Top Ten Gift Ideas for Young Teenage Artists

So you've got that budding, teenage artist holed up in a room listening to strange music and painting away. Christmas is coming, and she hasn't been into Barbies since she was 8. What do you get her besides money and time alone? This gift guide is designed to help you connect and get a smile out of your young artist in residence.

1. High-quality paints. Young artists that don't have jobs usually are scrounging for paints for their works. They have leftovers or are squeezing the last drop for the brushes. A set of high-quality paints by companies like Blick would cause a jaw-dropping reaction. Some single tubes of acrylic art can cost up to $20 alone! Yes, they can be costly, but it's like jumping from a rotary phone to a digital phone: the difference in quality is unmatched. Be sure you get the right medium, i.e., acrylic, oils, watercolors, or what have you.
2. Easels and canvases, all sizes. If your budding artist spends most of her time hunched over a rickety table to paint, maybe it's time they got a professional, 3-leg easel. This will save tons of back pain and strained necks just by simply giving them a more upright position to work in. Also, canvases of all sizes are almost always welcome because some artists have to buy in bulk and in one size to save money.
3. Sketch pads and range of pencils. Just coming up with the concept of what great works to create next usually starts with a sketch. Instead of just random pencils and paper, get your artist a slightly larger than letter size sketch pad along with some Beryl pencils. Make sure that you get a range of pencils. They start from 2B- the lightest- to 6B, which is really dark and almost straight charcoal. A range of pencils gives the artist an ability to better differentiate in shade. Not having a range of pencils is like only being able to measure your ingredients with a tablespoon no matter the amount you need.
4. Art Museum passes. Young artists always need to expand their horizons and need to be influenced. Get them some art museums that are in the nearest big city and watch the eyes go wide. This will also give you a chance to bond and really find out what they really are drawn to when it comes to styles of art. Make a day trip out of it by finding out where to dine and where to shop afterwards.
5. Tour of local art schools. If she's near that college age, maybe it's time for your young artist to take a tour of some local art schools. It may or may not be the school of your choice, but at least it's a school. This is another road trip in the making. Sometimes seeing where they could be in two years can really motivate a teenager to do their best, and touring an art school with all those "cool" college kids can definitely create a spark.
6. Books/DVDs of work by influential artist. You've probably seen traces of another famous artist in your young artist's work somewhere. Maybe she's got some impressionist in her style, like Van Gogh. Or she could be into flowers, like O'Keefe. Buy a book on Van Gogh or even the most recent movie on DVD. Or a large Georgia O'Keefe book of her stunning flowers could be another motivating object that makes a great gift.
7. Art Portfolio. If you're tired of paintings hurriedly tucked away under a bed or rotting in the attic, it's time to find some storage container for the artwork. Most portfolios are fireproof and come in a huge range of sizes, going up to 10 feet! In 10 years, she'll thank you.
8. A Gallery Showing. If you really want to impress, try to organize a gallery showing of work. The local library or community center would probably help out for this sort of event. This will take a lot of dedication, from renting a small venue to arranging for finger food to printing up invitations, but it's the thought that counts. Showing your young artist that you support her work by showing it off is one of the greatest gifts one could have.
9. Framed "early days" of work. This would be cute and do her proud. If she's got some early works (those elementary school days) that you've got in your keepsake box, get them professionally framed and put them up in your artist's room or the family hallway. This shows how proud you were back in the early years. Besides, they might be worth some money one day!
10. "Drawing From the Right Side of the Brain". This amazing book from Betty Edwards is often overlooked by young artists, but if your art fan is constantly in search of new techniques, this book can revolutionize the way they approach their work. This is an especially good book for those who like to do portraits, landscapes, and city scenery.