On the hunt for the perfect gifts for artists who paint? You’ve just found the ultimate guide — filled with my favorite tools and tried-and-true recommendations from years behind watercolor painting.
Whether you or your friends are into Bible journaling, prayer journaling, or creatively taking sermon notes, I’ve gathered some of my favorite art materials and tools to share with you today—along with a few tips on how to choose the right ones for your own creative journey.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I’ll earn a commission, at no additional cost to you. Read my full disclosure here.
But before we dive into the list, let me tell you a little story—one that changed my life forever.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve carried this deep, unshakable longing to express myself through art. Maybe it’s because I was made to create. I truly believe God placed that gift inside me—a quiet, persistent calling that never fades no matter how life shifts.
Like many artists at heart, I dreamed of one day making a living through my art. I spent years experimenting with different mediums, practicing tirelessly, and nurturing that hope. Eventually, I decided to take a leap of faith. With my two kids beside me, I left our province for Manila, believing that being in the city—closer to art stores, workshops, and creative spaces—would bring me one step closer to my dream.
“It would be best to stay in the city where I can access art materials anytime,” I told myself with hopeful conviction.
But life had other plans.
Not long after we moved, my husband lost his job. That moment changed everything. Suddenly, the dream had to wait—I needed to find work. I entered the BPO industry, a path far from the colorful world of paints and brushes. I excelled, earned promotions, and learned so much, but deep down, I missed creating.
Still, I never let go of it completely. I turned to art whenever the stress from work and life became too heavy. My sketchbook became my escape. I would spend my rest days painting, journaling, and sharing bits of my work on Instagram. Art became my therapy—a quiet sanctuary in the middle of chaos.
Even now, I create every chance I get. It comforts me to think that my day job exists to pay the bills and to support my “expensive hobby.” In a way, that balance keeps my passion alive—it fuels me to keep painting, learning, and growing.
These days, I’m grateful to say that my art has started to open small doors—like earning a few dollars through print-on-demand and building this very website. The income may still be modest, but it’s a tangible sign that persistence pays off, even in trickles.
And now, after years of painting, journaling, and experimenting with countless tools, I want to share with you the art materials I can’t live without—the ones that helped me stay inspired through every season of my journey. I hope they’ll do the same for you and enhance your already beautiful art.
#1. Pencil
I use pencil not only in sketching but in writing everything temporary just to brainstorm my ideas or in kerning my letters and a lot more. But what makes a good pencil? Here are my tips.
- Lead grade variety & proper hardness/softness: Soft (e.g. 2B-6B) for rich dark strokes and shading; harder (H grades) for light lines, details.
- Smooth, consistent lay-down of graphite: The lead should glide smoothly, blend well and not feel “draggy” or patchy.
- Good erasability/control: If you need to lift graphite for highlights or correct mistakes, a good pencil helps erase cleanly.
- Reliable build / lead strength: Lead shouldn’t break too easily, casing should be comfortable.
- Range and value: Especially for sketching sets: variety of grades, from hard to soft, give you flexibility.
My Recommendation:
I recommend Faber-Castell Goldfaber Sketching Pencils and Sets. It has the “excellent quality”, range from 5B to 5H, and a trusted brand. Add this little blessing to your tool kit.
#2. Watercolor Set
Based on expert guidance and my own experience here are the tips on what makes a good watercolor that is worth buying:
- Quality over just quantity: A smaller set of good paints often beats a large set of weak paints.
- Pigment strength, transparency, light-fastness: Good watercolors have strong pigments (vivid colors), proper transparency so the paper white shows through, good light-fastness so your work won’t fade quickly.
- Pan vs tube sets: Pans (blocks) are portable and beginner-friendly; tubes are good for larger washes and serious work.
- Paper & accessories matter too: Even the best paint won’t do well on paper that buckles or absorbs poorly. Many beginner lists highlight using 140‐lb cold-pressed watercolor paper.
