Bookish Gifts For the Artist

Help encourage their creative flare with these gifts!

1. The Guerilla Art Kit: Everything You Need To Put Your Message Out Into The World by Keri Smith By the author of Wreck this Journal and How to Be an Explorer of the World. From Goodreads: "The Guerilla Art Kit shows how small artistic acts can start a revolution. Keri Smith, noted author of Living Out Loud and the blog Wish Jar Journal, uses her unique drawing and handwriting style to help anyone find and release their inner artist or activist. This visually exciting activity book full of step-by-step exercises, cut-out projects, sticker ideas, and more has both fun assignments and handy tips to help you unleash your creative energy into the streets, where you can really make an impact. From the quick exercises leaving books for strangers to find, chalking quotes on the sidewalk to the more involved making a 'wish tree,' guerilla gardening, or making your own stencils The Guerilla Art Kit contains everything you need to put your message out into the world."

2. A Sketchbook  Sometimes the obvious gift is still the right one. You can go with this simple one, or you could find a sketchbook that suits their taste here.

3. Moleskine Professional Portfolio This portfolio is durable and has large pockets and is made of acid free cardboard. It is high quality and is a professional portfolio for the serious artist. You can also find moleskine sketchbooks, which are based on the notebooks used by artists such as Vincent Van Gogh and Pablo Picasso.

4.  Let’s Make Some Great Art by Marion Deuchars From Goodreads: "In this interactive coloring and activity book, Marion Deuchars takes the broad canvas of art and fills it with drawings and activities that engage with what art can be, how it can be made, what it can mean for you and what it has meant for people through the ages. Aimed at children aged eight and older, the emphasis is on fun and making the creation of art an integral part of the way you express yourself."
 

 5. The Louvre: All the Paintings, photographed by Erich Lessing From Goodreads: "An historic publishing event! Endorsed by the Louvre and for the first time ever, every painting from the world's most popular museum is available in one stunning book. All 2,981 paintings on display in the permanent painting collection of the Louvre are presented in full color in this striking, slipcased book. Comes with an enclosed, supportive DVD-ROM." Or, you could get Treasures of the Louvre by Michel Laclotte, which is a cheaper alternative.