31 of the Best Gift Ideas for Art Students

If you need some of the best gift ideas for art students, your Picasso in training, or a novice artist, you’ve come to the right place!

This list was made by an artist who knows about creative and affordable gift ideas for art students (moi!). And I made it with your budget and an art student’s needs, while keeping quality in mind. Many of these items are in my studio today, and I’m thrilled to be able to share these recommendations with you.

I know it can be difficult to select art supplies, art books or artsy things for a creative type when you’re not necessarily an artist yourself. And that’s what this list will help you with!

NOTE: I’ve recently updated this post from 25 gift ideas to 31 best gift ideas for art students!!

As a fellow artist and someone who LOVES finding a unique gift idea for any special occasion, I’ve got you covered.

Whether you’re looking for the perfect graduation gift, a personal gift, or a creative holiday gift idea for art students, I’m sharing some excellent gift ideas at a price that will make everyone happy.

This post contains sponsored or affiliate links. I may earn a small commission on a qualifying purchase at no extra cost to you. All prices are accurate, and items are in stock at the time of publication.

1. Mkono Hanging Display Garland

This hanging display garland by Mkono is one of my favorite gift ideas for art students, young artists, and even professional artists. It’s a fun way to display their latest work or lots of pictures for inspiration for new work. It’s made of metal chain with varying sizes of wooden stars, and is less than $15!

2. 100 Stickers of Famous Paintings Set

This set of high-quality vinyl painting stickers has lots of pictures of famous paintings. These stickers are a good idea for art history students or even your favorite art teacher. The stickers can be put on water bottles, luggage, notes, and sketch books. They can also be adhered to index cards to make flash cards for upcoming tests. And the best part? They are priced under $10.

3. “Drawing On the Right Side of the Brain“

Professional artists will tell you that being an artist can take a long time, and it’s more than just learning how to draw straight lines. Drawing is a discipline that helps with this process, and Betty Edward’s book “Drawing On the Right Side of the Brain” is a classic that teachers and art professors use to this day. Appropriate for young adults over 8!

4. Painter’s Color Diary

Keep a journal of your favorite paint color blends with this Painter’s Color Diary. Perfect for watercolor, colored pencils, pastels, and more, this diary will become a color Bible for anyone wanting to save time trying to repeat the same formula again. Made from 140 lb. 100% cotton cold press paper, in a landscape page layout, with each page measuring 4″ x 6″ – great for plein air painters and budding color theorists!

5. MYNT3D Super 3D Pen

The MYNT3D Super 3D pen helps you turn your ordinary drawings into real 3D sculptures! This pen is great for artists, kids, and budding engineers, and the kit comes with 3 colors of ABS plastic filament, an A/C adapter, and the slim, ergonomic pen. Plus there’s a 1-year limited warranty! Priced under $40, it’s the first step to a future (and expensive) 3D printer 🙂

6. The Art Coffee Mug for Artists & Designers

And what gift ideas for art students list would be complete without an artsy art coffee mug? Especially one that’s covered with drawings of different art supplies? Make it a beverage set with your art student’s favorite teas like this variety pack of Twinings Teas or Grounds and Hounds’s starter coffee pack to get the caffeine party started!

7. Insulated Stainless Vacuum Tumbler

Any painter will tell you — the struggle is real when it comes to sipping paint water vs. coffee!! Most artists have drank their paint water instead of their coffee at least once or ten times (myself included), so train your art student early on and they can avoid that experience!! 🙂 This insulated stainless vacuum tumber is great for keeping your drinks warm or cold, depending on the season. And there’s a written reminder on the outside that what’s inside is “not paint water.”

8. Small Hardcover Moleskine Sketch Book

There are dozens of small sketch books available to artists who like to draw on the go. But my personal preference is the time-proven Moleskine sketch books. The pages are creamy soft, and the covers hold up well in heavy back packs or purses stuffed with art supplies. These come in a variety of colors and sizes, and are light-weight yet strong. They’re perfect for sketching with pencil or ink, crayons or pastels, and acrylic paints. The pages will crinkle a bit with more water-based paints, so if watercolors or gouache are your jam, try these 4.5″ x 7″ Moleskine watercolor sketchbooks.

