Checklist · 10 picks · 4 categories

artist gifts

Edited by Zach · updated Oct 30, 2026 · How I pick

Links to Amazon are affiliate links. I earn a commission if you buy, at no cost to you, and it never decides a pick. How I make money

The classic Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils (72 Count) Best for serious illustrators who want every color$50-100Shop on Amazon
Pocket sketchbook illo Pocket Sketchbook, 4.5 x 4.5-Inch Best for sketching on the go, and square pages made for posting$15-25Shop on Amazon
Go digital Huion Inspiroy Dial Q620M Best for trying digital art without a huge spend$100-150Shop on Amazon

Affiliate link.

Shopping for the friend whose notes are mostly drawings? Artists burn through paper and pencils, so a fresh sketchbook and a good pencil set are the safe, loved gift.

BestReviews' picks run from a 100-sheet Bachmore pad to Canson's lay-flat art book, and from a 36-pack of Crayolas to the full 72-color Prismacolor Premier box. Paint pens like Posca and Ohuhu take art off the page and onto wood crafts and DIY projects. Going digital? Popular Science's best budget drawing tablet is the Huion Inspiroy Dial, and its best overall is the Wacom Cintiq 16. Each card shows the drawback the outlet called out, like sketchbook pages that let alcohol inks bleed through.

Who this is not for. Skip this if they paint more than they draw; the Painting Starter Kit covers paint sets, brushes, canvas and easels.

plan my budget pick an amount ↓

Tell me what you can spend. I pick a tier for every item, essentials first, and show what is left. The first amount covers everything you need at the cheapest tier.

My budget

Pick a budget to see your plan.

see the plan, item by item

Estimates based on typical prices, checked Oct 30, 2026. Prices change; see the store for today's price.

The must-haves

0 of 2 on your list · tap one to see your options

Showing all 10 picks

More filters

01 Pencils

the first pick is the one I would start with

Compare these 3

Pick	Tier	Price	Best for	Evidence
Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils (72 Count)	splurge	$50-100	serious illustrators who want every color	1 outlet
Crayola Colored Pencil Set (36 Count)	budget	under $15	a cheap, cheerful set for casual doodlers	1 outlet
Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils (48 Count)	mid	$25-50	leveling up from kid pencils	1 outlet

Best colored pencils

splurge pick · 72 pencils

Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils (72 Count)

Best for serious illustrators who want every color

BestReviews' best of the best colored pencils: 72 soft, waxy, color-coded pencils with vibrant, smooth pigments in a sturdy box.

Heads up. Some leads are uneven or not clearly numbered, and some sets have quality-control issues

1 outlet. BestReviews best of the best colored pencils.

$50-100

Shop on Amazon

Affiliate link. I may earn a commission at no cost to you.

budget pick · 36 pencils

Crayola Colored Pencil Set (36 Count)

Best for a cheap, cheerful set for casual doodlers

BestReviews' best bang for the buck colored pencils: bright, creamy colors that come sharpened and ready to use.

Heads up. Some sets arrive damaged or with loose pencils, per BestReviews

1 outlet. BestReviews best bang for the buck colored pencils.

under $15

Shop on Amazon

Affiliate link.

mid pick · 48 pencils

Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils (48 Count)

Best for leveling up from kid pencils

A BestReviews top pick and its mid-range option: a solid selection of colors for developing artists, with leads that resist cracking and chipping.

Heads up. Gradient assortment, so don't expect extreme colors

1 outlet. BestReviews top pick colored pencils.

$25-50

Shop on Amazon

Affiliate link.

02 Paper

Compare these 3

Pick	Tier	Price	Best for	Evidence
illo Pocket Sketchbook, 4.5 x 4.5-Inch	budget	$15-25	sketching on the go, and square pages made for posting	1 outlet
Bachmore Drawing Pad, 9 x 12-Inch	budget	under $15	beginners who fill pages fast	1 outlet
Canson 180-Degree Art Book, 8 x 11-Inch	mid	$25-50	experienced artists who use every inch of the page	1 outlet

Best sketchbook

budget pick · 4.5 x 4.5 in, 112 pages

illo Pocket Sketchbook, 4.5 x 4.5-Inch

Best for sketching on the go, and square pages made for posting

A BestReviews top pick for urban sketching: 112 pages of 180 gsm paper in a square hardcover with a strap.

