The Ultimate Gift Guide for Artists (2024) budget to high end!

[@b33sandhoney]

Loved the recommendations! Maybe a dumb question, but where did you link the art books?

[@SaraTepes]

Here they are! -Figure Drawing: Design and Invention by Michael Hampton -Classic Human Anatomy: The Artist's Guide to Form, Function, and Movement by Valerie L. Winslow -The Complete Guide to Anatomy for Artists & Illustrators by Gottfried Bammes - Show Your Work, Steal Like an Artist, and Keep Going by Austin Kleon -Beginner's Guide to Creating Portraits by 3dtotal Publishing (I have a section in it!) -Plantopedia by Lauren Camilleri and Sophia Kaplan (for plant lovers who want references and new ideas for their art) -any other 3dtotal Publishing books (for digital painting)

[@b33sandhoney]

@@SaraTepes thanks so much!!!

[@madametj]

Winsor and Newton is a very reliable brand. I've been using them for almost 10 years and they're are some of my favorites for watercolor and traditional gouache. It's VERY important though to recognize the difference between their student grade supplies and their artist grade supplies. The student grade watercolors (Cotman) are just OK, but the professional grade is top notch.

[@SaraTepes]

I haven't tried the artist grade watercolors and have found better bang for my buck with other brands when it comes to the student grade supplies. I have beef with the Cotman set, it makes me absolutely hate watercolors every time I give it a second chance, so I can't recommend W&N from my experience. I love their markers, just not most of their popular supplies at Michaels. Comment and let us know which supplies are worth it!

[@AliBPBG]

I started my watercolouring experience with Cotman and it had put me off for a long time. Obvi, as an experienced artist, one already knows what works for them, but I found your recommendations very helpful, Sara. Thanks. 😊

[@valasafantastic1055]

Adjust by where you live. This list is more for USA. I’m glad she mostly showed prices to show how overpriced in comparison it may be where you live. Arches is not ‘mid range’ it stop and overpriced expensive. In Canada where I live it’s not very likely to get Arches for a reasonable price. Daniel smith is also never as low as $10 a tube. Everyone has different art styles and preferences so take any recommendations with a grain of salt. Many watercolour artists despise Canson paper while others love it (depends on art style and personal preference). Most artist grade paint is really great. And I personally still like lots of mixed paints and even gasp white. I think the Shinhan swc/pwc are fantastic for my personal tastes and are much more reasonably priced when I get lucky where I live. I also have been really enjoying Kalour and Brutfuner (big Amazon sets of coloured pencils if lightfastness is not an issue.) I have to recommend the Derwent drawing 24 set as best possible quality but they are overpriced in Canada. Still they are amazing and lightfast! Faber-Castell 9000pencils; 2b, and 4b, the mono zero eraser stick and faber-castell ‘dust free’ eraser (which erases everything amazing even most coloured pencils!). The Talens art creation sketchbooks are amazing! I use them with watercolour and mixed media they are currently my favourite sketchbooks and among my favourite paper of all! Agree on the Princeton velvet touch. Kristy Rice - Paintcrush- the art for joys sake and the free of fear brush sets are among my favourite brushes! ($52 ea approx. in Canada each has 6 brushes) they include cats tongues and daggers! A couple of good circle templates and other geometric shape templates. I have heard and seen things that make me not want the moleskin and I can’t think of the canson paper as ‘good’, nor could I recommend it. I personally love the HimI/Miya gouache and recommend palleting them letting them dry and resetting with an eye dropper then let it sit 10 min+ then paint and the texture will be very nice. Holbein is only reasonable to purchase if you are in Japan otherwise it is extremely overpriced! So if you are visiting Japan stock up as they are great quality! I also reccomend Rosa Gallery, and Van Gogh watercolours. Some dislike Van Gogh but I love them. Also Paul Rubens tubes are full artist grade and excellent!

[@addieasselstine]

This is also a great list for beginner artists shopping for themselves 🥰

[@FelineFurKin]

Watermixable oil paint is fine, it’s an alternative, not a gimmick.

[@SaraTepes]

I've never had a good experience with a water mixable oil paint, and I've been gifted them two times so far. I think they're too risky of a supply for a non-artist to blind buy, and I don't have a brand recommendation from my own experience. Comment a brand you like!