9. Hardcover Handbook Watercolor Sketchbook

This hardcover watercolor sketchbook by Handbook has 140# watercolor pages and comes in a variety of sizes including this hard-to-find 8.5″ x 8.5″ size. I personally love this size because I often divide the page in squares and do four small paintings on one page. And with true watercolor pages, you won’t have to worry about excessive warping as in other sketchbooks.

10. Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Field Kit

The watercolour field kit by Winsor & Newton Cotman is ideal for traveling and painting watercolour sketches on the go. This one comes with the paints, brushes, three mixing trays, and a plastic water bottle plus two clip-on water trays. These are sturdy kits and have high-quality pigments, so the paints actually last longer, and you can replace them when necessary. I’ve had mine for over 20 years and it has never broken, despite taking a lot of falls in the dirt and sand!

11. Acid-Free Precut Mats – Showkit of 25 Sets!

If you want to really encourage your budding Van Gogh’s art career, then get them a set of precut mats so they can proudly display their work. This acid-free showkit is an incredible value and I recommend it to all of my artist friends – plus they come in different sizes. Each mat is acid-free and comes with the backing boards plus crystal clear bags for safely storing their work. The cost of this entire showkit with 25 sets of 5×7 mats is a STEAL at less than seventy cents per set! These small works of art are perfect for creating a future show, and make excellent art gifts to friends and family.

12. “Steal Like an Artist” by Austin Kleon

I originally purchased this book in 2012 when it was just published and it’s still in my personal library today. “Steal Like an Artist” was a game changer for me, as it dispelled myths about being an artist and really sums up the basics about being a creative person. Kleon gets his point across with short snippets of inspirational words and funny little drawings that are pretty profound. I still refer to it today and think it has a space in every art student’s arsenal of “must-have” books. Check out his subsequent brilliant books: “Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative In Good Times and Bad” and “Show Your Work“.

13. “Art Dice” Game

Never experience artist block again with this 9-dice fun game! Each of the dice has prompts for a new project, and includes ideas for medium, style, subject, mood, texture, setting, and color. The variations will keep your artist busy for months on end, and will stretch their artistic skills to new levels quickly. The Art Dice game is perfect for students, teachers, novice artists and make the perfect stocking stuffer or graduation gift.

14. Acrylic Paint Pens by Arteza

This set of acrylic paint pens by Artesza comes with 40 high quality markers in different colors. These pens really help with the creative process because they are so versatile. Use them on canvas, ceramic surfaces, glass, wood, stone, and even plastic. They last a long time and the different colors ensure you won’t get bored even if you’re only drawing straight lines!

15. The Game of “Starving Artists”

When your art student wants to quell some stress or have a game night with friends, bring out “Starving Artists” for a night of fun. Players choose a card then “draw” the artwork on the card using one of 150 transparent colored acrylic cubes. There are 92 over-sized cards featuring the works of famous artists including Van Gogh, Jasper Johns, and Georgia O’Keefe. The game can be played solo or with up to four players.

16. Artist Smock

Being an artist can be a messy job, and dressing the part is a lot of fun. An artist smock helps you like a professional artist, while doubling as protection for your clothes. While some artists love walking around wearing clothes that look like they’ve been covered with finger paint, others prefer protecting their clothes and letting the smock wear the paint. This heavy duty smock has pockets for your brushes and wipes, and the top pocket can hold your cell phone while hooking earphones through one of the loops.

17. Deluxe Roll-up Paintbrush Holder

This roll-up paintbrush holder has twenty-four 1″ sections to hold your student’s favorite brushes, pens, and palette knives. The handy canvas roll protects the art instruments while keeping everything neat and organized. And it fits perfectly in a backpack or purse!

18. Drawing Desk Set

This amazing drawing desk set comes with a tilt-top plus the stool and a built-in set of two drawers. It’s available in various colors and finishes and has a side area that’s perfect for keeping your supplies nearby while using them. The drawers are great for storing art supplies, notebooks, and paper, and comes with a matching top that is perfect for mixing paint or holding your favorite cup of Joe. The stool fits under the tabletop when not in use, and there is a pencil ledge at the bottom to hold your pens or drafting instruments.

