6 Christmas Gift Ideas for Sketching Fans

Everyone is excited about Christmas until it’s time to choose gifts. Finding a gift for a loved one is complicated. Especially if they’re an artist. However, if your recipient has a preferred art technique, such as sketching, it’s much easier to find the ideal gift. There are so many creative gift suggestions for seasoned and professional artists who enjoy sketching and drawing.

Sketchbook

A sketchbook is where an artist can pour all of their ideas. It’s a special book that can help them play, draw and try new techniques while bringing them peace of mind. Working in a sketchbook, in fact, is considered an integral part of the creative process, so without a doubt, this is one of the best ways to improve their skills. 

That being said, your loved one can never have too many sketchbooks. In fact, it’s recommended to always have one in hand since one can never know when the inspiration will strike. 

When it comes to picking a sketchbook online stores have an abundance of quality and appealing sketchbooks ranging in media type and size. While the size of the sketchbook matters, you can never really know what’s best for them unless you directly ask. But if doing so, this won’t be a gift at all, so ideally, you should opt for a sketchpad that can fit both in a bag, backpack and laptop bag. You can also opt for one that comes with a specific number of pages and covers.

However, the most important thing to consider when searching for a sketchbook online is choosing the right type of paper. This is closely related to the type of media. For instance, for pencils and pens, it’s best to opt for a sketchbook with sketching paper. For light wet media like watercolour or marker ink, it would be better to choose mixed media paper, and for the use of watercolours along with different wash techniques, watercolour paper would be the best choice. 

You should also consider the paper’s weight and finish since not all paper finishes and weights will give the same final result when using different sketching techniques.

Pencil Set

A gift of this kind may look too basic for you, but for your friend, it could mean the world. As you can assume, the choice of pencils can make or break sketches, so by investing in a quality one you can help your friend create some awesome things. 

Depending on the artist’s skills, you can choose from the large selection of basic sketch and drawing kits and mechanical pencils. One thing is certain, whatever type you choose, all of them will provide the artist with the needed precision and line consistency. This is something that cannot be achieved with regular graphite pencils.

Sharpeners and Erasers

Regardless of the pencils you’ve chosen, you can also complement the gift with a set of erasers. They’re essential so that the artist can clean and touch up drawings without scraping the paper. 

Different types of erasers are needed for different needs, which is why you should choose a set that comes with different types of erasers. And in case the set doesn’t include a kneading eraser, make sure to add one since these erasers can be quite useful for removing and highlighting certain types of mediums.

Unless the artist sticks only to mechanical pencils, the use of sharpeners when sketching is required to keep the pencils sharp. Generally speaking, there are three types of sharpeners to choose from – manual, electric and battery-powered. All of them are compact and portable, the key is to choose a sharpener that’s quality and easy to use.

Coloured Pencils

Just like regular pencils, coloured pencils are a must for sketch artists. In fact, coloured pencils are perfect for creating beautiful and multicoloured drawings and sketches. So, if your friend loves adding colours to their sketches, this would be the perfect gift for them. Just make sure to buy pencils designed for professional use. This will allow your friend to easily use and blend colours.

A Desk Lamp

The one thing we know about lighting is that it is of vital importance for your productivity. But aside from general lighting, the use of desk light is paramount for improving an artist’s productivity. This goes especially for sketchers who are into sketching with pencils rather than painting on an easel. 

The choice of today’s desk lights is huge, ranging from traditional looking to fancy and minimalist lamps. Given the fact that these lamps are also used as decorative desk pieces, the type of lamp you choose should be based on your friend’s personal taste in style and décor. 

Make sure to consider the type of light and its brightness. The desk lamp you choose should have the broadest possible beam of light and a flexible/adjustable arm since this allows for better control. If possible, choose a lamp that can be adjusted for brightness and temperature. This can help your friend get the needed amount of light, especially when he can’t get adequate natural light in the room.

When looking for the right lamp, it’s critical to look for one that has an LED light. Aside from offering flicker-free light, (which is healthy for your eyes), these lamps are also better for the environment and your pocket. They consume 80% less energy and can last up to 50 000 hours. 

Desk Organiser

One thing all artists have in common is that no matter how messy their painting studio might look, they love to organise their drawings and tools. That said, a desk organiser can be a great gift idea. The most important thing to have in mind when shopping is to choose a model that has space for storing all art supplies from erasers and sharpeners to pencils and colouring pencils.