40 Best Gifts For Sketch Artists And Tips On How To Find Them

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Do you know any or have a sketch artist in your life? If so, then you know how it can sometimes be difficult to find the best gifts for them. Most artists prefer to work in pencil or charcoal and don't need the typical art supplies that other people might enjoy. So what do you get the artist who has a very exacting taste for their sketch art supplies? Check out our list and find the best drawing gifts to keep them inspired.

But first, we come to the question, what makes the best gifts for sketch artists? Sketch artists, like everyone else, have their preferences, so that’s one thing to consider when looking for the best gift. Another is the skill level of the artist and the practicality of the gift. If you consider these three things, you increase your chances of grabbing that ideal gift. 

Pencils

When you think of gifts for sketch artists, don't skip on pencils. Pencils may be very basic, but the pencil type can make or break your favorite artist's sketches. 

Pen Graphite Pencils

Mr. Pen graphite pencils have a full range of graphite sketch pencils that newbies and more experienced artists will love. Each pencil features an easy to erase and sharpen super-bonded lead that you can use on an ordinary sketchpad and matte drawing film. The cute metal case also guarantees enhanced protection and easy organizing of your art supplies.

1. Amazon Basics Sketch & Drawing Kit

This kit is the perfect gift for every creative person you know. The set has 6 graphite pencils of different grades, soft, 3 charcoal pencils (soft, medium, and hard), compressed sketch sticks, erasers, a smudge stick, and a dual-barrel eraser. The materials also conform to ASTM D-4236 standards.

2. Nicpro Mechanical Pencil Set

Mechanical pencils are excellent if you want precision and consistency on your lines. This set includes 4 lead sizes - 0.5mm, 0.7mm, 0.9mm, 2mm, 12 refill tubes, sharpeners, and several sharpeners, all organized in a plastic clamshell case.

3. Pen Mechanical Pencil Set

Architecture and drafting students will appreciate receiving this mechanical pencil set for easier and precision lines on their drawings. The set has 5 metal mechanical pencils with color-coded lead - 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9, 2.0mm accompanying leads, plus 2.0mm colored leads.

Erasers

Sketch artists rely on erasers to clean up their drawings without scratching the paper's surface. Artists need different types of erasers for their specific needs.

4. Pen Eraser Set

This pack of erasers - kneaded, gum, and pencil erasers - are great for any artist. The erasers are very affordable, and kids or professional artists love how well they respond to the paper. Each eraser does its work without ruining the paper.  

5. Faber-Castell Kneaded Eraser

Kneaded erasers are necessary when working with charcoal and graphite pencils. They're best for adding highlights to drawings and correcting charcoal, graphite, pencil, and soft pastels. They're large enough to hold and store. 

6. AFMAT Rechargeable Eraser

Electric erasers are an artist's best friend because they're good for detail jobs. The erasers come in two sizes, 2.3mm for the small and 5mm for the big refill erasers. The kit includes spare holders, a cleaning brush, and a USB cable for charging. The ergonomic design of the holder and a 600mAH Li-ion battery guarantee extended use. 

Sharpeners

There are three types of sharpeners to choose from - manual, electric, and battery-powered. The type you need depends on the intended use, portability, and durability. It is a great gift idea for any budding artist who loves to work with who loves to draw. 

7. Bostitch Electric Pencil Sharpener

This ingeniously designed sharpener has a high-powered motor perfect for small studio spaces. The sharpener features a safety switch that prevents it from running unless the tray is properly engaged. Best of all, the 7-year limited warranty ensures the sharpener works for a long time.

8. Staedtler Double-hole Tub Pencil Sharpener

Artists need pencil sharpeners to keep their graphite and colored pencils sharp and to a point. They don't work very well as a charcoal pencil sharpener, but you can still use them if you know how to control the number of turns, so the charcoal pencils don't get too pointed and break.

9. Linkyo Multi-Size Pencil Sharpener

Artists will no longer struggle to find the right sharpener that fits their pencils. This heavy-duty sharpener can accommodate up to 6 different sizes, so even jumbo pencils fit into them.

