Finding the perfect Christmas gift for the creative person in your life can be a rewarding experience – but also a little daunting. But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! Whether it’s a new tool to enhance their craft or something that sparks their next big idea, a thoughtful gift can have a lasting impact. This guide features a selection of gifts, all under $100, that strike the right balance between quality, usefulness, and inspiration – ideal for anyone passionate about their creative pursuits. These gifts are bound to push their creativity and make them feel appreciated this holiday season.
If you’re looking for some more budget-friendly options that still pack a punch without sacrificing quality or creativity this Christmas, check out my other Christmas Gift Ideas for Artists blogs for gift ideas under $50, and under $20.
15+ Christmas Gift Ideas for Artists (Under $100)
Caran d’Ache Luminance Coloured Pencils 40 Pack
The Caran d’Ache Luminance Coloured Pencils are a premium Christmas gift for the dedicated artist in your life. They are some of the best coloured pencils in the world, and one of my personal favourites! They have rich and creamy colors that blend beautifully and make any project look amazing. Plus, they’re highly lightfast – so whatever they create with them will keep its vibrancy for years. The blendability of these wax-based pencils is unmatched, allowing smooth gradients and seamless layering, while their ability to hold a sharp point makes them perfect for intricate details. They’re practical, personal, and a little indulgent – all the makings of a perfect gift!
Nicker Poster Colors
by Nickers
They might not look like anything special, but these special paints were used by Studio Ghibli to create some of the stunning backgrounds in those iconic films. Now, you can use the same paints that helped bring those magical worlds to life. With rich colours and great coverage, the Nicker Poster Colors are perfect for painting, lettering, calligraphy, and animation-inspired art. Similar to gouache, they’re designed for smooth application and consistent colour, and are a favourite of professional artists, animators, and illustrators. If you’re shopping for a creative person this Christmas, this gift will have them ‘spirited away’ into a world of artistic possibilities!
Faber-Castell Gelatos Gift Set
Faber-Castell Gelatos are like creamy crayons that can do way more than just colour. You can blend them with water for a smooth watercolour effects, or use them dry for rich, bold colours and textures. They work on paper, canvas, fabric, and more. This Gelato gift set also comes with a water brush, smudge sticks, foam blenders, and a guide full of helpful techniques. They’re a lot of fun to use for all kinds of creative projects, whether it’s mixed media art, journaling, card-making, or even stamping. It’s a fun and unique holiday gift that anyone creative would love to play with!
Color Cube Bundle
By Sarah Renae Clark
For the colour enthusiast in your life, the Color Cube Bundle (Volumes 1 & 2) is a fantastic way to push creativity and explore colour combinations that look great together. Each Cube includes 250 unique colour palette cards featuring beautiful images for inspiration – like landscapes, flowers, and wildlife – alongside 5-6 of the colours that make up that image. Ideal for colouring, design projects, or even colour-coordinating a cohesive wardrobe, these cards take the guesswork out of finding the perfect colour scheme for any project. Available in this bundle, or individually, these Color Cubes are a thoughtful Christmas gift for anyone passionate about colour and creativity.
Ohuhu Alcohol Brush Markers 120 pack
The Ohuhu Alcohol Markers came out on top in my recent marker comparison, earning the title of the best alcohol markers available. Known for their high-quality tips and smooth blending ability, these markers are a pleasure to use, whether you’re working on bold designs or intricate details. With a broad range of colours, they’re perfect for shading, layering, and exploring new artistic techniques. Whether they already own other alcohol markers, or this is the first set, these will make for a popular gift. And because they’re far more affordable than Copic or Olo, you can get a much bigger set of them!
Tattoo Waterproof Ink
By Jane Davenport
The Jane Davenport Tattoo Waterproof Inks are high-quality permanent inks that go on like watercolour but become waterproof when dry, allowing artists to layer watercolours or other mediums over the top. They come in 3 bold colours – ’Aye Aye’ (deep fulsome Purple), ‘Full Sail’ (bright desert Island yellow), and ‘Ahoy’ (breezy blue). These inks are designed for use on paper, fabric, and other surfaces, making them perfect for creating vibrant, eye-catching designs. They work beautifully with brushes or pens, making them ideal for everything from illustrations to mixed media projects. This set is a fantastic choice for the artist on your Christmas list, offering bold, waterproof colour to inspire their next masterpiece.
Professional Watercolours 24pc
By Winsor and Newton
A set of quality watercolour paints is a great Christmas gift for any creative friend, and Winsor & Newton make some of the best! When I first tried watercolour, these were the paints that multiple professional watercolour artists suggested I buy. The set of 24 is a great size, with colours that blend beautifully to create almost anything. Packaged in a convenient travel case, it’s a great option for painting at home or wherever inspiration strikes. This high-quality set makes a thoughtful and practical Christmas gift for any artist.
