Finding out what that perfect present is for an art lover may not be as easy as it seems. You want to get something that reflects their passion, which also shows your thoughtfulness, and which doesn’t break the bank. The good news is that the most memorable gifts for art lovers aren’t always the most expensive. Often it’s the creative, personal, and experience based presents that really hit the nail.
True art appreciation is beyond just adding to your collection of great works; it is in the experience, the inspiration, and the joy that comes from engaging with art. For the art lover in your life, the best presents will do that. They will support what they do, open up new perspectives, and honor their individual without breaking the bank.
Thoughtful Affordable Gifts for Art Lovers
The core of selecting great gifts for art lovers is to pay attention on how your loved one engages with art:
- Do they live for the act of creating?
- Do they get lost in a world of museum goers
- Do they just love a home decorated with beautiful things?
Based on these three questions, we have prepared this guide to help you decide the best options.
Experiences Over Things: The Gift of Inspiration
Sometimes, the best gift is one that can’t be wrapped; instead, prepare something that will last as an ever lasting memory. There are plenty of options when it comes to gifts for art lovers that fall under this category:
- A Local Museum or Gallery membership: Though large international institutions may break the bank for a membership, many local museums and artists run art galleries that have very affordable annual options. This gift gives the artist a year of new exhibits, opening night events, and a constant dose of creativity in their own community.
- A Ticket for a Day of Art: Plan a tailored art tour for the artist. These may include a visit to a local sculpture garden, a historic area, or an afternoon of sketching at a great public building. Pack a lunch and make it a full day affair. The price is low but the experience and memories you can create here are invaluable.
- A Digital Workshop or Class: In the age of technology, where education has become easily accessible, a gift of registration to an online drawing, watercolor, or art history class can prove to be invaluable. There are plenty of affordable courses where professional artists can show them new talents and skills from the comfort of home.
Tools of the Trade: Practical and Personal
For art lovers that are also art creators, gifting practical tools can be excellent options. You don’t have to go out and buy a full set of anything; a few well chosen pieces will do the trick.
- A Set of Fine Art Pads and Sketches: What better way to inspire the creative spirit than with a beautiful blank sketch book. For each artist, there is a high quality paper in their palette based on their tools, be it for pencils, ink, or watercolors. Also, sometimes a set of printmaking pencils can be a luxury for artists that use some standard supplies.
- A Customized Set of Art Tools: Instead of a large array of average quality pencils, which is what you get in most sets, a small but thoughtful collection of top grade tools can just work fine. A few of pencils in different grades of graphite, a set of professional grade erasers (kneaded and vinyl), and a quality blending tool which shows that you really put thought into the details of your craft can create any artist’s dream when it comes to tools.
- A Present From a Local Art Supply Store: This may not look like a big deal, but for an artist it is what they need to keep it working. It gives them the freedom to put their hands on exactly what they require or to go all out on that one color they have had their eye on. It is a note from the heart which says “I support your art” without you having to guess which brand or shade is the best for your artist.
Artful Spaces: Designing Their Environment
Help them turn their home into a gallery of personal art without breaking the bank.
- A Frame From Rising Artists: There are plenty of websites to find affordable art prints from independent artists all over the world. There, you can find what fits your artist’s taste. This is one of the best personal gifts for art lovers, as it shows that you pay attention to their unique style.
- An Art Book or Catalogue Raisonné: Browse through used book stores or shop sales at museum gift shops. You can find magnificent large format books which may focus on a single artist or a movement for a very low price. It is a perfect gift to inspire artists into creating new pieces of art.
- A Do It Yourself Gallery Kit: Put together a set that can help them create their own gallery wall. This kit includes a variety of affordable, yet stylish frames (thrift stores are a great resource for this), a level, and picture-hanging strips. Also include instructions on how to put it all together to get the best results. With them, artists are able to display their own collection of postcards, small prints, or even their art in a very coherent and beautiful way and make it as a good option for Get well soon gifts.
Value in a Thoughtful Gift
In any of these gifts for art lovers, the key element is the sentiment you put into it, that’s the true value behind it. Whether it’s a ticket to a new exhibit, a set of tools to pursue their own style, or a beautiful print for the home, the best present is one that recognizes that art is not just a pastime for them; it is a core component of who they are.
You may not have a Van Gogh budget or expertise, but that doesn’t mean you can’t give a gift that will boost their imagination. By using your creativity, putting in some thought, and curating the present with care, you can find something very memorable for the artist in your life while not also putting a hole in your budget.
At the end of the day art is created through a meaningful connection, and your gift can be the perfect catalyst to create such connection.