The electric motor runs quietly, and it stops automatically once your pencils are sharp enough.

10. Sandpaper Sharpener

Sandpaper sharpeners are perfect for grinding charcoal and graphite pencils that artists use to create angles on their pencils for effect. These sandpaper sharpeners also clean blending stumps, crayons, and soft pastels, but not on oil pastels, though. Tear off the sandpaper sheets from the holder when they're too smooth.

Colored Pencils

Colored pencils are essential for sketch artists and can be used to create beautiful drawings and sketches. They are best for artists who like to blend colors.

11. ThEast Rainbow Colored Pencils

If you have an artist kid at home, these rainbow-colored pencils are a great choice for a gift. The set has 60 pencils, each with 4 colors, so your kid can make rainbows even with just a single colored pencil. 

12. Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils

Prismacolor Premier colored pencils are high-quality colored pencils with a soft core that's thick enough for coloring, shading, and adding shadows to any artist's drawing. The colors are easy to blend, water-resistant, and have moderate lightfastness. The set has 72 colors, arranged in two layers and organized in a beautiful tin case.

Drawing Tablets

If your recipient is ready to try a digital drawing tablet, getting them graphic tablets is a great idea. Include a leather cover, and you’re sure to have a beautiful gift for artists who love sketching. 

13. Wacom Intuos Graphics Drawing Tablet

Wacom Intuos Graphics Drawing Tablet is compatible with different operating systems, even Android phones. It is small and compact and has a left or right setup.

The tablet is compatible with other EdTech software for teachers and the Chromebook. It also comes with a 2-year subscription to Clip Studio Paint Pro and other painting and drawing software.

14. HUION Inspiroy H640P Graphics Drawing Tablet

HUION Inspiroy H640P Graphics Drawing Tablet is an affordable drawing tablet with a battery-free stylus with a good resolution and no lag for easier control. It is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Android 6.

It is also good for online classes, web conferencing, and remote work. The tablet is also small enough to pack into a purse or laptop.

15. XP-Pen Drawing Tablet

The XP-Pen Drawing Tablet is an excellent choice for professional artists who want to see what they are working on instead of glancing at their computer monitor to see their progress. The free pen has a unique pencil feel to give the user a wonderful sketching experience.

However, it needs to connect to a computer using a USB-A or an HDMI port. Aside from using it as a drawing tablet, artists can use them for other purposes like making short presentations or attending webinars.

Drawing Boards

The right surface is an important factor for drawing and sketching. Animators, for example, need illuminated boards, while draftsmen prefer inclined tables. 

16. Martin Universal Design Pro-Draft Deluxe Adjustable Parallel

This drawing board is a good choice to give a sketch artist to improve the drawing surface. It has an adjustable stand and a straightedge to prop your sketchbook on the drawing board. Thanks to the easy-grip handle, it is portable enough at 23x31 inches and weighs 16 lbs. The melamine coating improves the strength and smoothness of the surface for long-term use.

17. Litenergy Rechargeable Light Box

Litenergy is a bestseller portable lightbox and an excellent gift for 2D animators and designers. It has adjustable light with a maximum brightness of 4000 Lux. Crafters and other artists can trace quilt and tattoo designs and use them for calligraphy, scrapbooking, and other craft projects.

Sketchbooks

Sketchbooks are every artist's best friend. They are perfect for drawing on the go and make a great gift for any sketch artist.

18. Art Journal

Art journals are small sketchbooks that artists take with them so they can draw when inspiration strikes. This 9x6-inch art journal has 70lb (105gsm) paper, spiral-bound in a durable, double spiral spring.

19. Large-format Sketchbook

This large-format sketchbook is the perfect gift for girls and teeners with its cute unicorn design and full-color soft glossy cover. The pages are generous 8.5x11-inches, and the sketchbook contains 108 white acid-free drawing paper.

Reference Books

Artists love to receive reference books to inspire their sketching and drawing practice.

