Last Updated on August 22, 2024 by Dee
Wondering what to get that artistic friend, relative, colleague, or art teacher of yours who likes to paint? Perhaps you are looking for a painting gift for someone special who wants to explore their creativity? Either way, this gift idea list has you covered!
Choosing a gift for an arty person in your life can be difficult, especially if you aren’t an artist and don’t know much about art supply brands or what different mediums can do. When looking for gift ideas for an artist who enjoys painting, it’s easy to feel out of your depth!
Have no fear! The gift ideas for art supplies below will certainly encourage creativity and imagination and get your artistic friend painting!
**This page may contain affiliate links to products I have used or recommend. If you purchase something from this page, I may receive a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you.**
13 Awesome Gifts for Artists who Paint
Daily Painting: Paint Small and Often To Become a More Creative, Productive, and Successful Artist
This book, Daily Painting by Carol Marine, is a great gift to inspire creativity and imagination. It helps jump-start artistic creativity, and will encourage experimentation and artistic growth! If you think your friend needs to actually sell his/ her paintings then this is a great read because it helps artists increase their sales.
Falling in Art Beechwood Tabletop Easel Set
This is a lovely gift to give someone who is planning on traveling! It is a portable, table-top easel with storage space for paint, brushes and a palette. It comes with 12 acrylic paint tubes and a set of brushes.
The Official Buddha Board: Water Drawing Set for Painting
A beautiful and unusual gift for someone who enjoys painting and promotes mindfulness and calm through meditative relaxation. You paint on the surface of the board and it slowly fades away as the water evaporates providing a “fresh canvas” for starting over anew – an effortless way to learn the ancient Yogic art of presence. It comes with a natural wood brush and a yogic stand and is great for both adults and kids.
Adjustable Artist Apron
An artists apron is an incredibly thoughtful gift to give someone who likes to paint! This one is adjustable and has several handy pockets for holding your pens, pencils, brushes and other bits and pieces necessary for painting!
Paint Brush Holder
A paintbrush is a painters greatest tool, so keeping them safe is vital for their longevity! This roll-up paintbrush holder comes with 22 slots to hold all sorts of paintbrushes! The fabric will absorb any extra moisture on the brushes, so protect them from mold and keep their bristles like new!
Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh Coffee Mug
Every artist needs a mug! I love this mug – who doesn’t enjoy Van Gogh’s Starry Night? A great gift for an artist who paints!
Aliotech Travel Artist Empty Watercolor Tin Palette
I love tin watercolor palettes because the watercolor paint pools easily on the tin, and it’s easy to mix colors…and easy to wash. It doesn’t stain or wear like plastic. This is such a great night sky watercolor palette tin with a handy ring – easy to carry and great for travel!
The colors blend beautifully and the results are amazing. And I love that it’s a durable material that won’t break if it falls or gets knocked over. I highly recommend these art supplies!
Tombow 56189 Dual Brush Pen Art Markers, Tropical
You can’t go wrong with Tombow Dual Brush Pen Art Markers. In the art world they are well know as the perfect tool for creating bright, vivid, and long lasting artwork. They are great for blending, watercolor techniques and have a brush-like tip that makes them incredibly versatile.
Artists of all ages love the ease with which they can create beautiful artwork with these markers.
Whether you’re trying to add details to your artworks or just want to bring a little added fun to your coloring projects, Tombow Dual Brush Pen Art Markers will not disappoint. So go ahead and give them a try – you won’t regret it!
There are so many ways to use these markers, plus this tropical color range is pretty awesome!
[Related article: 15 Best Pencil Cases for Artists]
Sakroots Artist Circle Flap Cross-Body Bag
The Sakroots Artist bag is excellent quality and makes it easy and comfortable to carry your brushes, paints and other art materials – a practical and attractive gift!
Bob Ross Chia Pet
This Bob Ross Chia Pet is a great gift idea for someone with a sense of humor! Perhaps your favorite artist or art lover will appreciate the irony.
Besides being amusing, the Bob Ross Chia Pet is also a great way to express your appreciation for his works!
The ceramic planter comes with everything you need to get started, including chia seeds and a plastic drip tray. With some love and attention, this unique piece of art will grow into something truly special.
The Bob Ross Chia Pet makes a great addition to any home — it’s sure to put a smile on the face of anyone who sees it!
