Gift Guide:
The Artist
Frida Kahlo & Salvador Dalí egg cups
01
$24
Come on, these egg cups by OMM Design are hilarious. They’re made from porcelain, so they double as kitchen objets d’art & are sure to put a smile on your artist’s face.
Finetec Artist Mica watercolor set
02
$20-65
These are not your normal watercolor paints – they’re made with mica, a natural mineral that shimmers & shines, creating pearlescent/iridescent effects, and they are GORGEOUS. These quality, highly pigmented watercolors are from Germany & can be used on paper, wood, & gypsum, although they’re particularly striking on black paper/watercolor ground. Blick Art Materials says they’re “ideal for adding special effects and highlights to watercolor paintings, and also for calligraphy,” and The Merri Artist calls them a “favorite of calligraphers, mixed-media artists, and card makers.” Even if the artist in your life doesn’t focus on watercolor, these paints are versatile as accent effects and make a stunning gift. Choose from sets of 6 – cool colors ($26), warm colors ($25.50), iridescent ($16), bronze/gold/silver pearlescent ($23-32), gold/silver pearlescent ($20-26); a regular pearlescent 12 set ($27); a special edition Peggy Dean pearlescent 12 set with a black Legion watercolor paper pad & clear carrying case ($51); or the full pearlescent 24 set ($64). The iridescent set is different in that the colors, unlike the opaque pearlescents, are nearly transparent on a light background, shimmer from different angles, & can be applied over dark colors for a shimmering accent.
Get them from Blick Art Materials or Merri Artist (prices & availability differ between the two – we recommend checking both).
Modern art fabric keyring
03
$8
From the “New Math” collection with artist Craig Damrauer, this modern art keychain comes in blue or red and makes for a great gift for the artist who always hears people questioning art or anyone who has ever heard someone say, “my kid could draw that” *eye roll*. This keychain keeps it real.
Scrap paper sketchbook
04
$10
If you know artists, you know an artist will never say no to another sketchbook – those buggers are expensive. However, it can be hard picking one out as a gift, since most artists have a personal preference and the paper will vary depending on the medium. We like this one as a gift because it has a mix of high quality leftover paper types from Munkedal Paper Mill in Sweden, making it 100% upcycled (even the spirals are reclaimed).
Painting palette cheese tray
05
$33
This fun, ceramic cheese tray doubles as colorful kitchen decor, making it a great gift for the artist in your life.
Honest Artist Statements print by Michelle Rial
06
$18
This print by Michelle Rial, whose work has been featured on USA Today, Fast Company, Vox, designboom, Funny or Die, and more, will resonate with artists of any age. With statements like, “I’ve been doing this longer than the quality would suggest,” “Someone has probably done this already,” and “My hands hurt,” we think this print is the perfect blend of funny, relatable, and stylish.
Colorful canvas storage bin by MUDE
07
$45-55
These fun bins are perfect for all sorts of art supplies storage – we would probably use them for paint brushes & some smaller painting supplies, but they’re really versatile for any cool artist’s studio. Each one is designed, hand-painted, & hand sewn by Baltimore-based artist Maude Kasperzak, so no two are exactly alike.
Get one from Wolf & Badger: stripes small, stripes large, blobs small, blobs large.
Nugget keychain
08
$28
Each keychain is unique and random, made from cut offs of larger projects at Chen Chen & Kai Williams’ studio. The various materials, such as wood, fabric, rope, etc. are cut, tumbled smooth, and dipped in epoxy to make funky mini art pieces to decorate someone’s keys. While a keychain seems like a smaller gift, the price really makes it more of a standalone gift for a friend – just explain the meaning & materiality and it’s a great choice for the artist who doesn’t have any more space for art supplies.
Advantages of Being a Woman Artist clutch by The Guerrilla Girls
09
$25
For the feminist woman artist in your life. “The Guerrilla Girls are a group of anonymous artists who wear gorilla masks in public using facts, humor and outrageous visuals to expose discrimination and corruption in politics, pop culture, film and art. In 30 years, they have come up with hundreds of posters, street projects, actions, books, and billboards. Most recently they did a stealth campaign in New York about the super-rich hijacking art, and a wall in Reykjavik about discrimination in the Icelandic film industry. Their retrospective in Madrid has drawn thousands of people. They travel the world doing gigs and workshops, inspiring others to create their own effective activist campaigns.” – Hyperallergic
Pop Art or English Modernists notebook set
10
$12 each
These notebook sets are the perfect size for an artist to carry around, scribbling inspiration on the go. Each notebook has an introduction to a great artist on the inside front page, with their name printed on the cover. The Pop Art set features Warhol, Caulfield, and Lichtenstein, while the English Modernist set is made up of Hepworth, Moore, and Nicholson. Pop Art emerged in the UK at the end of the 1950s, focusing on connecting art to the ordinary objects of everyday life & with the images of commercial culture. English Modernism, starting in the 1920s & 1930s, sought to combine simpler, traditional habits of provincial English life with the abstract forms & adventurous materials of Modernism coming from Paris, Berlin, and Vienna. These little notebook sets make for a thoughtful, polished present.
Get the Pop Art set or English Modernists set from The School of Life.
Camera strap by Serengetee
11
$39
Serengetee founders Jeff & Max say there’s a story behind every product they make: “By purchasing fabric from over 25 countries, we support artisans, their families, and ancient fabric making traditions. By giving 10% of our profits back to grassroots causes, we work to improve lives in their communities.” These camera straps are made using the global fabrics, with current selections from Thailand, the Philippines, or Argentina. Options will likely change as new fabrics rotate through their shop, but no matter what fabric you select, this makes a cool, distinctive gift for any photographer – amateur or pro.
