Written by Tammy Machmali
After receiving many questions from friends and family about what art supplies are best, this year I decided to make a short list of gifts I think will be wonderful and exciting to give to the artists in your life, or anyone you think might need some love and nurturing.
I love to gift my friends and family with art supplies and art books because often it sparks a seed that later grows into a passion to practice art, or use creativity to heal and calm their minds.
A book I highly recommend is The Secret Lives of Color, One of USA Today’s “100 Books to Read While Stuck at Home During the Coronavirus Crisis.”
A dazzling gift, it captures the unforgettable, unknown history of colors and the vivid stories behind them in a beautiful multi-colored volume.
Before you go out and spend your time and money, read these tips for the best gifts for artists 2021.
Art Journal
This is the journal Strathmore Visual Mixed Media Journal , I use to sketch my work, brainstorm ideas, and experiment with colors. I really like it because it is great for both wet and dry media including watercolor, acrylic, pen and ink, pencil, crayon, charcoal, marker and collage. Sometimes, the paintings look so good that I cut them out, frame them, and they are ready to go!
Watercolor Paper
Strathmore Paper 300 Series Watercolor, Cold Press is great paper for slow drawing and for beginners. One of the most affordable watercolor papers, it has a nice texture that holds color well. And it is easy to carry with you when you travel.
Watercolor sets
REEVES WATERCOLOR WHEEL SET PAINT KIT
For a watercolor set, if you prefer working with tubes and want something portable, the Winsor & Newton professional sketching case is a great option! It includes 12 tubes of Winsor & Newton professional watercolor paints, which are known for their high pigment load and smooth consistency. The colors are rich, vibrant, and heavily pigmented. This portable set is easy to travel with and you can refill or add new colors as needed. I carry it with me whenever I travel.
Watercolor brushes
I personally like the Raphaël Kaerëll brushes because they are crafted with the highest-quality pure Kazan squirrel hair. This mop holds the largest amount of water while maintaining a fine point.
For more information about watercolor and brushes check out my blog “5 Watercolor Secrets.”
Pens for Artists
For drawing pens, I like the Micron Pens because they are perfect for bullet journaling, art journaling, drawing, and sketching. They are slow to dry, waterproof, and come in a kit with different nib sizes so you can create both thin and thick lines.
The other pens I love are white and gold Uniball Signo Gel Pens. I’ve tried using other pens, spending time and money, and none of them were as good as this brand. I use the white pen on almost every illustration and watercolor painting to emphasize the light or the lighter tones. And I’ve used the gold pen in almost all my recent artwork to add gold to flowers or to write prayers.
Pencils
Derwent colored pencils can be sharpened to a fine point, so it’s easy to develop details that may be hard to get with traditional watercolor paints. They are dry, clean, mess-free, and by adding just a little water, you can achieve great effects. I often sketch with them dry and then blend the colors together with a little water and do another pass with them. Watercolor pencils are a great sketching tool that have more flexibility. I use them all the time dry or wet and mix them with pen and ink brushes in so many ways for my sketches and illustrations.
Markers for Artists
Copic Markers 12-Piece Basic Set or the Copic Marker I6-Skin Ciao Markers, Skin, 6-Pack offer different colors with both a brush and chisel tip. These are great for beginners. Copic markers are known to be one of the highest-quality alcohol-based markers available. These markers feature a permanent, non-toxic, acid-free ink that produces beautifully smooth, easy-to-blend colors. They are known for their blending capabilities and rich color in a huge variety of 358 shades and 5 different types of markers–Original, Sketch, Ciao, Wide and Comic. Additionally, the ink is refillable and can even be mixed to create unique colors. They are well saturated, and blend easily over many types of surfaces so you can use them on a variety of art or home decor projects.
Gold paint
Golden Fluid Acrylic Paint to add some spark: if you feel like adding some gold paint to your art, I use this one for all my paintings—whether watercolor, acrylic, or oil—and pencil work. It is rich and magical.
Gift Certificate
Another amazing gift you can give the artist in your life is a class. Especially now, where opportunities to gather face-to-face are limited, an online class is an amazing opportunity to connect with other artists and grow in their abilities. I offer gift certificates in denominations of $25, $50, and $100.
Enjoy and have fun giving your loved one the gift of art and making art! I hope you got some ideas about possible gifts. When you make and share your art, PLEASE tag us on instagram @tammymachmali