20. The Master Guide to Drawing Anime

Christopher Hart, the bestselling art tutorial author, helps young artists to sketch anime characters using templates and styles. From drawing the hair, body, or outfits and creating remarkable characters, The Master Guide to Drawing Anime is a great reference.

21. How to Draw with Photorealism: Drawing & Shading Techniques

Jasmina Susak, a notable pencil artist and art instructor, will guide any artist on how to capture realistic portraits and three-dimensional objects using basic drawing techniques. Even newbie sketch artists will learn to draw anything with ease if they use the techniques taught in this book. Anyone can create amazing pencil art with step-by-step demonstrations designed to help an artist improve his drawing skills.

22. Draw 50 Animals: The Step-by-Step Way

Inspire any artist to draw animals, birds, fish, and even princesses with this 64-page drawing tutorial book. Best for kids 10-13 or even younger, this book has 50 step-by-step guide to sketching and drawing. The book also comes in Kindle, library-bound, paperback, or spiral-bound.

Portfolio and Organizers

Artists love to organize their drawings and things. Your favorite sketch artist will surely love these portfolios and organizers.

23. Portfolio Binder for Artwork

The Itoya protective art folder has 24 photo sleeves and acid-free black paper to divide the sleeves so your artist friend can keep up to 48 pieces of artwork in this folder. The archival material used on the sleeves will ensure their artwork looks good for years. Add a bit of character to the art portfolio with the customizable front cover.

24. Art Supply Basket

An organizer is every artist's secret to keeping his art space clutter-free. The two baskets are perfect for storing supplies. The removable dividers allow for customization so your recipient can keep both wide and small items like sketchbooks, pencils, erasers, and other supplies.

25. Mesh Desk Organizer with Drawer

What's not to love about having a place for everything? This large-capacity organizer is perfect, with its high-quality wire mesh material and versatile design. The non-slip rubber feet prevent any scratches on the artist's table.

26. Stackable Pencil Boxes

Let your friend lock their pencils and other supplies in the box so they don't lose their supplies. This large-capacity storage container uses high-quality, translucent plastic. It has a snap-tight lid that corrals all art supplies.

27. Storage Cart with Drawers

Any sketch artist will love to have a cart to organize all his pencils and other supplies. This cart has drawers large enough to keep 9x12-inch sketchbooks and other supplies. They're also stackable, so artists can maximize even their small spaces. 

Online Courses

Subscription to online drawing classes is one of the best gifts you can give beginner sketch artists to keep their creative juices pumping. There are hundreds of online classes, and many of them are free. However, a paid course has tips and secrets that artists don't share on free content online.

28. Proko

Everyone who loves to draw will love Proko. Stan Prokopenko, the website's founder, teaches numerous drawing courses, mostly figure drawing and mastering human anatomy. Prices vary per course, depending on the length and complexity of the lessons.

As a Premium member, you can access extended lessons, assignments and assignment demonstrations, and downloadable content. A 30-day money-back guarantee where he refunds your money if you're not happy with the course.

29. Domestika

Domestika is an online community of artists who offer courses on illustrations, crafts, calligraphy, and several other drawing and painting courses at a very affordable price. They offer courses at a discounted price several times a year, sometimes as much as 83% off.

Best of all, you can access these courses for a year. Courses also get upgrades every year, so they're always improving.

30. Craftsy

Craftsy is another community of artists with over 1500 Premium classes that you can access on a single membership - no need to pay for individual classes. You can choose to pay monthly or annually and even share the membership with three of your closest friends for more value. Try all the 20 categories and discover your many talents aside from drawing and painting.

However, if you're not ready to commit to a membership, you can access individual classes to get a better feel of the community. Try out the free classes with downloadable PDFs too.

Accessories

Artists need different accessories to help them make beautiful drawings. Here are a few suggestions:

31. Artist Leaning Bridge

Drawing with charcoal pencils can get messy without the proper accessories. A drawing bridge like this helps keep the artist's hand off the paper, thus preventing smudges on their drawings. However, these are bulky and recommended for use on the drawing table. 

32. Mahl Stick

For a more portable accessory to keep smudges away from their drawings, a mahl stick is a good gift for any artist. Artists can use them on an easel or the table, so it's more versatile than an acrylic bridge. 

