5 Holiday Gifts for Photographers and Artists

Written by Mark Rogers

If you’re an artist, you know what you like to use in your craft: the paintbrushes, canvases, paint and other art supplies that make your art yours. Around the holidays, you may get the same art supplies year after year, none of which may be suited to your work. While it’s thoughtful, gift-givers may not know what is actually the best gift for artists and photographers.

Professional Picture Frames

It seems as though artists and photographers would have dozens of frames laying around for their work, but it may not be the case — they are often too busy finding new clients, creating art, retouching photos and making prints to order the frames in which their artwork will live. Artists that sell their work will appreciate a set of professional ready-made picture frames to get them started in the new year. If you’re not sure which types of frames they like, buy a gift card to let them shop for frames themselves.

Cozy Photography Gloves

Usually a standard holiday gift, gloves for photographers are actually of a different breed than your typical chunky mittens. Photographers need their dexterity and the use of their fingertips, and thick gloves, while warm, don’t allow them to take shots or use their equipment exactly the way they want.

Gloves for photographers should be snug but not restrictive and allow photographers to use their fingers on touchscreens and tiny buttons without having to take the gloves on and off. Some photography gloves can flip open to reveal fingertips, but others, such as the Freehands Power Stretch gloves, have touchscreen-capable fingertips.

Colorful Pantone Water Bottle

Perfect for the graphic designers in your life, this stainless steel water bottle comes in five official Pantone colors, including Pantone’s Color of the Year 2017: “Greenery.” Whether they’re sitting behind their desk creating art or out on the road, creatives will love the subtlety of this grab-and-go style water bottle. The color standards company has also created a set of ornaments to jazz up your Christmas tree, and with eight available colors, you can pick one for each family member.

3D Printing Pen

The 3Doodler printing pen doesn’t replace regular pens — primarily because it’s not a typical pen. The 3Doodler is like a freehand 3D printer, allowing you to draw in the air and create a 3D shapes, scale models and miniatures. The 3Doodler is available in three models, including the 3Doodler Start, which is geared towards children; Create, which is primarily used by hobbyists; and Pro, the most advanced model for professional architects, engineers, artists and designers. Artists that have typically stuck to two-dimensional drawing and painting can easily transition to 3D modeling and sculpting — and they may even find a new passion!

Drones for Photography

Drones are one of the trendiest and most popular gift items for anyone, not just artists, and they can open up a whole new world of opportunity for photographers. Drones allow you to soar through the sky and take awe-inspiring shots of the world below or simply discover an angle you’ve never experienced before. Starting at $500 and up, a drone is a gift for someone particularly special in your life — and it’s guaranteed to put a smile on their face.

If you’ve got an illustrator, painter, photographer, graphic designer or creative in your family or circle of friends, give them a gift they will use and cherish all year long. And if you ARE an illustrator, painter, photographer, graphic designer or creative, make sure to get the gifts you really want by sharing this list when dropping hints this holiday.