Top Six Gifts for a Starving Artist or Writer

6. Good jazz and blues music: Every painter and writer needs a muse. If they don't have a loft above Greenwich Village, a room on Burgundy Street, a view of Hollywood Hills, or a cabin in the mountains, then they need something else to get them in the mood. Sometimes that's a local bar, sometimes a model or someone to paint/write about. Other times it's music. Of course, they might even need a radio, if they are really a starving artist. But good music can go a long way when it comes to inspiration and setting the mood. Jazz and blues music work best. To be safe, get one CD of each. Suggestions for jazz are Bill Evans (Explorations), Stan Getz (Focus), Cecil Taylor (Unit Structures), and Thelonious Monk (Brilliant Corners), and for blues Skip James (Today!), Mississippi John Hurt (Today!), Champion Jack Dupree (Blues from the gutter), Albert King (Born under a bad sign), Howlin Wolf (Howlin Wolf), and Lightnin Hopkins (Double blues).

5. Books: Books are great gifts, although sometimes unexciting. "They" say the best way to learn how to write, other than writing, is to read. Same goes for painting. A writer can never have and read too many books. Writers and artists need the ideas, the inspiration, and therefore the books. However, they are expensive. Starving artists and writers don't have money for them. If they are truly dedicated they go to the library. But if the books are good they will be swept up in the spirit, then run down to the liquor store, spend what money they have on liquor, and paint for a month straight. Then their library books will be late and their card suspended, so they will still need books.

4. Supplies: If the writer or artist is broke and starving, spending money on supplies like pens, pencils, paintbrushes, and/or paper is not a bright spot of the week or month. Good paint can be expensive if you want more than one color. Maybe they use watercolors. If they use an easel, they probably already have one, but they might need a new one. Otherwise, canvasses and frames, depending on how and what they paint, are good ideas, too.

3. Wine/beer/liquor: Even more inspiring than music is alcohol. Most artists and writers love the stuff. A bottle of wine, a few cases of beer, or a bottle of scotch whiskey will really make their holidays happy. It doesn't necessarily even need to be good whiskey, but if you want to make it extra special, good alcohol is preferred. Your local liquor store should have recommendations for each category.

2. A trip: This is an interesting idea. If the artist is broke, they probably haven't had a nice trip or vacation for some time. Maybe they are struggling to find things to write or paint about. Maybe they are stuck in a rut, uninspired, experiencing writer's block. Maybe they need a change of scenery, something to lift their spirits, a new source of inspiration and ideas. Send them on a little trip.

It will depend on if they have a car, if they like to drive, if a bus is acceptable. Maybe they don't fly. Artists are often eccentric and neurotic. You have to be careful not to assume anything. But assuming that one method of transportation is suitable, make the arrangements. Artists don't like to get on the phone and worry about details like that. Create the itinerary. Heck, even pack their bags. Pick a place with a good mix of things, pretty mountains, a lake or river, the ocean, the forest or desert, but also bars, interesting streets, people, neon lights, things to stimulate the mind, places to get into trouble. It could just be for a night or two, a hotel room is always a good place to cleanse the spirits. Give them money for a few good meals and a night or two at the bar. Their ideas will come, and that is the best gift you can give an artist.

1. Money: Yes, money. Obviously. But the other gift ideas are suggestions for those who don't feel comfortable giving money as a gift, or have the artistic spirit in them and want to be more creative.