11 Best Gifts for Artists in 2026 (Every Medium & Budget)
Authored by Daniel Heuer
Writer on the PerfectGift team, delivering smiles daily.
Published August 3, 2026 | Updated August 3, 2026
Shopping for an artist comes with a catch: when it comes to their core supplies, most artists are particular. They want a specific brand of paint, a certain weight of paper, the exact brush they always use. So the trick to a great artist gift is to aim just to the side of that: the accessories, the fun extras, the "I'd never buy it for myself" pieces, or the supplies broad enough that anyone would be glad to have them. That's how this list is built, across every medium and budget, with a few picks for the artist whose taste you can't quite predict.
Quick picks
- Best overall: MEEDEN Professional Acrylic Painting Set with French Easel, a complete studio-in-a-box, around $190.
- Best under $20: 642 Things to Draw, a prompt book for creative ruts, $16.95.
- Most fun: the Bob Ross heat-reveal mug, $19.95.
- Best for travelers: the Viviva A6 Travel Paint Kit, $45.
- Splurge: the handmade 14k gold and silver palette necklace, $129.99.
- When you don't know their supplies: a PerfectGift they redeem their way (or a Michaels card to start).
Wherever you are, you’re now able to paint! Image courtesy of: My Modern Met Store.
If you haven’t heard of My Modern Met Store, then prepare for all of your gifting dreams to come true because they are the online shop that has a little bit of everything for all kinds of artists out there.
plenty of fun little trinkets, apparel items, puzzles, and books, you’ll be able to get something that’s unique to their tastes and we found that their A6 Travel Paint Kit for $45.00 is great for those who love to paint the outdoors or find themselves wanting to pick up a pencil while they’re out in the world. Encased in a vegan leather case is a 48 page sketchpad, a Viviva Original Colorsheets set with 16 vibrant shades, one round tip waterbrush, and a black pen.
Art supplies and the essentials
The core gear, from a full paint setup to the reference book and prompt pad artists keep on the shelf.
1. MEEDEN Professional Acrylic Painting Set with French Easel — around $190
If you want one gift that covers everything, this is it. The MEEDEN Professional Artist Acrylic Painting Set pairs a beech-wood French easel (it converts from floor-standing to tabletop) with 10 tubes of artist-grade acrylics, 15 brushes, canvases, palettes, and mediums, so a beginner can start the day it arrives and a seasoned painter gets a proper easel out of it. It holds a 4.7-star average across 92 reviews and the easel doubles as a storage box. A genuine centerpiece gift.
Image courtesy of MEEDEN Art. (On sale from $299.95 on 8/3; confirm current price at publish.)
2. Viviva A6 Travel Paint Kit — around $45
For the artist who sketches wherever they go, this is a whole studio that folds to the size of a paperback. The A6 Travel Paint Kit tucks 16 Viviva watercolor colorsheets, a sketchpad, a waterbrush, and a pen into a slim vegan-leather case that fits in a tote. It's ideal for plein-air painting or catching an idea on the train, and it works just as well as a first set for someone curious about watercolor.
Image courtesy of My Modern Met Store.
3. "Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter" (Signed) — around $38
Some art books get read once; this one lives on the desk. James Gurney's Color and Light was an Amazon top-ten bestseller for over 100 weeks and it's the reference painters keep coming back to, covering how light and color behave with more than 300 of his own illustrations. Buying it straight from Gurney's site gets you a signed copy for around $38, which makes an already-great gift feel personal.
Image courtesy of James Gurney. (Was $34.99 on the old page; now $37.99, confirmed 8/3.)
4. 642 Things to Draw — around $17
Every artist hits a blank-page day, and this is the cure for under twenty dollars. 642 Things to Draw from Chronicle Books is a 304-page prompt sketchbook, part idea list and part blank canvas, that ranges from the ordinary to the delightfully odd. It's a low-pressure nudge to keep the pencil moving, and it slides right into a bag for downtime sketching.
Image courtesy of My Modern Met Store.
Fun and wearable art gifts
For the artist who likes their personality on display, even down to their socks.
5. Bob Ross Heat-Reveal Mug — around $20
Pure joy for under twenty dollars. This Bob Ross mug starts plain, then a hot drink makes one of Ross's signature landscapes appear, alongside his line about "happy accidents." It's a small, funny morning ritual for anyone who grew up on The Joy of Painting, and at 26 reviews it's a proven crowd-pleaser. An easy add-on or stocking gift.
Image courtesy of My Modern Met Store / Unemployed Philosophers Guild.
6. ChattyFeet Artists Socks Gift Set — around $40
Four pairs of socks starring Andy Sock-Hole, Feetasso, Frida Callus, and Vincent Van Toe, which tells you exactly how seriously they take themselves. The Artists Socks Gift Set is a soft, funny way to let an art lover wear their heroes, and four pairs means it feels like a real gift rather than a throw-in. Comes in two sizes.
Image courtesy of My Modern Met Store.
7. 14k Gold and Sterling Silver Palette Necklace — around $130
For a keepsake that says "artist" without a word, this handmade palette necklace from ArtistGifts is a sterling-silver paint palette with five hand-applied enamel "paint" dabs and solid 14k gold brushes. It's made in the USA, ships in a gift box, and works as the splurge on this list for a milestone or a serious art lover.
