Finding the perfect gift for the digital artist in your life may seem like an impossible task – after all, it’s not like you can just give them a new set of paintbrushes and a canvas. Digital artists have a host of other arty requirements and needs, meaning your gift needs to be tailored specifically to them. So, where to start?
Well, a thoughtful gift can make a significant impact on a budding artist’s journey and can make real changes to established artists’ workflows. Unlike traditional artists needing tools of the trade, digital artists need new ways to unlock creativity and help them breach new realms of artistic expression.
If you’re still scratching your head, here are some gift ideas to get you started.
1. High-Quality Sketchbooks
Now, these are physical tools, we know, but a lot of digital art actually starts with more freeform sketches on paper that then get scanned and refined in art software. This is because (barring some methods we’ll get to later) you still can’t get the same tactile feeling on digital drawing mediums as you can with good, old-fashioned pencil and paper.
A really high quality sketchbook from a brand like Moleskine or Strathmore not only gives the artist an excuse to try new types of drawing or painting, but it also looks great on shelves and around a home. Crucially, the appeal of a sketchbook over a digital method of drawing – at least to get the initial sketches out – is that there are very few barriers to getting started. You just pick up a pencil and you’re off, so you’ll never have to worry about your artist friend losing inspiration while waiting for programs to load.
2. Drawing Tablet (with or without a screen)
This is a reasonably special gift because higher-end ones tend to come with quite a high price point, but it’s a perfect gift for somebody really close to you. A drawing tablet uses a stylus and a special surface (or screen) to let you input accurate drawings directly into software. Importantly, this is a much more natural way for many artists to get their ideas into software, especially when compared to using a mouse or trackpad.
Non-screen tablets
Non-screen tablets are more affordable and tend to be quite reliable and accurate, but having to look at a separate computer screen while drawing on a different surface introduces a few learning curves where you’ve developed muscle memory for certain strokes.
Screen Tablets
Screen tablets like the Wacom Cintiq let artists draw directly on the display, which mimics the feeling of traditional drawing. These can be pricier but offer a really immersive drawing experience because you don’t need to work against the barrier of looking at a different surface while you draw.
3. Stylus Pen (Digital Drawing Pen)
If the artist in your life already has a tablet, consider getting them an upgraded stylus pen. But be aware that not all styluses are created equal; some offer enhanced pressure sensitivity, a more ergonomic design, or additional shortcut buttons to streamline workflow.
Pens like the Apple Pencil (for iPad users) or the Wacom Pro Pen 2 provide a more intuitive and seamless experience, with features such as tilt sensitivity and nearly lag-free performance.
4. Ergonomic Office Chair
As remote office workers are increasingly discovering, an ergonomic office chair pays dividends for your joint and muscle health. Digital artists spend long hours hunched over their computers or tablets – so having a chair that can help them avoid fatigue and discomfort makes a world of difference when it comes to productivity (and long-term health).
Look for chairs with adjustable height, adjustable tilt, lumbar support, and (crucially) adjustable-height armrests.
5. Art Glove
This one is especially useful for artists who work on touch-sensitive tablets (like iPads). They’re made from non-conductive material, so your hand resting on the screen as you draw doesn’t cause unwanted marks to be drawn onto your digital canvases. These are not only annoying but actually take a significant amount of time to sort out each time – so the gloves really come in handy!
6. High-Quality Monitor
For those who work on desktops or laptops, a high quality, color-accurate monitor is essential – and one of the top rated for the year is the BenQ PD3220U for its color accuracy and 32-in 4K panel screen. Imagine, for example, trying to paint a painting wearing red-lens glasses, the painting’s colors might look accurate while you’re wearing them – but they’re likely to look completely wrong once you take them off!
7. Creative Software Subscription
This is an especially helpful and thoughtful gift to encourage a budding digital artist because getting to be really fluent with a particular piece of software will help them create artworks with far fewer barriers.
Programs like Adobe Creative Cloud (which includes Photoshop, Illustrator, and others) are industry standard programs, but the programs in the Affinity Suite are extremely powerful at a surprisingly low price point. For iPad users, Procreate is a really streamlined way to sketch and paint beautifully.
8. Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Sometimes, the key to staying in the creative zone is drowning out the distractions around them. A pair of noise-cancelling headphones can help digital artists stay immersed in their work, whether they’re in a bustling café or at home. For a more portable option (for iPhone users), the third generation of Apple’s Airpods Pro series offers quite effective noise cancelling in a really small package.
9. Desk Organiser or Workspace Enhancers
If there’s one thing that artists are not usually renowned for is workspace organisation. But a cluttered (which doesn’t mean ‘empty’) workspace can hinder creativity.
Help your digital artist set up a functional aesthetically pleasing workspace by investing in desk organisers (for storing pens, sketch paper, etc), monitor stands, cable management tools. And if the boring office storage isn’t their vibe, make it more personal by getting them a themed one with their favourite characters or games, such as Minecraft or Mario.
10. Inspirational Metal Posters
Lastly, an artist might have all the tools they need, but the most crucial thing is ensuring they stay inspired. Gifting some visually striking posters, therefore, can help to enhance the artist’s environment with exciting artwork.
Our metal posters come with a super easy magnetic hanging system, so they’re as easy to swap around as they are to hang – which is perfect when your artist friend or loved one needs to refresh their space for a change in season or project. Being metal posters, they’re super durable and can easily be stored somewhere safe for next season’s inspiration.
Whether they’re a lover of Star Wars, Marvel, or abstract visual art, you’re bound to find something that’ll liven up their space and add a brand new splash of color or style. And if you’re not sure of what they might like, either let them choose specific posters or give them a gift card so they can choose themselves.