Derwent Inktense Blocks 36 pack
If you like the Inktense Pencils, you’ll love the Inktense blocks! It’s an entire block of pigment – so you can use it like a crayon, or shave it off to create a pigment powder. These water-soluble blocks of colour can be used dry for dramatic, intense strokes or blended with water to create smooth, transparent effects. Once dry, they become permanent and water resistant, which is what sets them apart from other watercolour tools and makes them perfect for layering and mixed media work. A thoughtful Christmas gift, these blocks are ideal for artists who love to experiment with rich, dynamic colours.
Jazza’s Customize It Kit
By Jazza
Jazza’s limited edition Customize-It Kit is the ultimate creative set for anyone who loves turning ordinary items into unique works of art or customising their favourite personal items. Packed with paint markers, brushes, and a variety of fun accessories, this kit offers everything you need to dive into the art of customisation. It even comes with a few items for you to begin customising right out of the box, like a hardcover mixed-media sketchbook, a stainless steel tumbler and even finger skateboards all ready to be painted and decorated. It also includes a guidebook with easy-to-follow instructions, making this kit a fun and thoughtful Christmas gift for any artist.
Prismacolor Premier Soft Core Coloured Pencils 72 Pack
These Prismacolor Premier Coloured Pencils are a favourite among artists who love vibrant colours and smooth blending. Even after years of coloured pencil art, I still find myself coming back to these regularly. You can see a few of my Prismacolor videos here and here. The soft, wax core makes applying colour feel wonderfully buttery, while the shades stay bright on many different kinds of paper, including black. With 72 colours to choose from, this set makes for a thoughtful Christmas gift for artists of all skill levels, offering high-quality results at a great price.
HUEtopian Bundle
by Jane Davenport
The Jane Davenport HUEtopian Bundle is a complete art kit designed to inspire creativity with a mix of high-quality supplies. These include the stand-alone ‘HUEtopia Paintbox’ palette, which includes 48 vibrant watercolours perfect for blending and layering to create stunning artwork; the ‘Window Pane Light Hearted Journal’, a B5 journal with translucent paper that brings a new dimension to your artwork as layers upon layers of your art peek through the pages; and to top it off, 4 rolls of limited edition ‘Lighthearted’ decorative washi tape, ideal for adding the perfect finishing touches to your pieces. This kit is an excellent gift for any artist who enjoys fresh tools and new ideas this Christmas.
Leather Watercolor Scrapbook Journal
A leather watercolour scrapbook journal is a beautiful, creative gift that any artist will treasure. The leather cover gives it this really classic, durable, and timeless feel, which makes it look like a proper ‘tome’ on the shelf and feels luxurious to paint in. This particular journal has thick watercolour paper inside (350 GSM!), made to handle watercolour, inks, or whatever other medium – without worrying about anything bleeding through. There’s something special about having a dedicated, beautiful space to create in – one that feels as meaningful as the art you bring to life inside it.
PanPastels 20 Pack
PanPastels are something you’ll find on many artist’s Christmas wishlists! They are creamier than regular pastels, and not nearly as chalky or messy – so they’re great for creating smooth backgrounds or using as an underpainting for coloured pencils or pastel pencils. The 20-pack is a great way to get a wide range of colours that blend smoothly, and their velvety texture means they glide on easily without the chalky mess. They’re also highly pigmented, so you get rich, vibrant colours with just a little bit of product. Plus, they come in these nice compact, stackable pans, so they’re easy to store and keep your space tidy. This set would be a great gift for anyone who’s into mixed media or those who want to try something new with their art.
Sculpd Pottery Starter Kit
The Sculpd Pottery Starter Kit is perfect if you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at pottery or clay sculpting! It’s got everything you need to get started, with high-quality clay, tools for shaping and carving, and even a step-by-step guide to help you make your first piece. You don’t even need a kiln – this clay air-dries, so you can work at your own pace and have fun with it at home. Whether you’re into making small sculptures, bowls, or just want to experiment with new art, this kit has all the essentials for an easy, enjoyable introduction to pottery. The Sculpd Pottery Starter Kit makes a fantastic gift for anyone looking to dive into the world of pottery and create unique, hand-crafted pieces from home.
Faber-Castell Polychromos Coloured Pencils 36 Pack
by Faber-Castell
The Polychromos are some of the best coloured pencils out there and are favoured by professional artists – for good reason. They’ve got a high lightfast rating, so their colours won’t fade over time. They’re oil-based, which gives them a smooth texture that’s perfect for fine details and precision work. And the strong, durable cores keep a sharp point for the little details, making them ideal for hyper-realistic pencil art. If you’re looking for a gift for someone who loves a quality set of coloured pencils that will last, these are among the best you could choose. You can see them in action here.
