Top 5 Gifts for the Artist in your Life
2022 was a year of personal creative exploration. Whether you have an artist in your life that still needs a gift, or you want to treat yourself, I wanted to share my favorite materials that helped me grow this year.
An Odd Orange sketchbook. Call me a creature of habit, but rarely do I find a sketchbook that tops a Crescent RendR mixed media sketchbook. (I’ve filled 6 of them this year) But, I’m also a creature of aesthetics and I couldn’t resist the beautiful pull of Morgan’s handmade sketchbooks. They come in different sizes and colorways and the paper is a treat to create on. I love this sketchbook specifically for traveling with.
No other palette compares to the ones that come out of Sugar House Ceramic Co studio. I use their standard paint palette every time I use gouache, and I have my eyes on their pastel tray. 👀
I discovered Neocolor II Aquarelle pastels at my local art store after seeing them on social media. These babies are like nothing I have used before. They’re incredibly pigmented, blend like a dream, and they’re water activated, giving you endless options when creating.
Coming in at number 4 we have another local art store find; A General’s Sketch & Wash pencil. I wish I had a drawer full of these. It’s a soft, water-soluble graphite pencil, though I haven’t done much with its water-soluble properties yet. I mainly use this pencil for sketches and its ability to produce dark rich contrast.
Posca is known for their line of paint pens, but they surprisingly have great colored pencils too. I have a set of 36 and their oil-based recipe is on-par, if not better than Prisma colored pencils.
Let me know what gifts you plan on getting the artist in your life, or share the supplies that are on your wish list! I'd love to hear your recommendations.
I hope the rest of your year is filled with peace and comfort!
