20 out-of-the-box gift ideas for the artists and creatives in your life

“The most wonderful time of the year” is just around the corner. No matter what you celebrate, the holiday season brings the opportunity to show how much you appreciate the artists in your life with a creative gift that shows your support. And if you want to give yourself a little treat here you’ll find something to celebrate your growth as a creator this year.

Keep reading to find the perfect gift for an artist in this list (or wishlist) curated by the ArtPlacer team and get them a token that reminds that person of how special they are and how much the world needs their unique creative voice.

Gift ideas for artists

From painters to photographers, illustrators and sculptors, and overall creatives, here you can find a little gift for that special someone in your life.

1. An ArtPlacer subscription

There is no better feeling than seeing your friends achieving their goals. To get their amazing creations in front of the right eyes, a creator needs a special set of art marketing tools, and this is where ArtPlacer comes in handy. A yearly subscription will give the artists in your life a boost in the promotion and overall awareness of their creations.

What does this subscription include? According to the plan you choose you can gift them a pack of features like:

-Exquisite room mockups to show art pieces in place. (including our customizable Smart Spaces).

–3D Virtual Exhibitions: customizable digital galleries to create art shows online.

-Website integrations: widgets that can create e-commerce and “try before you buy” experiences for potential customers on the artist’s website.

–Personal spaces: an easy way to show collectors how their art will look displayed in their own rooms.

–Art Fair Booth Planner: is your artist friend constantly working on their next in-situ exhibition? This digital tool will help them come up with the perfect setup for their pieces, saving time and resources. 

–Augmented Reality widget: through the ArtPlacer app potential customers or collectors can check how a piece would look in any space with just a few tabs.

–Discover Profile: to erase frontiers and show their work to a global audience, our Discover page unites collectors, artists, and art lovers in a place where they can find new art pieces and creators according to their taste, augmenting their reach and exposure.

Which ArtPlacer Plan is ideal to gift to your artist loved one?

Our Basic plan is ideal for novel artists and those who are taking their first steps in the art world, while our Advanced plan is thought for seasoned artists and gallerists. Our Premium plan, catered for big art businesses of all kinds that need full access to art marketing tools. 

Enter promo code ARTPLACERGIFT at checkout and get up to 30% off on the selected plan.

2. A journal

Journaling is more than just a trend. This is a full creative practice that can have many uses for artists: from “morning pages” exercises (free writing), to project documentation, ideas listing, and many more. A journal is a great gift for artists, they can turn it into whatever their creative process needs.

3. A stylus pen

In case you don’t know, a Stylus is a pen-like object used to draw on tablets and drawing pads. Your digital artist friend will find it useful and considerate, is a big push for what they do. Elevate this “simple” gift by adding a set of different rubber conductive foam nibs. These give the artist a wide array of options for lines and strokes and they can expand it with certain software or apps.

4. A Creativity book

Creativity needs to be stimulated and fed. Sometimes when we think we have run out of ideas, we just have run out of fuel. Give your artist friend an endless stream of inspiration with books focused on the creative process like “Steal like an artist” by Austin Kleon or “The artist’s way” by Julia Cameron. Here you can find a full list of books dedicated to artists.

5. A drawing pad

This gift is an investment but is so much worth it. A digital drawing pad opens a new set of possibilities for painters, illustrators, designers, and many more. There is one for every skill and mixed in with different apps is a well-rounded tool.

6. A disposable camera

Call it nostalgia or going back to basics. Disposable cameras are making a comeback. Many creators are going back to analog photography to experiment with this medium without the intervention of social media filters. A big plus is the tangible result they provide: ideal for collages and mixed media artworks. 

7. A set of brushes

A classic is a classic for a reason. No matter if your loved one is a seasoned artist or is taking their first steps in the art world, they will appreciate a fresh set of brushes. Make sure the set has a pair of flat brushes, and round ones, as well as filberts, fans, and wash brushes.

8. Apron or smock

Life in the studio can get messy and no one wants to interrupt their process to pay attention to a little stain. Let creativity run amok and gift a cool and comfortable linen apron or smock, look for one with pockets to have at hand their main tools to work on their piece.

9. A set of watercolor paints

There is an inherent beauty in watercolor paints, they have a certain softness and even a rebellious nature. Artists can do a myriad of things with this type of paint from a “wet on wet” technique to soft layers of color. Make sure to invest in a good quality set, even if it has limited a color palette, the opportunity to mix them in opens a set of possibilities for creators with different levels of skills.

10. A sketch paper notebook

Creativity might spark at any moment and having a nice sketch notebook with you at all times is a nice way to save up ideas, draft new creations, and define what to paint before hitting the canvas. Your artist friend will thank you for it.

11.  3D printing pen

What can be more fun than bringing an idea to life? With a Printing pen, any creator can dabble in the art of creating 3D pieces or sculptures. Besides the type of pen you can also choose the kind of filament they work with, there are options ranging from a variety of plastics to metal and wood.

12. A markers set

Never underestimate the power of a proper tool. A good set of markers will always come in handy no matter what medium an artist usually works with. You can choose different types and sizes of tips, as well as a variety of color palettes. 

13. A printing kit

A mini printing kit can be a thoughtful gift for creatives looking for a new medium to experiment with, starting to create prints of their own pieces or even launching their own art print business. Look for options like a traditional cyanotype printing set for beginners.

14. Color Sensor

Paint matching can be a lot of work, especially for artists working between the digital and physical worlds. Don’t worry, there is a special gift they will appreciate: a Color sensor or a little smart gadget that quickly allows you to scan a surface to measure and match its color on any digital device. This is one of the digital tools that every artist should have in their kit.

15. A set of pencils

This is the base of any artist’s tool kit. Either for drawing or sketching, a good set of pencils is an essential tool. You can go with traditional pencils or mechanical ones, make sure the set brings a variety of pencils from the light 9H to the dark and stronger 9B type.

16. A wooden human mannequin

Some artists are eternal students of the human form. A good quality wooden human mannequin is a great gift that will enable them to see a body from different angles and positions and bring them to life in the medium of preference. Plus, it is a good aesthetic touch to their personal studio or place of work.

17. A palette

A palette made in a material that is made to last, is essential for any artist. It should have enough space to carry the set of paints they are using but also for mixing and testing color shades. When it comes to shapes and materials you can get super creative (and make it an even more special gift), and look for something unique in wood, metal, and even ceramic or glass.

18. An easel

An easel is the centerpiece of an artist’s studio. There is a great variety of them, adaptable to not only their style but their lifestyle! See what kind of work your loved one inclines to and choose between full-size easels or even small easels made for working on a table or desk.

19. A light box

Once their work is done, all artists go through the process of registering their creations. A light box is ideal to facilitate the process of taking pictures of their artwork. There is a great variety in the market including portable ones.

20. Paint and brushes organizer

Keeping all their tools organized and ready to be used is a time-saving hack for artists. A paint and brush organizer is a thoughtful gift that solves one of the main problems of studio life. Luckily, they come in many forms from stylish artist’s rolls to bins, rolling storage units, and cases.