Here are some gift ideas for the artists, creatives and art lovers in your life…

For the Reader

Being a book lover made this list super easy to compile. I own all of these and absolutely recommend for your creative friends and family.

There are certain books that just NEED to be in an artist’s collection and these are some of my favorites.

The Creative Act: A Way of Being

The Art Spirit by Robert Henri

Still Life, Modigliani Up Close & Hockney

Henri Matisse - The Cut Outs & Vitamin T

For the Traveler

No matter what the preferred medium, so many of my artist friends agree that watercolor journaling/sketching is the best on vacation. You can capture the feel of a place or experience in much different way than by taking photos alone.

Sketch Book / Art Journal and Travel Paint Set

I LOVE that Daniel Smith has a travel palette. I have tried several, including the Windsor and Newton in the above photo, but I’ve been a longtime fan of Daniel Smith paints and love how big the mixing wells are (but still a manageable travel size).

I have this sketchbook in several sizes and love it. The always popular Moleskine also makes a great smaller sized watercolor sketchbook.

Honestly, even if they’re not a huge traveller, every artist is always in need of sketch books! I have piles of them all over my studio.

For the Introspective

I love the idea of a prompted journal session. I’ve never done this before but I think that it would absolutely help with keeping your channels open for creativity.

Journaling Prompt Book - from their website: The Ink+Volt Prompt Journal is designed to help you reflect on and engage with your life more deeply, while enhancing your creative expression at the same time. You'll capture your thoughts on topics like routines, success, and self-awareness. This journal is designed to help you develop a consistent writing practice that inspires you and connects you with yourself, your imagination, and your principles.

The Prompt Journal has 91 daily journaling prompts featuring a variety of topics such as relationships, mindfulness, and more. It also includes 13 weekly creative-writing activities that encourage you to use your imagination and play.

From me: I need this. All creatives need this! I have been trying to be better about journaling and meditation and this sounds like it would be an amazing add to a morning routine.

Practice You Journal - from the website: "Whenever I’ve needed direction, strength, or centering, I've so often turned to my own journals. Why? Because many of the answers we seek are found within ourselves."

Now, for those compelled to the pen and page, Elena invites us to gather our own wisdom through writing, self-inquiry, and reflection. Practice You is a portable sacred sanctuary to record our flashes of insight, find our ground, create and clarify our goals, and bear witness to our own evolution.

With more than 150 beautiful pages of questions, teachings, inspiring imagery, and plenty of space to write, draw, and reflect, this journaling adventure guides us into nine compelling portals to our highest ways of living.

From me: I can’t imagine how this could possibly not be good for the creative’s soul and improve their ability to channel themselves more fully into their work.

The Wild Unknown Journal - from the website: Liberating and meditative, this stunning journal offers us a deeper connection to our present moment and inner most selves—freeing us to write, draw, color, collage, and create. Tap into the untamed power of the wild unknown as you discover how to unleash the imaginative, the intuitive, and the inspired within.

From me: This sounds a lot like rediscovering your playful artist child within and I’m here for it.