Looking for the perfect gift for an artist or creative person?
It’s shopping time and you need help!
You search online for “artist gift ideas”. You’re probably not an artsy kind of person; you don’t know much about pencils, paint, paper, and art supplies… you’re just hoping for a few good suggestions.
But hoo, boy! There are a lot of junky articles out there, full of ads and annoying pop-ups. And the actual gifts? Ugh.
Hello, my name is Amy Shulke and I’m a professional freelance illustrator and an art instructor. I basically popped out of the womb with a beret and moustache, so in my forty-umph years of life, people have always given me art supplies for birthdays and Christmas.
Can I share a secret with you?
Here’s what the artist in your life is afraid to say:
The Starry Night coffee mug you gave me last year? It’s cute but it has been sitting in the back of my kitchen cupboard for months now.
And the trendy rose gold pencil & paper kit for my birthday? The pencils are weak and I use the paper for grocery lists.
I’m always touched when someone gives me art supplies. I appreciate the thought and I know they mean well.
But I’ve been given a lot of art materials I simply can’t use. For years, I would add the items to my children’s art supply stash but now that they’re older, these unusable gifts just gather dust.
Ultimately, they’re a waste of your money.
So let’s start buying gifts which your artist can actually use.
You’ll notice, there are no ads on the side of this article. I didn’t lure you here for Ad-Sense clicks. There won’t be blinking announcements popping up and no limited time offers.
I’m just sharing information here.
I’ve gathered a list of reasonably priced art supplies below and I’ll give you a blurb about why it might be a good gift for your special person.
If you want more information, there’s an Amazon link for you to use. The links are part of the Affiliate program but relax, it doesn’t affect your purchase price.
I encourage you to shop around for the best price or find something similar but more suitable. And please, be sure to check out local independently owned art stores in your area! They’re full of great ideas.
Remember, in this article, I’m just giving you a starting point.
Now let’s find your artist a really good gift!
This article contains affiliate links. Vanilla Arts Company is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for use to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com.
Artist Gifts 5: Copic Marker
More Copics! More Refills!
Every Copic lover has missing colors and even if they have all the colors, they still need ink refills.
But you don’t know which ones they need.
And you will never guess correctly.
Be smart and play it safe. Get your artist a gift card and tell them to splurge on something Copic related.
Here’s a warning though: I’m linking to an Amazon Gift Card here but I don’t actually think Amazon is the best place to shop for Copics. So why the Amazon Card? Because Blick.com is a GREAT Copic resource and they accept Amazon Cards as payment!
Elena, part of the Vanilla Arts Team also runs an online business that specializes in Copic Sketch Markers and Copic Refills. To top it off, she is an authorized Copic retailer.
Multiliner Set
Every Copic artist also uses technical pens. Copic Markers are used to fill in large areas with gorgeous colors and blends. Technical pens on the other hand, are usually boring colors like black, gray, or brown. We use them to create the outlines before we use Copics.
They come in different nib sizes for different tasks.
The Copic Multiliner SP set shown here is pricey and that’s exactly why your artist has been lusting over it for a while. For that reason alone, it makes a wonderful gift.
But I also think the SPs are the most economical of all the Copic Multiliner sets available. The other Multiliners are disposable, you use them until they run dry. The SP line here is refillable with replacement nibs. I’ve been using my set of SPs for a decade now and overtime, I know it’s been a much better deal.
If you’d like a less expensive option, I’ll link to the other really good (disposable) sets which your artist will absolutely love.
Colored Technical Pens
Copic once made colorful versions of the SP Multiliners shown above. Unfortunately they discontinued them. Copic Multiliners (non-refillable) continue to be produced but come in a limited array of colors.
Staedtler Triplus are my economical substitution. They’re 1/5 the price and they come in 60 colors.
TRIPLUS ARE COPIC SAFE. I put that in bold capital letters because there are a ton of colored fineline pens on the market, TRIPLUS IS THE MOST ECONOMICAL BRAND THAT IS COPIC SAFE. (If you want more information on my recommendations for Copic safe pens you can find them here)
Basically, if your artist uses an incompatible pen to draw outlines, they will ruin their Copic Markers when they add Copic over the top. That’s an expensive mistake.