Tote Bag Kit
By Craft Club
For the friend who already has all the craft supplies that exist, give them a fun project that they can use to store the rest! This Tote Bag Kit is a fun DIY project that lets you create your own stylish, hand-crafted tote bag. The kit includes everything you need – fabric, thread, and easy-to-follow instructions – so you don’t need to be an expert to get started. It’s a great choice for anyone who wants to try out a new craft, or for someone who enjoys making something unique and practical. Plus, at the end, they’ll have a beautiful custom tote to show off! They’ll have to get used to saying “Aw, thanks! I made it myself!”. (P.S. This kit doesn’t come with scissors, so you’ll need your own. ✂)
Sennelier French Artists’ Watercolour Set
By Sennelier
The Sennelier French Artists’ Watercolor Set is a fantastic gift for anyone who loves watercolour painting. These paints are known for their amazing quality, with rich, vibrant pigments that give a smooth, even coverage. This set comes with 12 beautiful half pans, plus 6 bonus colours, giving you a great range to work with. The metal case is sleek and portable, making it easy to take your painting with you. The pigments are rich, and the texture is super smooth and easy to blend, making them a joy to use. If you know someone who enjoys watercolours, they’ll love this set – it’s a thoughtful, high-quality gift that’s perfect for Christmas.
Karin Brushmarker Pro 27 Pack
Another fantastic gift for anyone who loves watercolour markers are these Karin Brushmarker Pros. They were the runner-up watercolour markers in my HUGE markers test, standing out for their vibrant colours and smooth blending, with or without water. By adjusting your pressure, you can switch between wide strokes and very thin, delicate lines. They handle layering beautifully, allowing you to build depth and create stunning gradients. Topped off with an excellent mix of colours to choose from, and you’ve got yourself a great set of markers for lettering, illustrations, colouring, journalling, or anything else that takes your fancy. These will make a fine Christmas gift for anyone who appreciates high-quality watercolour markers.
Derwent Chromaflow Coloured Pencils 72 Pack
This Derwent Chromaflow pack is a fantastic gift for anyone who loves coloured pencils. These pencils are known for their rich, vibrant pigments and smooth, creamy texture that makes colouring feel amazing. The soft-cores allow for easy layering and blending – and with 72 colours to choose from, you’ll have a wide range to work with for any project. The colours are highly pigmented, giving your artwork a professional finish, and the pencils are lightweight and durable, making them easy to handle and perfect for long sessions. If you know someone who loves working with coloured pencils, this set will definitely make their creative process even more enjoyable. It’s a high-quality, thoughtful gift that any artist would appreciate this Christmas.
OLO Markers 16 Half-Brush Set
The OLO alcohol markers really stand out for their clever design and innovative features. Each marker is split into 2 halves, so you can mix and match colours to create your own custom double-ended markers using the included OLO Connector Ring to connect them. Despite their compact size, OLOs new ink-filling system means these small half-markers hold more ink than even a Copic Sketch – pretty impressive! They have a great mix of properly saturated colours, and the brush tips hit that nice sweet spot (not too firm or soft), allowing for smooth blending and layering. They are some of my favourite alcohol markers overall, and they’re an excellent gift for anyone looking to upgrade their art supplies this Christmas.
Pantone Markers 9 pack
By Talens
These are a fantastic gift for anyone who loves to work with high-quality, water-based markers. The set includes a beautiful range of vibrant, Pantone-matched colours, making them perfect for artists or designers who appreciate colour accuracy. Each marker has dual tips – a fine tip for detailed work and a broad chisel tip for filling in larger areas. They’re some of the only lightfast markers available, making them an excellent choice for lasting artwork. They’re great for sketching, illustrating, or adding colour to your projects, but they don’t have much bleed resistance, so they’ll work best if you’re not too concerned about the art on the back of a colouring book page, or the project you’re working on. These markers ranked as some of the best performers in nearly every test in my HUGE marker test video, and they’ll surely get any creative excited to start their next masterpiece this Christmas.
Looking for more ideas? why not try these:
- Art box subscription
- Professional easel
- Art Class (Online or IRL)
- Premium Sketchbook
- Art Storage solutions
- Gift Cards to craft stores
The holiday season is the perfect time to celebrate creativity, and with these thoughtful and inspiring gifts, you can help your loved ones unlock their full artistic potential. From high-quality tools, unique materials, and complete bundles & kits, these gifts are all about encouraging their creativity and supporting their artistic journey.
If you’re still looking for more fantastic gift ideas, be sure to check out my other holiday gift guides for creative gifts under $20 and $50. No matter your budget, there’s something here to inspire every artist in your life. I wish you the Merry-est Christmas, and may your holidays be filled with colour, inspiration, and endless creativity!
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