Christmas is approaching, and if you have an artistic person among your family or friends, you might still be searching for something special to surprise them with. If you’re not into art yourself, picking the right gift can be difficult. That’s why I’ve put together this list of Christmas gift ideas for artsy people—there’s something here for every creative taste and budget. Just browse through and see what might be perfect for you to put under the tree!
2025 is approaching its end, and the holidays are just around the corner. Naturally, we’re all on the lookout for something special to surprise our loved ones.
Maybe you have an artsy person among your friends or family, but you’re not quite sure what to gift them for Christmas this year.
Choosing the right present can be tough, especially if you’re unfamiliar with creative hobbies. Maybe you’ve already been wracking your brain, wondering what on earth you could gift an artistic person. What do artists need the most?
Worry not. I’m an artist myself, and I know exactly what I and my fellow creatives would be thrilled to find under the tree. ʕᴖᴥᴖʔ
That's why I've put together these Christmas gift ideas for artsy people. Just browse through them, and you'll find something for every creative need and budget!
If you are early enough, you can also check out the Best Black Friday Deals for Artists and enjoy a huge discount on your Christmas gift!Here’s what I got for you:
- Stay in touch!
Our Newsletter is packed with creative tips, free tutorials, art tool reviews, and looaads of inspiration!
What to gift an artistic person for Christmas?
When looking for a Christmas gift for an artistic person, you first need to understand that there are many different kinds of artists. Basically speaking, there’s traditional art and digital art. And within these two fields, there are many, many nuances.
In traditional arts, people paint with oil, acrylic, or watercolor. They draw with crayons, pencils, or markers. They sculpt with clay, do pottery or origami, and so on.
The same is true for digital art. Digital artists create things with a computer and a tablet, and this may be digital paintings, drawings, 3D and 2D art, vector art, photo manipulations (like myself), and more.
So, artistic people can pursue lots of different creative activities. Still, I’d say that most artists enjoy the same kinds of things. We all have an eye for aesthetics, we seek inspiration to create, and we love beautiful decorations and accessories.
I’ve included a wide variety of Christmas gift ideas for artsy people in my list, so you can be sure there’s something for every taste, every need—and every budget.
With that in mind, let’s jump in and make this year’s Christmas one to remember!
25+ Best Christmas Gift Ideas For Artsy People 2025
1. Handmade Watercolor Paint Set
I’d say every artsy person enjoys picking up a brush and splashing some paint onto a canvas. I’m a digital artist, and while I usually work on my computer with a drawing tablet, I still love taking it into the real world from time to time.
That’s why my first Christmas gift idea for an artsy person is a watercolor paint set! Why watercolor? Because all you need is water, paper, and paint—and you’re ready to go!
2. Acrylic Painting Set
While watercolor is more translucent and fluid, acrylic paints allow you to create bold and vibrant colors. Acrylic is perfect for painting on canvas, wood, or fabric.
It dries quickly, layers easily without long waiting times, and lets you create eye-catching, dimensional effects. For any artsy person who loves bright, lively colors, an acrylic painting set makes a fantastic Christmas gift!
3. Pastel Pencils Drawing Set
If your artsy friend doesn’t want to mix paints with water, risk staining their clothes, or clean brushes afterwards, I recommend getting them a colored pencil set instead!
Colored pencils are great for realistic drawings, illustrations, and abstract designs. They let you create fine lines, tiny details, and intricate patterns that are hard to achieve with paint.
They’re also perfect for adult coloring books—I have some suggestions down below, if you’re interested.
Faber-Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils
4. Digital Art Drawing Tablet
Nowadays, you can carry your canvas in your bag, share your creations across the world, and create on the go. Digital art makes it possible!
Apart from the right software, you absolutely need a drawing tablet to create digital art. Tablets with screens are every artist’s dream. So, if you can dig a little deeper into your pocket this year, I’m sure your favorite artsy person will be thrilled to find a screen tablet under the Christmas tree!
Wacom is the leading manufacturer of creative tablets on the market. If you buy a tablet from them, you can be sure to get a long-lasting, high-quality device with top performance in every price range!
💡 Quick tip: Wacom always has a range of refurbished tablets in stock, letting you buy a premium model at a massive discount directly from the manufacturer.