[@wiktoriatluvi]

​@@SaraTepesRoyal Talens has this fairly new line called Cobra 👀 personalny I haven't tested them, as I don't really use oils, but if you remember the film "Loving Vincent" then the same people who made it, made "The Peasants" and the painterd were using these paints. the film premiered late this year and will be Poland's candidate for the Oscar nomination :) (fully animated film done with oil paintings and keyframes)

[@moodyandtheartist]

I do wonder if the Golden Open acrylics would be a good alternative. I have not tried and don't have any immediate plans to try either, but it's on my radar as something that might be a LITTLE closer to the experience of painting with oils. At the moment I'm pretty content with acrylic or acrylic gouache in a stay wet palette.

[@FelineFurKin]

@@SaraTepes Winsor and Newton’s good.

[@debbienotdeborah]

As a mixed media artist watercolour pencils are essential in my work. Esp Derwent inktense.

[@SaraTepes]

Good recommendation- how do you use them in your work? I have a couple but I never figured out a workflow for myself with them.

[@MommaLeighellensBookNook]

Totally sharing this! 🎄

[@SaraTepes]

Love!

[@strawbori]

10 minutes ago? Oh this is FRESH fresh! I can't wait to watch. It's so rare to see artists gift guides from actual artists haha.

[@SaraTepes]

Iconic timing!

[@thelostwitch]

Ooh, new video while I was watching another of your videos 🥰

[@Makalasbeautybar]

Would love to see some recommendations on acrylic painting supplies or gauche!

[@SketchesnScrubs]

Really enjoyed your list and your tips! I just released a list too especially for watercolour lovers. It was lovely so your wholesome list! Xx

[@SaraTepes]

Omg! I love it, you liked so many unique supplies! I was gifted a couple Roman Szmal watercolors recently and I wanna try more-- I think only Jackson's sells them in the US, so I gotta try them out.

[@mjpete27]

@@SaraTepes I have gotten plenty of options on e-bay for buying watercolors! Good Luck!

[@SketchesnScrubs]

@@SaraTepes Love Roman Szmal, Artemiranda is an alternative to Jackson’s if you like x

[@fuzzydragons]

yep def quality with watercolours is better, you can do so much with just a few colours for a gift😀

[@Katelyn_clemons]

Michaels actually has some excellent starter watercolor brush sets that work with watercolor and gouache really well! Highly highly reccomend. They perform similarly to my much more high end brushes like the Princeton velvetouch and aqua elite.

[@SaraTepes]

Drop the details! I gotta try them out!

[@MidoriGaleart]

Me parece una buena guía incluso para principiantes del arte, no solo para regalos. En cuanto a los sketchbooks con espiral, a mí me encantan, de tamaño A5, llevo 15 o más años usándolos para hacer concept art en el camino. Son económicos, fáciles de encontrar, entran en la mayoría de bolsos, no llaman la atención y si sufren un accidente no es el fin del mundo. Incómodo sí, pero no duele; a mí me motiva a tirar ideas, practicar y no tener miedo de llenar hoja tras hoja y pensar 'rayos, ya se va a acabar". El último que tuve se manchó con aceite del almuerzo que se volcó en mi mochila y pese a ello seguí usando las hojas para ideas y notas. Claramente no todos los artistas son así de desordenados y entiendo que el tema del espiral hace que las hojas se muevan y los bosquejos se ensucien, no negaré el contra. Solo vine a contar mi experiencia como alguien que le gusta los sketchbooks de espiral (también tengo con lomo, no le hago asco a nada 😂). El espiral arriba es menos molesto que en el costado, pero ya depende de la persona. Soy diestra y he usado sketchbooks de espiral al costado de atrás hacia adelante dándolo vuelta, de cabeza. Al final depende de la adaptabilidad del artista; es una de las cosas que me encanta del arte, hay más de una forma de resolver una obra

[@tanglingheadphones]

Water mixable oil paints are fine, lol.

[@Funmithfae]

also legion does these really cute paper sample pads and they are like $1.50-$2 and you cna get a bunch to let your artist try a bunch of different kinds of high quality papers to experiment with

[@dolcevita.illustrations]

Coming back from last year to get new ideas 😇 I would add that Faber Castell offers really good quality products!

[@SaraTepes]

Yay! Which products do you love?

