Under $25
Graphite sketching pencil set, 6B to 4H
A graded set lets them discover how soft and hard leads behave, which is the quickest way to make shading click.
Shop on Amazon (opens in a new tab)Gifts for Artists
27 ideas for 3 levels · Updated for 2026 · We earn from qualifying purchases
Gifts for artists usually go wrong in one of two ways. You buy something they already have, like another pencil set or a pad of student paper, or you buy beginner gear for someone who has been painting for years and quietly prefers their own brushes and paper.
This page is built to avoid both. Pick how deep into drawing and painting they are, and skip anything on the list of things that level already owns. If you tell us what they have, we can put together a personalized list that fits their shelf.
For artists who are getting into it
They've filled a sketchbook or two, own a student paint set, and are starting to notice what better paper, brushes and pigments would change.
- Under $25
Pigma Micron-style archival ink pen set
Skip the generic fineliners; archival, waterproof ink pens won't bleed or smear when you wash watercolor over linework.
Shop on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Under $25
Water brush pen set, assorted tip sizes
They make quick travel sketching and soft blending easy, and they're something a student kit rarely includes.
Shop on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Under $25
Pen-style electric eraser with refills
It lifts highlights and cleans tight edges in graphite and colored pencil without the smudge a hand eraser leaves.
Shop on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - $25–$50
Round sable-synthetic watercolor brush set
A good size 6 or 8 round that holds a point and a lot of water is the upgrade that most changes watercolor handling.
Shop on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - $25–$50
Cold press watercolor paper block, 140 lb
Real cotton-blend paper that doesn't buckle will make paintings look better than any new paint will.
Shop on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - $25–$50
Artist-grade gouache set in primary colors
Opaque, matte and reworkable, it's the natural next medium and it forgives mistakes in a way watercolor doesn't.
Shop on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - $50–$100
Artist-grade watercolor half-pan set, 24 colors
Higher pigment load means richer color and cleaner mixing, which is what most people feel they were missing with student paints.
Shop on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - $50–$100
Adjustable drawing board with clips and tilt
Working at an angle cuts down on distortion and neck strain, and it lets them draw on loose paper.
Shop on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - $100+
French-style field easel with box
A sturdy easel with built-in palette storage lets them stand to paint larger canvases and go plein air, which a tabletop easel can't.
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Insider tip: Don't buy more of the starter kit items; they're covered already. Paper is the cheapest big leap in quality: if you're unsure about paints, get the 140 lb watercolor block or a heavier sketchbook and let them pick the medium. Also check whether they lean toward watercolor or acrylic before buying brushes, since the two need different types.
Tell us what they already have
List their gear and we'll suggest drawing and painting gifts that fit their level and skip what they own.
Frequently asked questions
Look for the small things that get used up or protect expensive tools, like masking fluid with a silicone applicator pen, a brush soap and conditioner cake, or a pencil extender set. If they haven't tried a new medium, a professional soft pastel set or a gouache set can open something up without duplicating their kit.
Check their materials. A kids' watercolor set and a printer-paper sketchbook mean they're just curious, while student paints and a stack of full sketchbooks point to getting into it. Artist-grade pans, heavy watercolor paper and favorite brushes they guard mean they're obsessed, so start with the specialty items like a hot press block or a rigger brush.
A kneaded eraser two-pack or a graphite pencil set suits a beginner. For someone further along, archival ink pens or a water brush pen set are things they'll use right away, and masking fluid with an applicator pen is a favorite of serious watercolorists.
Skip big all-in-one kits for an artist who already has favorite supplies, and skip generic fineliners for someone who washes watercolor over their linework, since archival waterproof pens are the safer choice. Avoid cheap brushes and thin paper for anyone past the beginner stage, because those are the first things they upgrade.
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