and blending in my kit, in sweet pastel and macaron tones), LET’S RESIN 72 review, Languo 60 review and ARRTX 60 review. For tiny sketchbook details, my 90-color Languo 1 mm acrylic gel pens are the smaller gift. For alcohol-marker illustrators, a refillable Ohuhu 48 brush set is the researched pick; acrylic vs alcohol markers explains which kind they likely use.
Gifts for beginner painters
Beginners do best with a focused set in one medium plus heavy paper they do not feel precious about using up:
- Acrylica big starter acrylic set for rocks, crafts and first canvases, or a smaller heavy-body tube set if they want to learn color mixing with brush strokes that hold their shape.
- Watercolor and gouachea student-grade watercolor tube set or a 24-color jelly gouache starter box paired with a pad of 300 gsm paper.
- Drawing and kids’ kitsa graded beginner sketching pencil set, soft oil pastels, or a complete drawing case from my kids’ and beginner art kits guide.
For artists who draw
- Colored pencil artistsa large soft-core set is a classic milestone gift because more shades mean smoother gradients with less layering fatigue.
- Marker illustratorsa refillable brush-tip alcohol marker set plus smooth, bleed-resistant marker paper.
- Graphite sketchers and ink artistsa full-range graphite pencil tin from 2H to 8B, a toothy sketchbook matched to dry media, and a dimmable A4 LED light pad for transferring rough sketches onto clean finish paper.
For digital artists
A pen display is the big upgrade for someone who draws on a screenless pad or a mouse. Check that their laptop or desktop can drive a video display over USB-C or HDMI first (my guide walks through the port check). For smaller gifts: a two-finger drawing glove, an adjustable stand, or a license for software they have mentioned. For someone who would rather sketch with a real pen on paper, the Huion Note X10 I draw in puts each page on their phone or tablet as they go.
For crafters and makers
- Vinyl, stickers and paper craftsa Cricut machine turns hand-drawn art into die-cut stickers, custom decals, iron-on shirts and greeting cards.
- Surface painting and journalingopaque acrylic paint pens (or budget-friendly POSCA alternatives including the brush-tip sets and 1 mm acrylic gel pens I use) for rocks, mugs, wood ornaments, canvas and black paper.
- Quiet evening projectsdiamond painting kits with round drills and an A4 light pad for relaxed, screen-free nights.
Small, affordable gifts and stocking stuffers
For a small budget or a cheap but useful gift, pick consumables an artist replaces every few months or compact ceramic and pen upgrades that slip straight into a gift bag. My stocking stuffers for artists guide has more, including a section for kids:
- Studio helpers from my kitmy 14-well MEEDEN ceramic palette, my two-well MEEDEN ceramic brush wash bowl, or a bottle of HIMI Gouache Wetting Spray for anyone who paints with jelly gouache.
- Small pen, pencil and paint setsmy 90-color Languo 1 mm acrylic gel pens for tiny sketchbook details, an 8-pack of POSCA PC-5M paint markers (white runs out first), or a 6-pencil Staedtler Mars Lumograph shading tin.
- Add-on consumablesa 100-sheet spiral sketchbook, a 300 gsm cotton watercolor block, a kneaded eraser, or a compact 35 × 35 cm diamond painting kit.
Secret Santa gifts for artists
For a Secret Santa or office gift exchange, when you may not know what they paint with, choose something that works with any brand and needs no color choices:
- A ceramic desk piece: the MEEDEN ceramic palette or two-well brush wash bowl I use, both under 8 inches long per the listings.
- A small pad of 100% cotton watercolor paper for painters, or a 6-pencil shading tin for sketchers.
- Something they can use up: an 8-pack of POSCA paint markers or a set of acrylic gel pens for journaling.
Mid-size gifts
Mid-size gifts hit the sweet spot for birthdays and Christmas: a complete, high-utility set or piece of studio furniture that feels substantial without needing to know the recipient’s entire inventory.
- For someone who draws or colorsthe Ohuhu 48-color brush and fine alcohol marker set includes a colorless blender and carrying case, and Ohuhu sells ink refills and spare brush nibs separately so the set grows with them.
- For painters at a deskmy solid beechwood MEEDEN H-Frame Tabletop Easel or the 48-color HIMI Twin Cup Jelly Gouache set (or the researched 24-color HIMI starter case).
- For acrylic-marker fansone of the brush-tip marker cases above.
- For watercoloriststhe Winsor & Newton Cotman 20-tube set paired with a 14-well ceramic palette.
Big gifts
When you are pooling for a main holiday gift, stick to flagship sets and hardware that an artist often hesitates to buy for themselves:
- For a December countdownthe MEEDEN Christmas Advent Calendar 2026, 24 numbered painting, drawing and holiday craft gifts per MEEDEN’s listing; order in November so it arrives before December 1.
- For colored pencil artiststhe Prismacolor Premier 150-count set gives pencil artists the full soft-core range in one storage case for layering and burnishing.
- For digital illustratorsthe 13.3-inch HUION Kamvas 13 (Gen 3) pen display puts the stylus directly on a laminated anti-glare screen, once you verify their computer outputs video.
- For crafters and sticker makersthe Cricut Explore 5 Essential Bundle pairs a 12-inch cutting width with starter vinyl, iron-on and cardstock in the box.
- For plein air paintersa beechwood MEEDEN Portable French Easel for outdoor painting.
Partner codes
Brand partner codes, for buying on the brands’ own sites:
MEEDEN ARTUp to 12% OFF with my code: HOONGANA
FUUMUUI ARTGet 10% OFF with my code: hoongana
LOBEO ARTGet 10% OFF with my code: hoongana
OHUHUGet 10% OFF with my code: hoongana
These are partner links and codes: I earn from purchases made with them.
What not to buy
- Giant all-in-one cases for anyone past the beginner stage. They duplicate what an artist already owns at lower quality.
- A different brand of something they already love. If they use one marker brand, buy more of it.
- Supplies for a medium they do not use, unless they have said they want to try it.
- Anything “professional” chosen by price alone. A gift card or a voucher for a class can be the better gift.
How I picked
Each idea is a product I cover in depth in one of my guides or hands-on reviews, with the maker’s specs, the exact variant checked by hand, and a clear “who should skip it”. I chose gifts across mediums and sizes so there is something for each kind of artist; I did not choose by commission. Read my method.
Questions
What do you get an artist who has everything?
Consumables they burn through (100% cotton paper, white paint pens, gouache wetting spray, refills), a class or workshop, or a studio upgrade that removes a nuisance—like an A4 light pad, a ceramic palette, or a two-well ceramic brush wash bowl.
What is a good Christmas gift for an artist when you don’t know what they own?
Choose universal studio tools that work with any brand of paint or pencil: a pad of 300 gsm 100% cotton watercolor paper, a glazed porcelain palette or brush wash bowl, a solid beechwood tabletop easel, or a 2026 art advent calendar ordered before December 1.
What’s a good gift for a beginner artist?
A focused starter set in the one medium they want to try—such as a 24-color jelly gouache box, a student watercolor set or graded sketching pencils—plus plenty of paper. See my kids’ and beginner kits guide.
Is a drawing tablet a good gift?
For someone who already draws digitally, yes. Confirm their computer supports it first; a pen display needs a computer that can output video.