[@dolcevita.illustrations]

@SaraTepes The Polychromos never let me down, they feel super smooth to use I really love them! Also I have a couple of side accessories that come up really handy but can be found in other brands as well (sharpener, kneaded eraser and also some eraser-pencil cap that I use when I want to take some colored pencils on the go but don't want to ruin my pencil case with the colored lead haha)

[@_larcinha]

Me watching this to gift myself ✍️

[@ChantelleArts]

so many fantastic ideas in this ❤❤❤

[@michelleip75]

OH MY GOSH, this video came right on time! 🥹🙏 I was just sending links to websites of artist merchandise to my friends last night! I’m going to send them this video. You’re right about the holiday season being the time to buy things. Also, I LOVE the book visuals depicting the recommended art supplies. It’s neat to see your graphic design and illustration skills combined with your video-making skills! Thank you for this.

[@fleurwings6973]

I love the longer video format. I especially miss your longer educational videos. Keep it up sis

[@ninka_43]

can anyone explain watermixable oil paint?

[@brittanysalzone]

So many good options here! 💜

[@SpottedJournal]

Perfec! It's what I needed 🤗 thank you!!

[@lemonies2740]

Anyone have any recs for alcohol markers ! I need to buy myself a new set (landscape architecture school + personal use)

[@SketchesnScrubs]

Ohuhu markers are quite good, affordable and often on sale x

[@SaraTepes]

Copic and Winsor & Newton are great ofc, but I also have Blick Markers and Marvy Le Plume alcohol markers and they are great (haven't dried out after 6 years wow). The Copic Ciao are a good price if you don't use them as your main medium. I'm sure Ohuhu is good if they have a brush tip, you just can't choose specific colors so that's a gamble.

[@LudwinV]

Winsor & Newton is a reliable brand, they have been making paint for a long time and offer plenty of lightfast pigments. The only problem is that they may be overpriced on some stores. I do avoid their natural brushes because their quality has decreased due to regulations on fur.

[@SaraTepes]

I have to try them again with an open mindset. I haven't like their watercolor pans in the past, but I wonder if I'll feel differently about them now.

[@LudwinV]

@ I have only used their 37ml to refill my pans since their large tubes are more economical on the long run. I love their french ultramarine, Winsor Yellow, Winsor Red. Their burnt umber is decent but it is not single pigment (I prefer DS). I’m planning on getting their permanent rose, raw Sienna, and phthalo blue when my tubes from other brands run out. I don’t have all their colors but they are reliable.

[@Sphiyel]

What about ST. PETERSBURG White Nights watercolour tubes? I've had them for a long time, and when I picked them I read they are incredibly good quality for the price. Have you tried them?

[@wiktoriatluvi]

Try Rosa Gallery 🥰 they are Ukrainian watercolors, very similar to White Nights, but actually some colors have more interesting/textured/granulating pigments 😊 I've used White Nights for years too and I enjoy them both :D as I'm from Poland, I also love Roman Szmal's Aquarius watercolors, but I guess they are far cheaper here than anywhere else since they're from Poland too :) but veeeery good ✨

[@SaraTepes]

I have not tried them but hear a lot of positive reviews and that they're similar quality to Paul Rubens? I think they are more expensive in the US versus Europe, 12 full pans for $37. Is the price worth it to try them out?

[@SaraTepes]

@@wiktoriatluvi How much are Roman Szmal in Poland? They're $5-8 for a full size pan in the US.

[@wiktoriatluvi]

@@SaraTepes oh my, yt is having troubles keeping my comment up for some reason :') Hope it will work this time finally, maybe I’ll try adding it in chunks :'D

[@wiktoriatluvi]

@@SaraTepes the first range is about 11zł which is slightly under 3$ with the current exchange rate, the second one is around 15zł and it is a bit under 4$, the third ~18zł (~4.5$) and the fourth one about 22zł (~5.5$) and there is also a few special-pigment ones from gemstones and stuff (like Malachite, Vivianite and Lapis Lazuli that have their own price ranges)

[@MissedSage]

I'm a bit late but I thoroughly enjoyed the video 🙃 thank you.

[@lawsbrettart]

Can anyone recommend a nice empty zipper art case that I can fill up myself with nice supplies for my artist? It doesn’t have to be spendy! But then I can fill it with decent pencils etc rather than the ones that come in those expensive trash sets!

[@SketchesnScrubs]

I have a no name / btsky case that I store my supplies in when travelling on long trips. I can’t share the link as my comment will get flagged but I share it on my channel. Xx

[@lawsbrettart]

@@SketchesnScrubsoh cheers, lovely! I will go have a look now ❤

[@ramengirll]

This was bombarding my brain.. Adding a pause or two between each section would help with the overload of info.

[@SaraTepes]

heard