Heads up. Heavy painting needs a primer first

1 outlet. BestReviews top pick sketchbook.

$15-25

Shop on Amazon

Affiliate link.

budget pick · 9 x 12 in, 100 sheets

Bachmore Drawing Pad, 9 x 12-Inch

Best for beginners who fill pages fast

BestReviews' best bang for the buck sketchbook: 100 two-sided sheets of heavy paper that handle pencil, pen and ink and light washes.

Heads up. The cover is weak and may break if you're not careful

1 outlet. BestReviews best bang for the buck sketchbook.

under $15

Shop on Amazon

Affiliate link.

mid pick · 8 x 11 in, 80 sheets

Canson 180-Degree Art Book, 8 x 11-Inch

Best for experienced artists who use every inch of the page

BestReviews' best of the best sketchbook: a lay-flat book with rounded corners and a magnetic seal, great for dry media and light washes.

Heads up. Wet media and alcohol inks can bleed right through

1 outlet. BestReviews best of the best sketchbook.

$25-50

Shop on Amazon

Affiliate link.

03 Paint pens

Best paint marker

budget pick · 40 colors

Ohuhu 40-Color Acrylic Marker Set

Best for decorating smooth, non-porous surfaces

BestReviews' best bang for the buck paint pens: a big range of colors that flow well on non-porous surfaces, in a portable carrying bag.

Heads up. More bleeding and paint clogging than competitors

1 outlet. BestReviews best bang for the buck paint pens.

$25-50

Shop on Amazon

Affiliate link.

mid pick · 8 colors

Uni Posca 8-Color Paint Marker Set

Best for artists who want vivid, easy-to-use paint pens

BestReviews' best of the best paint pens: markers that started as a favorite among graffiti artists, especially good for wood crafts, DIY and fine detail on mixed media.

Heads up. Limited palette that isn't easy to mix

1 outlet. BestReviews best of the best paint pens.

$25-50

Shop on Amazon

Affiliate link.

04 Digital

Best drawing tablet

mid pick · 10.5 x 6.6 in active area

Huion Inspiroy Dial Q620M

Best for trying digital art without a huge spend

Popular Science's best budget drawing tablet: an inexpensive wireless tablet with a battery-free pen that has all the necessary features.

Heads up. Doesn't work with iPhone or iPad

$100-150

Shop on Amazon

Affiliate link.

splurge pick · 15.6-inch screen

Wacom Cintiq 16 Drawing Tablet

Best for the once-in-a-lifetime gift for a digital artist

Popular Science's best overall drawing tablet: a 15.6-inch screen you draw right on with the Wacom Pro Pen 2, for beginners up to seasoned pros.

Heads up. Expensive

$500+

Shop on Amazon

Affiliate link.

means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me

Questions people ask

What do you get someone who loves to draw?

Paper and color. A sketchbook plus a colored pencil set is the easy combo. BestReviews' best of the best picks are the Canson 180-Degree Art Book and the Prismacolor Premier 72-pencil set.

Is a drawing tablet a good gift for an artist?

If they're curious about digital art, yes. Popular Science's best budget pick, the Huion Inspiroy Dial, is wireless but doesn't work with iPhone or iPad. The Wacom Cintiq 16 lets them draw right on a screen.

Which sketchbook works with markers?

Be careful with alcohol markers. BestReviews warns that wet media and alcohol inks can bleed through the Canson art book, and that markers can bleed on the Strathmore 400 sketch pad too.

When should I order so it arrives by Christmas?

USPS's recommended last send dates for December 25 in the contiguous US are December 17 for Ground Advantage, December 18 for Priority Mail and December 19 for Priority Mail Express. Retailers set their own order-by dates, so check at checkout.

artist gifts

plan my budget pick an amount ↓

The must-haves

01 Pencils