5. iPad Pro with Apple Pencil & Procreate
If you don’t want to go for a dedicated drawing tablet, you can consider an iPad Pro or iPad Air. Those standalone devices double as a drawing tablet and have the advantage that they can run applications like Procreate, Photoshop, CorelDRAW Go, and other digital art software.
That means your artsy friend doesn’t need a separate computer or laptop to connect the tablet. They can simply tuck the iPad in their bag and edit on the go, wherever they are!
6. Drawing & Sketching Tablet
The alternative to display tablets are drawing tablets without screen. Screenless tablets are great for drawing and sketching, but you can also perfectly create digital art with them.
My all-time favorite is the Wacom Intuos Pro Medium—it’s one of the best all-round tablets you can find on the market. You can also get it in small and large.
Tablets without screen are less expensive than display tablets, and they also make fantastic entry-level devices for beginners which makes them one of the best Christmas gift ideas for artsy people!
7. Adobe Creative Cloud
I’m sure you’ve heard about Photoshop—it’s become an absolute household name. Adobe is the company behind Photoshop and they provide a whole range of digital art apps beyond it.
Adobe Creative Cloud includes all the 20+ apps the company offers. You can gift your artist friend a monthly or a yearly subscription—and if they are a student or a teacher, they’ll even get a 70% discount!
» Click here to claim the 70% student & teacher discount
Additionally, you can purchase each app individually. That means if you only want Photoshop, you only pay for Photoshop. Other popular Adobe apps for digital art include Illustrator and Lightroom.
8. Painting Software
If your beloved artistic person is particularly into digital painting, you can gift them a subscription to a dedicated painting app. Corel is one of the most popular developers of digital painting software—you can’t go wrong with one of their offerings.
Just be sure to choose an app that’s compatible with your artsy friend’s operating system. PaintShop Pro and Painter are some of the best digital painting apps. PaintShop Pro is for Windows and Painter for Mac.
9. Traditional Mini Painting Kit
Not only is digital art possible on the go, you can also create traditional art wherever you are! All you need is a portable painting set.
Artsy people who love painting on the move will be excited to receive one of these portable painting sets for Christmas:
10. Customized Sketchbook
Do you want your Christmas gift to be extra personal? Then consider a customized sketchbook!
A customized sketchbook is not only great for jotting down ideas and inspiration. It’s also a meaningful keepsake that shows how much your artsy friend means to you!
11. Printable Cards for Inspiration
Here are two Christmas gift ideas for artsy people that you can either print out on your loved one’s favorite color cardstock or email to them if they live far away.
Every artsy person needs a boost of inspiration and positivity from time to time to stay motivated and keep creating. Inspirational quotes from the greatest artists throughout history are a powerful way to spark creativity, lift the spirits, and remind them why they love making art.
Another way to stay positive are affirmations. They can be especially useful if the artsy person is just starting out and still struggles considering themselves a “real” artist. Daily affirmations can help them shift their mindset and build confidence in their creative skills.
12. Cardstock Pack
Cardstock is a great Christmas gift idea for any artsy person because you can use it for so many things! You can draw or paint on it, print out things like inspirational quotes or affirmations, sketch ideas, or pin positive reminders on the wall.
Cardstock is really versatile and available in many different colors, making it easy to find a shade to match anyone’s taste.
13. Mirrorless or DSLR Camera
Photography is a wonderful way to express creativity and preserve memories. Many artsy people like taking photos, and if your loved one wants to level up their game and move beyond just taking phone snapshots, consider gifting them a camera!
Basically, there are two main types of cameras: mirrorless and DSLR. The key difference is that DSLRs use an optical viewfinder, while mirrorless cameras use an electronic viewfinder (EVF). Mirrorless cameras are usually smaller and lighter, and many offer advanced features like better autofocus, eye-tracking, and video recording.
Here are a few camera bundles that include everything you need to start shooting, including camera body, lens, memory card, camera case, and more.
14. Polaroid Camera
What about a good ol’ Polaroid camera? They’re back in style, and there’s something incredibly fun about taking photos the old-school way.
Modern Polaroids have gotten so much better, the quality has improved, and they’re available in many different colors, including violet, red, orange, yellow, black, and white.
15. Wireless Headphones
Artsy people not only like visual art but also music, right? I usually have songs playing while I create because I find music super inspirational. If the artistic person you’re shopping for feels the same way, a pair of earphones can be a great Christmas gift idea!