33. LED Desk Lamp

Artists sometimes can't get adequate natural light, especially if their art studio is in the attic, but you can give them a LED desk lamp. This particular lamp has three color modes and 10 brightness levels. The adjustable angle and height allow for better control, and the flicker-free light is healthy for the eyes. The LED lamp consumes 80% less energy than its 12-watt output and can last up to 50,000 hours. 

34. Electric Hand Massager

Artists' hands get tired from holding their pencils and colored pencils. A good massage after a day's work is helpful. This electronic hand massager pulses to give pressure and heat to relieve the hands from pressure. It also provides relief against pain from carpal tunnel syndrome. 

35. Artist Gloves

When artists work with drawing tablets with part of their hand touching the tablet and messing with work done, this artist's glove protects the two fingers away from the tablet, leaving the three other fingers uncovered and unhampered. 

36. Blending Stumps and Tortillions

Blending stumps are great for giving charcoal and graphite drawings a clean and finished look. They're better at blending to give the drawing the illusion of texture. Tortillions are smaller and made from rougher paper while blending stumps are larger and made from smooth paper. Between the two, blending stumps are easier to handle. 

37. T-shirt for Artists

Artists will love wearing this pun-ny shirt whether they're working on something related to drawing and art or not. Appreciate the wit and wear it on your sleeve - again, pun intended.

38. Artist Mug

Okay, this joke's pretty lame, but it is true; the earth is lame and bland without art. These mugs have a high-gloss finish printed on both sides, so both left and right-handed users can see the message. Though they're microwaveable, it's best to hand wash them to keep the print in good condition for a long time. 

39. Water Bottles

Artwork on a water bottle? Get these neoprene sleeves to protect and insulate your 500ml water bottles. One pack has 3 sleeves to share with your family and friends who love art. Because they're elastic, these covers won't come off even when accidentally dropped on the floor. 

40. Drafting Table

Though this gift may seem overboard and might overwhelm the recipient, any artist will appreciate furniture for his art studio. The adjustable stand for the table allows the tabletop to lay flat and use as a crafting table or computer area when planning for designs. 

Best Gifts for Artists Who Sketch - What To Look For

Artists are not the easiest persons to find gifts for because along with their artistic sense comes their meticulous side. However, here are a few tips to let you know what to look for when trying to find a gift for a sketch artist to keep his creative juices flowing. 

• Skill Level

Before you pick up something nice for your artist friend, know their skill level. For beginners, an online drawing class or reference books for artists is a good choice. More experienced artists, on the other hand, would prefer gifts that they can use for their practice and commissioned work.

• Preference

Though it may be time for your artist friend to explore a new medium, don’t go overboard. Always ask for their preference subtly. For example, not all artists want to venture into painting as they are more comfortable having more control over their drawings.

Some artists also want to master drawing before moving on to more challenging artistic ventures. Talking to your friends or someone who knows him better is the perfect solution for getting cool gifts.  For more gift ideas for someone ready to try a new medium, our list - gifts for watercolor artists is a good choice.

• Practicality

Artists tend to prefer practical gifts rather than emotional ones or those with sentimental value, though they might be elated if you give them a Van Gogh. For practicality, great gift ideas may include drawing accessories like a LED desk lamp to keep a working area with enough artificial light that won’t hurt the eyes.

An electric hand massager is also another gift that can help alleviate the pressure on the hands. A fun shirt or a mug printed with artist memes is another gift they might appreciate.

If you want to give a more personal and practical gift, you might consider custom coins . By transferring the artist's artistic creations and designs to GS-JJ's professional design team, these designs can be turned into commemorative coins with monumental significance. Such a gift may be a good choice not only as an exquisite and personalized collectible but also one that includes the artist's personal artistic creations.

Conclusion

Whether your favorite sketch artist is just starting or you're a seasoned pro, we hope you've found something perfect for the sketch artist in your life that will help them create beautiful sketches. Do you have any other ideas? Let us know in the comments.