Six Gift Ideas for your Art Friends

December is always a full month and I hope this one finds you able to carve out a least a little time for some creative work.

Today I’m sharing lighter food for thought in the form of gift suggestions for the art lovers in your life, including yourself! These are things I frequently use in my studio. I don’t work for any of these companies—just love the products. All of the art supplies can be found at online or local art supply retailers.

1. A portable watercolor set

There’s nothing quite like a paint palette that easily fits in a bag or backpack. This one is made by Winsor & Newton. I’ve had it for years and use it often. It is small, maybe around 4” x 5” with trays that pull out. That blue tube in the middle is a removable water container. Perfect for travel or painting outside.

2. Arches watercolor paper

Cold-pressed Arches paper is hands down my favorite watercolor paper and has a beautiful painting surface. For those new to watercolor paper, cold pressed paper has visible surface texture while hot pressed paper is very smooth. I prefer the more textured surface for my work but a smooth surface is better for those who want to scan and digitize their paintings.

The bottom layer of this piece, Collecting, is painted on Arches cold pressed watercolor paper.

3. Blackwing Pencils

These live up to the hype and will ruin you for other pencils. Also, who can resist that that beautiful packaging? They are great for transferring drawings to create repeat patterns like the one seen underneath the dragonflies in this piece:

Dragonflies, 2022, Graphite, thread and watercolor on drafting film and paper.

4. Princeton Catalyst Brushes

These are the brushes I most often find myself reaching for and are great brushes for the price.

5. Golden Acrylic Paints

When I switched from working primarily in oils to acrylics it took me a while to find find my groove. Using Golden paints helped and they are by far my preferred acrylics. For oils, I recommend Gamblin paints and mediums.

Here is one of my paintings made with mostly Golden paints (funny enough it is the the gold paint that is not Golden brand):

Above and Below, 2023, Acrylic on canvas

6. Art Books

You can’t go wrong with an art book. The Creative Act: A Way of Being is a good read with a great cover.

Letters to a Young Artist is one of those books that becomes a dear friend, a book you’ll want to read over and over.

Creative Prompt

One of the best ways to break a creative block is to experiment with a new medium. Working with new materials creates new ways of seeing and problem-solving. This week’s prompt is to make something with a material that is entirely new to you. Double your inspiration by taking an art workshop at a nearby art center and exploring a new medium with a group of other creatives.

This is a picture I took during a letterpress workshop at Hamilton Wood Type Museum, a wonderful place to experiment and learn…and with historic wood type! Keep an eye on their workshop schedule here.

Happy Making!