If your artist is one of my students, they already have the 20 color set. For just a little extra money, you can upgrade to a larger set.
Colorless Blender
Copic Colorless Blender is liquid gold to Copic artists.
We use it all the time. It camouflages mistakes and makes fun special effects. We love this stuff.
Because we use it several times a week, you might be tempted to think this gift suggestion is the artist’s equivalent of sweat socks— useful but boring.
Not so! I’m showing you the big, big, big bottle.
Most Copic lovers have the tiny bottle.
The big, big, big bottle isn’t much more expensive than the little one but it feels like a really generous gift. (currently there are some supply issues with the 200cc bottle which are expected to resolve by the end of 2020)
This gift is sure to get a smile.
DIY Kit
Are you ready to assemble the best Copic gift ever?
We’re going to make a Copic repair kit. It’s all the tools they need to keep their markers in prime working order. There are lots of components and none are very expensive.
Your Copic lover will know what to do with it everything here and they’ll appreciate having it all in one container.
Copic Replacement Super Brush Nibs
Copic Replacement Medium Broad Nibs
Use the ArtBin Pen & Nib Box to organize your smaller items like your nibs and tools to keep them organized and contained! Use the First Aid Bag to store it all!
Best White Pens & Pencils
Want to make a different bag?
This time, let’s assemble the best white pens and pencils. Your Copic artist will love trying something new or having an extra of their favorites.
Toss in the best Signo Metallics
Prismacolor White (this is the box because we use them a lot!)
(If you want more information on my recommendations for the best white pens, pencils and markers, you can find them here)
Frisket (Mask-It)
Warning: not all Copic artists use frisket! Frisket masks off the white paper, protecting it while the artist works in other areas.
If they’re a user, they’ll appreciate this gift. I’ve tried a lot of adhesive backed frisket sheets, most of the vinyl versions and many of the paper types. I think Mask-it is the best.
Here’s what you need to ask:
If your artist uses the Copic Airbrush System, they use frisket.
If they’re a Vanilla Arts student, they use frisket.
If they combine Copic Markers with other mediums like Distress Ink or watercolor, they likely use frisket.
Best Cardstocks
Copic Markers work on many different papers.
But Copic Markers work best on specific papers.
I’m not going to lie. The best papers for Copic Markers are not cheap. Professional artists understand this, we’re used to paying more for top quality products.
The thing is that a lot of hobby level Copic users cheat, buying cheap paper, unaware that their coloring will look better on better quality paper.
So get them a package of some better paper. Sometimes we have to actually use the good stuff to understand what we’ve been missing.
Marker-Friendly Journals
Until they make a journal using one of the cardstocks listed up above, I won’t be completely happy with any marker journal.
But there are two that are pretty good. I still don’t think they blend as well as my favorite cardstocks but they’re better than the average craft store journals with thin paper that will make your Copic lover cry.
Marker Cart
If they don’t have it yet, they want it.
Ikea’s Raskog cart is perfect for the studio or craft room. They hold more than you expect and they wheel right up to the desk allowing for easy access to Copics without taking up valuable desk space.
There are several similar carts to the Raskog. I can’t vouch for their sturdiness but I also haven’t heard any complaints.
For inserts, I highly recommend Our Gray Barn at Etsy. I’m showing the refill insert here but they also make inserts for each style of Copic Marker.
Mary Bag
True story: I bought my first Everything Mary bag about 8 years ago. I wasn’t in love with the color but it was on clearance for like $10 and the bag seemed pretty decent. I figured why not?
Fast forward almost a decade and this is now the favorite travel bag for all my local Copic students. The pockets and dividers are simply perfect for marker people.
And my ugly one? The darned thing refuses to die. It still looks almost new! I keep searching for a hole or a stain or any flimsy excuse to buy a pretty one.., but no, the ugly one just keeps on being awesome.
Rats.