Whether you want to add a unique touch to your own living room or give it as a gift, the Bob Ross Chia Pet is sure to bring joy and laughter for years to come.
It’s a simple way to show your appreciation for art, humor, and all things Bob Ross! So pick one up today and start growing your own masterpiece with this unique homage to an iconic artist.
The Daylight Aura Ring Light
A great art gift idea for a painter who enjoys working at night when there is limited light. The Aura ring light is fantastic for painting when there is just not enough daylight.
Using this light gives you an accurate idea of color and doesn’t strain your eyes. It’s also ideal for lighting up your artwork for video tutorials and photos!
Derwent Inktense Paint Palette
This is a great on-the-go painting set, and Derwent Inktense is known for its bright and bold colors and long-lasting pigment!
It also comes in a variety of sizes, so you can choose the one that works best for your project. I’m looking forward to seeing what I can create with this set!
I’ve heard great things about the Derwent Inktense pencils too, and they come in a range of colors that are perfect for sketches, illustrations, and watercolor effects. I’m excited to try them out for the first time!
Daler-Rowney Georgian Oil Paints and Set
I love Daler Rowney products and this is a great gift for your favorite creative person or someone who wants to try out oil painting! This is a fabulous set with 6 tubes from which you can mix a multitude of colors!
What can you gift a painter?
There are so many awesome painting gifts out there, but it’s tough to find the right one because there are so many factors involved!
Consider what type of art they like.
If your artist friend has often told you how much they LOVE the way the Impressionists blend color, or the angst of the German Expressionists, then perhaps consider unique gift ideas for something that would help them explore their own painterly mark (for instance, a palette knife or some gel medium?).
But if it’s obvious they love watercolor painting in their art journal, then something like watercolor pans or even watercolor brush pens might do the trick!
For those who enjoy oil painting, a set of brushes and some quality oil paints should do the trick. Acrylics also make a great gift for any budding artist, with beginner sets that have everything they need to get started!
Think about what they might already have.
You don’t want to give them something they already have a ton of! Try to get an idea of what they already have so that you can get them something new!
What is the purpose of your gift?
Do you want your gift to be a big surprise or a helpful gift – something they need vs something that inspires? Think about the type of person they are and what kind of gift would suit them best. Finding the right art piece that speaks to them personally can be daunting, but we’re here to help. We want to make sure your gift is one-of-a-kind and perfectly suited for the recipient.
Put yourself in their shoes!
What paintings have they done recently? What do they seem to enjoy painting with? What would make their artistic practice easier?
Do they seem to enjoy working with oil paints, acrylics, and mixed media? To make their practice easier, they might benefit from investing in digital art tools such as a tablet or graphics pen.
Other helpful items could include upgraded lighting equipment and extra canvases and other art supplies.
They could also benefit from having an organized workspace and a cataloging system to keep track of their work, as well as stay current on the latest trends in art.
Talk to their nearest and dearest!
Chat to their friends, siblings, or parents and you may uncover some great ideas and further information about what gift to get.
Often its the people who know them best that will have the best gift ideas. Ask your family and friends what they think the recipient would appreciate. Be sure to take into account their style, interests, and lifestyle when coming up with ideas.
Consider the quality!
For people who are beginners to painting there are lots of student quality paints and tools that you can gift them that will do the job perfectly! (Always a good idea to check the reviews on these). However, if you are buying a gift for a professional artist who likes to draw, then I would suggest making sure you are choosing a brand that is known for its high quality.
Artist Gift Basket
If you really can’t decide on one single gift idea an artist’s gift basket is a really thoughtful idea! You can collect a few small things and place them in an art supply tote bag, basket, or pencil box.
This creative gift idea is wonderful for artists who enjoy painting and contains all of the essentials, such as paints, easels, brushes, as well as some unique finds that are fun and thoughtful!
You can be sure that these painting gift ideas cater to a variety of skill levels and aesthetics, no matter who you’re purchasing for!
Grab the Free Painting Templates HERE (below)!
To access the free in-post printables for this post, you’ll just need to create a free account or log in with the Grow.me tool. Then, confirm by email and refresh the page, and ALL my free printables will automatically unlock in every post!
Other articles you may enjoy…
Great gift ideas indeed! I don’t paint, but I know some people who do. The tropical marker set sounds awesome!
Glad to hear that Astrid! Yes, the tropical marker set is pretty awesome… I guess you can use them for so much!