What Gifts do Watercolor Artists Wish For?
How do you know what to gift to a watercolor artist? Do beginner painters prefer different art supplies and art-themed gifts compared to more seasoned watercolor artists? (I don’t think so.)
We artists love a slow inspection of every single aisle in an art supply store. Just the same as a quilter gets inspired by the latest prints in a fabric shop, or a stitcher swoons at the display of this season’s newest colors of embroidery floss.
But if you’re not an artist, how do you get gift ideas for watercolor artists?
Artist Themed Gifts
It helps to look for gifts that are a variation on a theme. For example, if the artist in your life already has a studio apron, they probably don’t have a lovely, pink, stone washed, linen apron (see below).
And if your favorite artist already has a brush holder and a small mixing palette, maybe they don’t have one made out of ceramic in the shape of cute turtles, right?
Art Supply Gathering as a Beginner
When I first started painting with watercolors, I kept my meager art supplies in a milk crate under my bed. I used the most inexpensive paper I could find, and pigments that were just a notch above school-grade poster paint. My brushes were no better.
These days, my favorite watercolor brush is a #12 round DaVinci Cosmotop. That brush keeps a good point, holds a ton of pigment, and has enough spring to remain straight after I’ve dragged it across the paper. And it doesn’t cost a fortune. If you paint, what is your favorite brush?
For the Love of Art Supplies
As a beginner watercolor artist, I didn’t want to invest in something I wasn’t sure I could master. I started my acquisition of good art supplies very slowly by scouring estate sales, and graciously accepted hand-me-downs from other watercolor artists. Back then, I took great delight from those gifts I received from friends and family, and I still do.
I will never tire of art supplies. I think it’s safe to presume that all artists feel this way. So you can’t go wrong presenting art supplies as gifts to watercolor artists in your life, or at the very least, a few art-related goodies.
If art supplies already outweigh the creative space your artist occupies, this post about storage solutions for art and art supplies might be handy.
Creative Gifts Ideas for Artists
Watercolor art supplies are consumables; you use all the pigments you buy, and wear out the brushes over time, and paint in all the sketchbooks. So that makes either one of those categories a safe bet, especially if you can sneak a glance at the type of paper and brushes your artist already loves.
You can also branch out, and consider things like ledge shelves for an artist’s creative space. Shallow wall shelving can be used in place of a free standing artist’s easel in a small room. (I use one to prop up larger work in my own studio.) Artists can mount the shelf at the perfect hight for either seated or standing art-making. The shelving can also be used to display artwork that’s in process, or finished pieces during a studio show.
Take a look at the other artist gift ideas below.
What’s on Your Art Supply Wish List?
If you’re shopping for gift ideas for a watercolor artist, and you’re totally stumped, leave a comment about the particulars on your artist, and we’ll reply with more ideas. Other artists might even weigh in. Don’t be shy, because we’ve all scratched our heads to buy gifts for the cooks, gardeners and mechanics in our lives. Focused interests and pass times can be worlds away, but supporting someone’s creative explorations is a lovely gesture of support and encouragement.
Thanks for stopping by today, and I’ll see you in the next post –
Belinda
P.S. Here are more artist gift ideas from the archive.
And here’s another gift list with 5 basic artist tools every beginner should have.
Here’s another list of gift ideas for artists – focused on watercolor supplies.
And this post features gifts for a beginner printmaker.
I hope they help you find just what you’re looking for!
Art Quote
All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.
Blaise Pasqual
I love when you share like this!
My two favorites to add are:
a divided acrylic refrigerator bin to use as a water cup (sections for dirty water, clean water and a roll of paper toweling to blot my brush)
You can find these on Amazon, Home Goods, etc.
a Japanese-type smock, no ties, just pop on. Now on sale at World Market
Hi Carol, Thanks so much for the recommendations! I looked up both of your good ideas, and they’re new to me. Here’s a link to the smock, which looks lovely: https://www.worldmarket.com/product/gray+washed+cotton+smock.do? and here is a link to the divided bin (such a great idea!) https://amzn.to/32ShbrF Happy painting!
I hope you get well soon! You captured pets sleeping so beautifully!!Thank you for all the great suggestions,a nice idea for our many art friends at Christmas. It’s hard to come up with something to give to people at times.
Thanks for stopping by, Celia! I hope you get good ideas for both your friends and yourself!
Beautiful paintings and super post. I generally buy my supplies at the same store. They know me, and joke around with me when I visit, which is often. I am not a browser when I’m on a project, although it’s tempting. I want set colours and brushes a good canvas, and I’m gone. It’s nice to go to a store where the people are friendly, helpful and funny. It’s serious work — we need people who give us a break. Thanks for your wonderful blog.
Hi there, you – How wonderful to have a local outlet to purchase your art supplies! You lucky painter! That would be so grand…. And they know you. That’s even better. When I was in college, I used to wish I had a part time job in a book store, and a part time job in an art supply store. (I had neither – I was a waitress.) I’m glad you have a local option. Happy wintertime painting to you! XOXO
That is so gorgeous.
Hi Oshri – Thanks for the kind words. Happy painting to you! B.