Colored pencil holder
12
$33-81
If the artist in your life has a desk or some studio space where they can keep supplies, get them this handy holder by Etsy seller BondArtStudio. It comes in 4 sizes: one that holds 24 colored pencils ($33), one for 36 pencils ($54), a holder for 48 ($72), and one for 72 ($81). It comes with free laser engraved personalization in 12 fonts.
Paint water / not paint water mug set
13
$37
Artists know the struggle of accidentally dipping a paint brush in their coffee or accidentally drinking from their paint water. This set is both funny and practical. While there are cheaper versions floating around out there, this set is definitely the most attractive, and the splatter on the “paint water” cup makes it even clearer.
Solar photography kit
14
$15
“Based on the cyanotype process pioneered by Anna Atkins (the first female photographer) in 1842, Sunography is a fun and rewarding introduction to printmaking, using a minimum of equipment and materials. Place any object or transparency on the Sunography paper, expose to sunlight, and rinse with water to produce your own richly blue prints. Use old photo negatives, x-rays, bits of lace, leaves, and everyday objects to compose an endless variety of images. The heavyweight cotton paper or fabric may be exposed on both sides, and is suitable for hand coloring, painting, or stitching to make your prints even more unique. Made in the USA.” – Uncommon Goods
Artist tiki glasses
15
$65
Okay, so these glasses are somewhat expensive, but damn, they’re cool. This limited-edition set of four highball glasses is a result of a collaboration between Creative Growth artist Dinah Shapiro and the Kon-Tiki. Artists will appreciate the bright colors and intricate designs that make these glasses a standout in any kitchen.
Bob Ross socks
16
$11-12
Happy little trees and happy little accidents! Who isn’t inspired by the lovable Bob Ross?
Books
What They Didn’t Teach You in Art School by Rosalind Davis & Annabel Tilley
17
$19.50
This one is for the artist you know who really wants to make a go of it professionally. “You have the artistic talent, but do you know how to make a success of it? Turning your passion into a career in the fiercely competitive art world means becoming your own finance, business, and marketing manager - as well as a researcher, curator and administrator. From writing your first proposal to gaining gallery representation and dealing with the pressures of commercial success, this enlightening, no-nonsense book is your guide, providing all the advice, real-world experience, and inspiration you need to survive and thrive as a working artist” – Design Museum Shop. We’d especially recommend this one as a graduation gift!
Make Your Mark: The New Urban Artists by Tristan Manco
18
$45
“In an age when Banksy’s installations are protected by Plexiglas and graffiti artists exhibit in galleries as well as on the street, Make Your Mark explores the work of thirty-five urban artists who use mark-making techniques—drawing, painting, and other methods—to create a diverse array of work. Ranging from figurative painting, illustration, and comic book drawing to tattoo art, poster design, and mural-making, the work is stylistically original, often incorporating experimental techniques or elements of the handmade. This is the intersection of traditional and “street” sensibilities, from Mexican-born artist Carlos Donjuán’s paintings of masked figures to the atmospheric drawings of Bucharest-based artist Mark Francis Williams, whose work responds to the new shopping malls around his city that offer “a hyper-real, super-beautiful sense of certainty” but conceal an ominous underbelly. Other featured artists include the French illustrator and graffiti artist Bault, the American muralist Zio Ziegler, and the Japanese painter Fuco Ueda.” – Goodreads
420 Things to Draw While High by Chronicle Books
19
$17
For the 420-friendly artist, this book is a great gift. “A book of inspiration for the highly creative, this playful sketchbook offers 420 chill illustration prompts and plenty of space to hash out what two giraffes riding a rainbow really looks like.” – Chronicle Books
The Organic Painter: Explore Unusual Materials & Playful Techniques to Expand Your Creative Practice by Carne Griffiths
20
$13-23
This book is super inspirational for an artist stuck in a rut, someone who loves playing around with new materials in their work, or the one who is big into a sustainable, organic lifestyle. “The Organic Painter introduces innovative techniques for using non-traditional ‘paint’ derived from materials like coffee, tea, and alcohol, to encourage freedom and expression...” – Goodreads
Get it from Alibris or Better World Books.
Phaidon Contemporary Artists Series Collection
21
$325
Phaidon Contemporary Artists Series Collection is the big bitch of book presents for artists. Comprised of 10 paperback volumes, each one offers “a comprehensive survey of an individual artist's work and a range of art writing contributed by an international spectrum of authors, all leading figures in their fields, from art history and criticism to philosophy, cultural theory and fiction. Each study provides incisive analysis and multiple perspectives on contemporary art and its inspiration. These are essential source books for everyone concerned with art today. Featuring: Sterling Ruby, Nigel Cooke, Yin Xiuzhen, Simon Starling, Jannis Kounellis, Elmgreen & Dragset, Mark Bradford, Daan Roosegarde, Sharon Hayes, and Monica Bonvicini.” – Phaidon
Salad for President: A Cookbook Inspired by Artists by Julia Sherman
22
$22-32
Okay, a salad book might seem lame, but hear us out, it’s inspired by artists and is actually quite beautiful. Furthermore, “Sherman encourages her readers to consider salad an everyday indulgence that can include cocktails, soups, family style brunch dishes, and dinner-party entrées. Every part of the meal is reimagined with a fresh, vegetable obsessed perspective.” In addition to “a visually rich collection of more than 75 salad recipes,” this cookbook also includes “contributions and interviews by artists/creative professionals like William Wegman, Tauba Auerbach, Laurie Anderson, and Alice Waters. The author visits sculptors, painters, photographers, and musicians in their homes and gardens, interviewing and photographing them as they cook. Utterly unique in its look into the worlds of food, art, and everyday practices, Salad for President is at once a practical resource for healthy, satisfying recipes and an inspiring look at creativity.” – Goodreads
Get it from Alibris or Better World Books or your local independent bookstore.