NOTE: I personally use only white or light-wood tabletops when drawing or painting. It’s my preference, but I find clear, patterned, or black tabletops distracting. They also bounce glare off them from any overhead light. The white or light wood tends to absorb glare, making for a better drawing experience.

19. Clamp-on Flexible Gooseneck Light

Priced under $40 and worth every penny! This amazing YOUKOYI LED Desk Light clamps onto the side of your drawing desk or on a nearby surface. The flexible arm lets you adjust the light to any height or position you need. The LED lights have multiple illuminating options to protect your eyes, and they don’t give off intense heat which regular bulbs do. This light is a must for any studio!

20. Artist Gloves

For digital and fine artists alike! These artist gloves are inexpensive and 100% necessary for keeping your hands clean as well as eliminating interaction when using touchscreens. They’re lightweight and easy to wear, and come in a pack of 2 for under $10. They’re polyester and waterproof, and hand-washable!

21. Art Portfolio Bags

These affordable transparent art portfolio bags come with durable zippers and carrying straps. They are perfect for storing works in progress or your favorite mood or presentation boards. The transparent design makes it easy to organize the items inside, and protects everything from spills or rain. And a package of four (4) portfolio bags is less than $20! I prefer these over the opaque ones because you can see what’s inside, and they’re excellent for separating projects or different classes of work. And each bag measures 19″ x25″ and zips at the top.

For more art storage ideas, check out my 20 Art Storage Ideas list today.

22. Artist Tote Bag

This artist tote bag is versatile and handy, plus it’s like a blank canvas waiting for your student’s next design. And when it’s not holding supplies or books, it doubles as a grocery bag. The handles give a comfortable grip, even when carrying the heaviest items. And it’s machine washable and available in multiple colors. And did I mention it’s under $10!

23. Blank Watercolor Postcards with Envelopes

Here’s the perfect gift for any budding artist who wants to show off their latest handywork to friends and family. These watercolor postcards are made from heavyweight 300GSM paper that won’t buckle when worked on. A set of 30 postcards and 30 envelopes is cost efficient too – less than $20 for the whole set. And they’re great for collage, painting, or adding photos to!

24. Five Pairs of Famous Painting Artist Socks for Under $15

It’s hard to find a more perfect and affordable gift to give any art student or artist! This set of five famous painting artist socks costs under $15 and makes a great gift for your student and all their artsy friends. You can gift individual pairs or the whole lot – and they make inexpensive stocking stuffers. Your artist will love these and you might want to pick up another set for yourself – they’re so darn cute!

25. 10 Artist Hats (aka Berets) for Under $3.00 each!

Artists love to look fashionable and if they really want to dress the part, an artist hat (or beret) is a must. This set comes in 10 different colors and is made from soft and lightweight polyester. They’re great gifts for your art student and their friends, and are fun accessories to be worn any time of year.

• A must have in your library is “Art Inc.” by Lisa Congon. It explains the basics of building your art career by a popular illustrator and artist.
• For budding illustrators and artists, this HIMI Gouache paint set has 24 colors, and includes 3 brushes and a palette. Excellent kit (I personally own two and love them both) – they mix very well with each other to form new colors and are portable and easy to use.
• Adorable set of pierced earrings with a palette and cup with pen and more are perfect for artists and art teachers!
• This quality Drawing Set with 76 items is perfect for beginners, and includes a variety of tools, pencils, paper, markers and a tutorial, plus a nifty carrying case.
• Stay organized with this nifty Wooden Desk Organizer, complete with a drawer and cubby-holes for your markers, pens, pencils, and more.
• Turn learning the world of color into a fun time for all with the game “Hues and Cues” – for 3-10 players, aged 8+.

CLICK HERE for 20 artsy gift ideas under $20!!

I hope this updated list of 31 gift ideas for art students helps kick off your favorite budding artist’s creative career. And I tried to select items that will help you stay on budget for their future needs, wants, and desires 🙂

Please share these ideas with your fellow art student parents or creative friends. And feel free to add your comments and ideas below. I want to hear your favorite gift ideas in case I missed a few!