When you have to buy gifts for your friends and family, you most often find yourself heading to the latest electronics store or popping onto the internet for a few seconds to pick out a gift card to the recipient’s favorite store. However, there are some people who are harder to shop for than others. Many of your creative friends do not care about playing the latest video games and they might get insulted if you give them anything as impersonal as a gift card. The best thing you can get a creative or artsy person as a gift is something you have created for them or something to help them in their artistic endeavors. Here are some ideas for gifts for creative and artsy people.
Personalized Gifts
You do not have to break the bank to give a creative one-of-a-kind gift. There are on-demand printing companies on the internet that allow you to upload an original design and have it printed on the item of your choice. If you are not much of an artist, you can put a saying or quote on the item. A quote from a favorite writer or artist is certain to inspire the creative person in your life.
You can also get your creative friend a personalized book. If you are shopping for a child, you can get them a create-your-own-adventure book. These tales tell a story in which your child is the hero. If you are shopping for an adult, get them a book of front-page stories from the day they were born. Printful mugs and books from Uncommon Goods are also great gifts for creative minds. If you get them a mug, be sure to get them a stash of coffee or tea to go with it!
BEAN AROUND THE WORLD Flavored Coffee K Cups, 40 pack
Tejava Tea Variety Pack, 52 pack
Brushes, Paint Kits, and Canvas
If your friend is a visual artist, they are sure to appreciate receiving the tools they need to make their artwork. The costs of canvas, paintbrushes, sketchpads, and drawing pencils can add up quickly.
You can give them what they need to make their next masterpiece. It will show your friend that you believe in them and you want to encourage their projects.
Strathmore Medium Drawing Spiral Paper Pad 9H & B Drawing Pencils Set, 32-Piece Sketch Pencils and Drawing Kit, Complete Artist Kit Includes Graphite Pencils, Charcoal Sticks, Sharpener & Eraser, Professional Sketch Pencils Set for DrawingFIXSMITH Stretched White Blank Canvas – 11×14 Inch, 8 Pack, Primed,100% Cotton,5/8 Inch Profile of Super Value Pack for Acrylics,Oils & Other Painting MediaMont Marte Premium Paint Brush Set 15 Piece, Includes 15 Different Brushes in a Roll Case with Magnetic Closure, Suitable for Watercolour, Acrylic and Oil Painting
If they are a sculptor, buy them clay, several different chisels, and of course a drop cloth. Sometimes really creative people just simply cannot afford materials.
4 Pack: 10 lb Natural Clay by Craft Smart®30Pc Pottery Clay Sculpting Tools with Storage Case
Similarly, a 3D printer and a variety of filaments may spark their creative genius.
FLSUN SR Super Racer 3D Printer Fast 200mm/s 2800 mm/s² FDM Delta Linear Rail Pre-Assembly with Auto Leveling Resume 1.75 PLA DIY 3D Printers Printing Size 260x260x330mm/10.2×10.2×13 InchHATCHBOX 1.75mm Black PLA 3D Printer Filament, 1 KG Spool, Dimensional Accuracy +/- 0.03 mm, 3D Printing Filament
If they are a writer, you may think that all they need to create is their computer or even a piece of paper and a pen. However, writers often draw inspiration from other writers. Get them books by their favorite authors or give them the last few Pulitzer Prize winners and nominees.
Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘fore I DiiieChasing Me to My Grave: An Artist’s Memoir of the Jim Crow South
If you don’t have much money to spend, you can get them a journal in which they can write ideas down.
Softcover A5 Size Notebook, 2 Pack Kraft Brown
Classes
No matter how talented someone is, they can always benefit from a class or two. It helps to refresh skills and get their creative juices flowing. A sketch artist can learn new shading techniques. A writer can bounce ideas off of other writers. A painter can get the opinions of their classmates on their technique. Filmmakers can find people to help them create their movies. If they take a film class they will find aspiring actors, directors, and writers to help them make their vision a reality.
One of our daughters loves to draw. In addition to drawing supplies, she is taking a Drawing and Shading Techniques class this semester. She is absolutely thrilled to be in it.
Our other daughter loves crafts in general. She’d live in a craft store, if she could. So she’s in an Art Around the World class all year, and we keep the craft supplies stocked. Check out my Arts and Crafts Gifts guide and my Craft Supplies Every Crafter Should Have guide for even more ideas for the Creative and Artsy people in your life.
Finding gifts for creative geniuses can be challenging because they do not think like other people. With a little thought, you can give them a gift they’ll be sure to love and show them how much you care. Be sure to ask them about their latest projects to get ideas. If you help them create something fabulous, they may just thank you in their awards speech.
