It isn’t always easy shopping for artists (especially because we think we have excellent taste, but usually like really random things). We can also make most of the things we see online and are generally pretty picky about objects, so we won’t be too excited about a clever gimmick we could create in our sleep.
Luckily, there are some awesome things any artist would be thrilled to have, so I’m going to make your gift hunt a little easier with my top recommendations! Whether you need stocking stuffers or just a little something thoughtful to show that artist in your life that you care, there are tons of fantastic small gift items you can get that they’ll actually be excited to use.
Just so you know: Some of the links on this post are affiliate links to products I know and love. When you use them to make a purchase (at no extra cost to you), I get a small reward that helps pay to keep this website online. These clicks are small gestures for you (literally), but they help keep the Art Resourcery alive. Thank you for supporting this passion project!
The Masters Brush Cleaner & Preserver
This stuff is like gold to painters. We often won’t treat ourselves to such expensive brush soap, but this non-toxic, water soluble cleaning compound is simply the best way to clean our favorite brushes and extend their lives. This material works safely on oils, acrylics, or watercolors, and is much healthier than cleaning our brushes with turpentine.
Heavy Duty Paint Tube Wringer
This beast helps us get every last bit of paint out of every tube (also works on toothpaste). It’s cost-effective, and really handy when a favorite paint color stops being manufactured, and you just need a tiny bit more to finish a painting. I’ve had lightweight and plastic paint tube squeezers before, but they tend to break after a couple years of use. This is the best of the best.
Well-balanced Mechanical Drafting Pencils
There is nothing quite like the feeling of drawing an EXTREMELY thin line and never having to stop drawing for pesky tasks like sharpening a pencil or resting a tired wrist. These classy metal pencils are great gifts for the artist who spends hours upon hours drawing detailed pictures.
Mini Hardcover Dot Grid sketchbook
Thanks to the dot grids on every page, these phone-sized notebooks are perfect for designing objects to scale, writing or drawing notes, and planning out visual compositions.
Faber-Castell On-The-Go Graphite Sketch Set
An artist can never have too many graphite drawing pencils, and this travel kit comes with a classy black case that clips to a belt loop, so it’s easy to carry around.
Moleskin Watercolor & Fountain Pen Journal
Although it won’t technically fit in a stocking, this classic moleskin hardcover sketchbook is “perfectly textured for writing with a ballpoint pen, fountain pen, or pencil.”
Wordsworth & Black Fountain Pen Set
Fountain pens are all the rage this year among artists. Thanks in part to a few amazing fountain pen bloggers, there’s a renewed resurgence of luxury writing instruments. I just received one as a gift, and it’s my new favorite thing. I can’t put it down. It may start as a fancy way to sign artwork, but the love of fountain pens is inevitable for purveyors of fine lines and pictures.
Rhodia Staplebound Notepad
I was given this lined writing pad to use with my new fountain pen and I absolutely love it. The ink sits well on the page with no bleed, and the pen simply glides across the page. I like the way the cover folds over and the paper is a pleasure to write on.
I know it seems like most of these gift ideas are things to write and draw with, and there’s a very good reason for that. We do what we love, and these items will help us do even more of it! That’s what makes them excellent presents for the makers and creatives in your life. Do you have any great gift ideas for artists under $25? I’d love to hear what’s on your wishlist. Let me know in the comments below!