Image courtesy of ArtistGifts. (Was $119.95 on the old page; now $129.99, confirmed 8/3.)
Thoughtful extras for the studio
The overlooked stuff, from hand care to a way to save and show their work.
8. Andalou Clementine Hand Cream — around $10
Hands take a beating in the studio: paint, clay, ink, and a lot of washing that leaves skin dry. The Clementine Hand Cream from Andalou is a quick-absorbing, cruelty-free cream with shea and cocoa butter that makes an easy, useful under-$10 add-on to a bigger gift. Small, but the kind of practical touch an artist notices.
Image courtesy of Andalou Naturals.
9. Year of Guided Watercolor Painting Desk Calendar — around $35
Part gift, part yearlong activity. The Year of Guided Watercolor Calendar from Uncommon Goods comes with a hand-mixed paint palette and brush, and each month is a pattern to paint in yourself, then trim to a 5x7 to frame. It suits a casual creative or a seasoned painter who'd enjoy a low-stakes monthly ritual, and there's a QR code to tutorials to get started.
Image courtesy of Uncommon Goods.
10. Canon CanoScan LiDE 400 Scanner — around $98
Finished art has one problem: a phone photo never does it justice. The Canon CanoScan LiDE 400 is a slim flatbed scanner that captures drawings and small paintings at high resolution (a full page in about 8 seconds), so they can build a clean digital portfolio or make prints. It runs on a single USB cable and holds 4.5 stars across 150+ reviews. A useful pick for anyone selling or sharing their work.
Image courtesy of B&H Photo Video. (Was $92.74 on the old page; now $97.99, confirmed 8/3.)
When you're not sure what supplies they need
11. A PerfectGift They Redeem Their Way (or a Michaels card to start)
Here's the honest truth from the top of this list: artists are picky about their core supplies, so if you don't know their exact brand of paint or paper, don't guess. A PerfectGift lets you add a photo and a note, and then they choose how to redeem it, whether that's keeping the brand you picked, swapping to another, or moving the balance to a Visa card. If you want to point them at a craft store to start, a PerfectGift that starts as Michaels covers paints, canvases, and framing under one roof. Either way, you make it personal and they get the final say on the supplies only they know they need.
| Gift | About | Best for the artist who… |
|---|---|---|
| MEEDEN Acrylic Painting Set + French Easel | ~$190 | wants one gift that does it all |
| Viviva A6 Travel Paint Kit | ~$45 | sketches on the go |
| "Color and Light" (signed) | ~$38 | is always leveling up their craft |
| 642 Things to Draw | ~$17 | gets stuck on the blank page |
| Bob Ross heat-reveal mug | ~$20 | needs a laugh with their coffee |
| ChattyFeet Artists Socks | ~$40 | wears their heroes on their feet |
| 14k palette necklace | ~$130 | deserves a keepsake splurge |
| Andalou Clementine Hand Cream | ~$10 | has studio-dry hands (great add-on) |
| Guided Watercolor Calendar | ~$35 | would enjoy a monthly creative ritual |
| Canon CanoScan LiDE 400 | ~$98 | sells or shares their work |
| PerfectGift (they redeem) | your choice | you can't guess their supplies, or it's last-minute |
How much should you spend on a gift for an artist?
There's a wide range here, and it maps to how well you know their work. For a casual creative or an add-on, $10 to $40 covers the mug, the socks, the prompt book, the hand cream, or the calendar. For someone who paints or draws seriously, $90 to $190 gets a real centerpiece: the full MEEDEN set, the scanner, or the palette necklace.
One thing worth knowing: with artists, thought beats price. A signed reference book or a personalized card often means more than an expensive set in the wrong medium, because artists are specific about their tools. When you're unsure, spend on something consumable, wearable, or flexible rather than betting the whole gift on guessing their exact supplies.
FAQ
What do you get an artist who has all their own supplies? Aim to the side of their core kit: fun or wearable pieces (a Bob Ross mug, artist socks, a palette necklace), a reference book they'll keep, an experience-style gift like a guided watercolor calendar, or a PerfectGift so they choose the supplies themselves.
What's a good gift for an artist under $25? Strong picks include 642 Things to Draw ($16.95), the Bob Ross heat-reveal mug ($19.95), or the Andalou hand cream ($9.99). All work well on their own or as an add-on.
What's the best all-in-one gift for someone getting into painting? A complete set like the MEEDEN Professional Acrylic Painting Set with French Easel (around $190) includes the easel, paints, brushes, and canvases, so a beginner can start right away.
What should I get an artist if I don't know what medium they work in? Don't guess their supplies. Choose something medium-neutral (a scanner, a reference book, hand cream) or a PerfectGift they redeem their way. A card that starts as Michaels also covers most craft and art supplies.
Are gift cards a good gift for artists? Yes, because artists are particular about brands and mediums. Make it personal with a PerfectGift (add a photo and note), and they decide how to redeem it, including moving the balance to a Visa card.
What's a thoughtful gift for a professional artist? Think about how they work and show their art: a quality scanner to digitize and sell prints, a signed craft reference like Color and Light, or a keepsake like the handmade palette necklace.
