One of our favorite things about running a store like Art Supply Center is seeing just how many types of artists wander through our aisles. From watercolor dreamers to chaotic experimenters to the kiddo who insists “the table is my canvas,” every maker lands somewhere on the creative spectrum.
So instead of doing a traditional holiday gift guide (yawn), we’re giving you something better:
a nerdy, personality-based guide for finding the perfect art supply gifts for every creative human in your life, no matter their age, experience, or preferred brand of beautiful chaos. We’re here if you need us to create a custom kit for you too, it’s one of our favorite things to do during the holidays!
It’s fun and best of all, it’s a great excuse to browse the store and say, “Yep, that’s absolutely a ‘Chaotic Creative’ pick.”
Let’s dive in.
For the Chaotic Creative
AKA: The artist whose table looks like an explosion of inspiration… and we love them for it.
These are the “try everything once” makers. The artists who need a (very) flexible medium so their brains can keep sprinting. Think texture, color, prints, scraps, layers, weird tools, and glorious mess.
Perfect Picks:
- Gelli Arts gel plates (because no one stops at just one print)
- Random paper packs and ephemera bundles
- Nori Paste for collage and mixed media wanderings
- Acrylic inks for splashy experimentation
- Brayers, stencils, and mark-making tools
- Anything from the Collage Trunk (they’ll lose their minds over it)
This is the person who leaves your house with paint on their sleeves and three new ideas.
For the Teeny-Tiny Detail Artist
AKA: The artist who has a favorite 0.03 mm pen and can draw twelve feathers on a beetle’s elbow.
These creators live for precision. They thrive on micro-lines, controlled color, tiny canvases, and that one perfect brush that costs less than a sandwich but brings them endless joy.
Perfect Picks:
- Micron or Copic Multiliner sets
- Fine detail brushes (Princeton, Royal & Langnickel, etc.)
- Mini canvases (2×2 or 3×3 inches — their true happy place)
- Smooth mineral paper or Bristol board
- Technical pencils and drafting rulers
- Compact watercolor tins for controlled washes
Give them something tiny and they’ll give you a masterpiece.
For the Maximalist Magpie
AKA: “Oooh shiny!” The collector, crafter, embellisher, and collager who loves MORE.
These artists adore layers, patterns, textures, sparkly bits, and visual clutter (the good kind). Their projects look like treasure chests because they ARE treasure chests.
Perfect Picks:
- Collage Trunk grab bags (obviously)
- Foils, decorative papers, and patterned packs
- Washi tape in every color dreamable
- Metallic Posca markers
- Vintage stamps, stickers, and ephemera
- Fabric scraps, fringe, lace, weird oddments
They’ll walk out of ASC with a bag that looks like they packed for an art apocalypse.
For the Kiddo Who’s Going to Paint the Table
AKA: The fearless young maker who knows creativity has no boundaries… and sometimes that includes furniture.
We love these kids. They remind us that art is supposed to be joyful, messy, and exploratory. With a few durable, washable tools, they can make magic without becoming a hazard to your upholstery.
Perfect Picks:
- Washable paint sets
- Large paper pads (purple Strathmore covers for the win)
- Foam sheets for easy printmaking
- Chunky brushes, sponges, and dabbers
- Stamps and ink pads for easy pattern play
- Non-toxic glues and embellishments galore
Pro tip: give them their own crafting tray. They’ll still paint the table, but at least they’ll mean to paint the tray.
For the Studio Scientist
AKA: The artist who treats their creative life like a lab and their supplies like experiments waiting to happen.
These folks love mediums, inks, unusual tools, and anything that produces unexpected reactions. They’re the ones who ask, “But what happens if I mix this with THAT?”
Perfect Picks:
- Acrylic inks (FW, Dr. Ph. Martin’s)
- Alcohol inks
- Mediums (matte, gloss, pouring, texture, gesso, clear gesso — yes, they want all of them)
- Mineral paper for experimental surfaces
- Sumi inks and dip pens
- Spray bottles, scrapers, palette knives, weird brushes
They will absolutely invent something new with whatever you give them.
For the New Maker Who Doesn’t Know What They Like Yet
AKA: The “I want to try something but I’m not sure what” artist.
This group deserves love, too! Gifting them simple, versatile tools lets them explore without pressure.
Perfect Picks:
- Sketchbooks
- Intro watercolor sets
- Colored pencils
- A good starter brush set
- Glue sticks, scissors, and collage scraps
- A mixed-media pad (the unsung hero of trying new things)
This artist is on the verge of discovering their creative identity and you get to help.
Why We Love Artist Personality Gift Guides
Because creativity isn’t one-size-fits-all. Every artist has their quirks, preferences, obsessions, and “absolutely-not-that-tool” energy. Gift guides like this celebrate the glorious diversity of makers and help you find something that genuinely lights them up.
Plus, it’s a sneak peek into how we see our community, colorful, eclectic, and endlessly inspiring.
Not sure which artist category your person falls into? Come by Art Supply Center and we’ll help you figure it out. Tell us their vibes (or their level of chaos), and we’ll match you with the perfect tools, sets, or weird little treasures to make their creative spirit spark. Nothing makes us happier than helping you find exactly the right thing. As always feel free to tag us with your find on Insta @ArtSupplyCenter.
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