Depending on their preferences, you can get them over-ear headphones or wireless earbuds—the latter being very convenient to put in a box and carry around.
Instead of the usual black-and-white, you can also get a splash of color. I’ve listed some colorful, stylish-looking headphones and earbuds below. Other colors are available, these are just some suggestions:
16. Artist Painting Panels
A painter not only needs paint but also something to paint on. (>ᴗ<) If your artsy loved one enjoys working with traditional paints—or you’ve decided to gift them some for Christmas—a painting panel is a wonderful complementary gift idea!
Panels usually offer a smoother surface than canvas, don’t stretch, warp, or sag over time, and are also great for outdoor painting.
Wood panels are available in many different sizes and shapes. Apart from the typical rectangular panels, you can also gift your artsy person a round panel so they can create beautiful tondos.
17. Painting Paper
An alternative to panels is painting paper. The best painting paper is acid-free, fine-grained, and has enough weight to handle water-based paints without too much buckling.
Naturally, painting paper is much easier to carry around than panels. That’s why they’re one of the best Christmas gift ideas for artsy people who want to paint wherever inspiration strikes!
While the painting paper options below are optimized for watercolor, they’re also well suitable for gouache, tempera, pencil, colored pencils, charcoal, and other dry media.
18. Easel
Painting needs to feel comfortable, and if your artsy friend likes to work for longer periods of time, an easel provides a stable, adjustable support for their canvas, panel, or paper.
A foldable easel is often the best choice because it’s easy to transport and store. The setup is quick; you can simply unfold it and start painting in seconds—at home, in the park, or on a trip.
19. Art Books
What about an art book? You can’t go wrong with this Christmas gift idea because art books are inspiring, educational, and visually captivating.
They include beautiful images that fuel imagination and give insights into different techniques, styles, and mediums, helping artists improve their skills.
Here are two art books that make fantastic gifts under the Christmas tree:
20. Adult Coloring Books
You haven’t thought of coloring books as Christmas gift ideas for artsy people? Think twice!
Coloring books aren’t just for kids. There are also adult coloring books that are fun to fill in for any artistic person! It’s a great way to express creativity on paper, while unwinding and focusing on simple, soothing tasks.
The two coloring books below feature intricate designs of animals, flowers, and plants. They can be used with all kinds of coloring tools, including colored pencils, crayons, and markers.
21. Calligraphy Dip Pens
Are you looking for something special that you don’t find every day? Something that’s both elegant and maybe a bit nostalgic? Take a look at calligraphy pens!
Calligraphy pens make great Christmas gifts for artsy people because they open up a whole new way to write beautiful letters, expressive lines, and decorative details. They’re perfect for journaling, handmade cards, and similar art projects.
22. Dip Pen Acrylic Ink
What can be more beautiful than creating elegant calligraphy in gold or other vibrant colors?
There are special calligraphy inks that you can apply on a range of surfaces, including glass, metal, plastic, ceramic, stone, resin, clay, and more. They’re smudge-resistant and water-resistant when dry and let you create unique, vibrant effects.
Aren’t these some amazing Christmas gift ideas for artsy people? If you think your loved one would enjoy them, I have two recommendations for you:
23. Gold & Silver Artist Pens
Faber Castell artist pens in gold and silver are also fantastic Christmas gifts. The metallic ink is waterproof, permanent, and archival. It’s ideal for beautiful drawings, letterings, and other designs. Your artsy friend can even use them to sign artwork they’ve created!
24. Personalized Fountain & Ballpoint Pen
Another Christmas idea for artsy people is a personalized fountain or ballpoint pen. Any creative needs a writing tool to jot down inspiration, sketches, doodles, or journal. So what could make a more thoughtful Christmas gift than a custom pen?
You can have pens customized with the artist’s name, a personal note, or a short inspirational affirmation—it’s up to you! Here are two elegant options that you can order with a variety of custom engravings:
25. Pen Case
My last suggestion for the best Christmas gift ideas for artsy people is these adorable pen cases. The Japanese brand PuniLabo makes both stand-up and lying-down pen cases in a range of cute animal designs, including cats, bears, rabbits, penguins, and more.
All cases are made of high-quality silicone. The material is soft and flexible, making it easy to clean and comfortable to handle. They also offer plenty of space to store pens, pencils, markers, and even a small eraser or ruler—everything an artsy person needs to keep organized!