- Essential colors: When starting out you don’t need 60 colours. A good primary palette (warm/cool reds, yellows, blues + maybe a sienna) gives you huge mixing potential.
My Recommendations:
If you want serious quality & plan regular use: Go with one of the “artist grade” sets like Winsor & Newton or Schmincke — choose fewer colours if budget is limited.
#3. Brushes
I have tried a lot of brushes and I can say that there are those I really love using over the others. Let me give you my advise for synthetic brushes:
1. Pros of Synthetic Brushes
- Affordable:
They cost much less than natural sable or kolinsky brushes (which can be extremely expensive). - Cruelty-free & consistent:
No animal hair — modern synthetics (like Taklon, Toray, or PBT fibers) are engineered to mimic sable or squirrel properties. - Good snap and control:
They usually spring back well after each stroke, giving you precision for details and line work. - Durable:
Synthetic bristles resist wear and chemicals; they’re less likely to shed or rot compared to natural hair. - Versatile:
You can use them for watercolor and other media (gouache, acrylics, ink washes).
2. Cons / Limitations
- Water holding capacity:
Natural brushes (especially Kolinsky sable or squirrel) hold more water and pigment, allowing for longer, smoother washes. - Less “softness” or flow:
Some cheaper synthetic brushes feel stiffer, making them less ideal for loose, expressive washes. - Can wear out faster:
Over time, synthetic tips can fray or lose their point faster than a high-end sable.
3. Best Use Cases
- Beginners: Perfect for learning — affordable, forgiving, durable.
- Intermediate / pros: Many artists mix sets — e.g. synthetic for detail work, natural for large washes.
- Travel / plein air: Synthetic is ideal because it’s tough and easy to clean.
Recommendation:
Yes — synthetic brushes are good, especially modern ones. If you’re starting out or on a budget, go synthetic with confidence. If you’re advanced, you can mix synthetic and natural for best results (synthetic for detail; natural or blend for washes).
#4. Pens
What to focus on when selecting pens for watercolor. Here are some important features, based on what art-guides say and based of course in my own experience:
- Waterproof / water-resistant ink: A key requirement. You want a pen whose ink won’t bleed, blur or lift when you apply watercolor washes over or around it.
- Pigment-based ink: These are less likely to dissolve in water, making them more stable in mixed media.
- Archival quality / fade resistant: If you want your work to last, choose pens described as “archival”, “acid-free”, or “light-fast”.
- Tip size & type: Fine liners, brush tips, or dual-tips all have their uses. For details you might use a fine liner; for expressive line work or variable line width you might use a brush pen.
- Drying time: Even waterproof pens benefit from giving the ink time to dry before applying heavy washes so you don’t accidentally smear.
Recommendation:
If you want crisp outlines & plan to paint washes over them: Choose a quality waterproof fineliner like the Copic Multiliner or Uni PIN.
#5. Watercolor Pad
What to look for in watercolor paper? Here are my tips:
- Weight / thickness: Heavier paper (e.g., ~300 gsm or ~140 lb) handles lots of water, lifting & scraping without buckling.
- Material / fibre content: Papers made of 100% cotton are more durable, hold pigment and water better, and age well (acid-free) than cheaper wood-pulp papers.
- Texture / surface finish:
- Sizing / surface treatment: Paper must be sized to accept water & pigment properly; cheaper unsized papers might pill, warp, or reject paint.
- Format / binding: Pads, blocks, loose sheets. Blocks (glued on all sides) reduce curling.
- Also acid-free / archival if you want your work to last.
Recommendations:
If you’re just starting out / practicing: Use a 300 gsm pad (student grade) like the Canson XL or Mont Marte. They’ll cost less and still behave reasonably.
Whether you’re running low on your favorite supplies, eager to try new tools, or searching for the perfect gifts for a watercolor artist friend, these recommendations are just for you—handpicked from my own experience. You can buy them individually or combine them into a thoughtful gift set, a meaningful way to encourage someone who never gives up on her creative dreams.
Discover even more art materials and supplies here.