Watercolor Gift Ideas for Every Artist on Your List (Including the Ones Who Have Everything)
By Dalton Scolman
Buying gifts for artists is one of those things that sounds easier than it is.
On paper, it seems simple. They paint. You buy art supplies. Done. Except then you start thinking about it and you realize you have no idea what brand of paint they use, whether they prefer pans or tubes, if they already have twelve sets of brushes, and whether a sketchbook is a good idea or an insult to their established journaling practice.
This guide is here to help. Whether you're shopping for a total beginner who's just discovered watercolor, a dedicated hobbyist who already has a very opinionated supply setup, or someone who paints so seriously that gifting them the "wrong" paint feels risky, there's something here for everyone.
And yes, we're going to talk about something most gift guides overlook entirely: a paint format that's so genuinely different that even the most well-stocked watercolor artist probably doesn't have it yet.
First: The Gift That Works for Any Level
Let's get this one out of the way up front because it applies whether you're shopping for a brand new beginner or someone who's been painting for twenty years.
Nicholson's Peerless Watercolors are one of the most genuinely unusual and delightful things you can give a watercolor artist. They've been made since 1885 and they're still one of the best-kept secrets in the watercolor world: flat cards coated in highly concentrated color that activates the moment a wet brush touches them. No pans, no tubes, no setup. Just instant, vivid color.
Most watercolor artists, even experienced ones, have never tried them. Which makes them a genuinely exciting discovery rather than "another thing I already have."
They come in a range of formats depending on your budget and who you're buying for.
The Paint Along Palettes are the sweetest entry-level option, a little set of carefully curated colors that's perfect for beginners or journalers who want to try something new. Approachable price point and genuinely lovely to paint with.
The Sidekick is the one that makes experienced artists do a double take. Forty-five colors in something the size of a checkbook, designed for painting anywhere without any setup at all. For the artist who travels, sketches outdoors, or paints on the go, this is a genuinely brilliant gift.
The Prism Pack is the full collection, all 80 colors, and an absolute dream for the artist who loves having options and exploring color. This is a gift that gets opened and immediately played with.
And if you want to let the artist pick their own colors, individual DryColor sheets can be mixed and matched, which is a lovely way to build a personalized palette.
Gifts for Beginner Watercolor Artists
Beginners need supplies that are forgiving, easy to use, and good enough quality to actually be satisfying without being so expensive that a mistake feels catastrophic.
A decent watercolor journal or sketchbook. This is honestly one of the best beginner gifts because everyone needs paper and not everyone buys themselves the good stuff. Look for something at least 140lb (300gsm) with watercolor-appropriate paper. The Hahnemuhle watercolor book and the Stillman and Birn Alpha series are both well-loved in the watercolor community. A5 size is the most versatile for journaling and traveling.
A quality starter paint set. Avoid the bargain bin multi-packs from craft stores. The pigment load is so low in cheap sets that colors come out chalky and dull, which makes learning genuinely harder. Winsor and Newton Cotman is a widely recommended student-grade set that produces real, satisfying color without a professional price tag. Or, for something truly unexpected, the Peerless Paint Along Palette gives a beginner an immediately fun and easy-to-use paint experience with no learning curve at all.
A waterbrush. Most beginners don't know these exist and then wonder how they painted without one. A brush with a water reservoir in the handle means no jar needed, ever. The Niji Waterbrush set is reliable and inexpensive, and it's the kind of gift that gets used literally every time someone sits down to paint.
A good round brush. One quality brush beats a set of ten mediocre ones. A size 8 round from a reputable brand like Princeton or da Vinci is a gift that gets used for years. Beginners almost always have low-quality brushes from a starter set and a genuinely good round brush is a noticeable upgrade.
Gifts for the Watercolor Artist Who Already Has Everything
This is the tricky category. The artist who's been painting for years, has an established palette they're loyal to, specific brush preferences, and a very clear idea of what they like.
The secret here is to either go consumable (things they'll use up and need more of) or genuinely different (things they haven't tried).
Peerless DryColor sheets or the Sidekick palette. This is genuinely the answer for the artist who has everything. Because they almost certainly don't have this. The format is so different from tubes and pans that even longtime watercolorists treat it as a discovery. It's not a replacement for their existing setup, it's an addition, specifically for painting on the go, for travel, for outdoor sketching, for keeping color in a jacket pocket. Experienced artists often become completely obsessed with them.
High-quality watercolor paper. Here's the thing about paper: artists always need more of it and they don't always buy themselves the best. A pad or block of Arches 140lb cold press is a universally appreciated gift for any watercolor artist at any level. Nobody has ever complained about getting good paper.
A beautiful sketchbook for the artist who journals. If they already paint in sketchbooks, a new one is always welcome. Go for something with a beautiful cover and good paper. The Hahnemuhle watercolor book, the Leuchtturm watercolor notebook, and the Etchr sketchbook are all well-regarded options in the watercolor community.
Watercolor books by artists they admire. A technique book by a watercolor artist whose work they love is a lovely and personal gift. Jenna Rainey's books are popular in the watercolor journaling community. Jean Haines and Charles Reid are respected names for more traditional approaches. If you know who they follow on social media or YouTube, a book by that artist is almost always going to land well.
Fine watercolor brushes. Experienced artists have specific brush preferences, so this one requires a little research. But a high-quality kolinsky sable brush in a useful size (a size 8 or 10 round) is a gift that most watercolorists have on their wish list and don't always buy themselves because good brushes are expensive. Winsor and Newton Series 7 and da Vinci Maestro are two names that are consistently respected.
A class or workshop. Local watercolor workshops, online courses through Skillshare or Domestika, or a course from a specific artist they follow are genuinely wonderful gifts. The experience of learning from someone they admire is meaningful in a way that a physical object often isn't. And for the artist who really does have all the supplies, this is the gift that has nothing to do with what they already own.
Gifts for the Travel Painter or Urban Sketcher
This is a specific and passionate subset of the watercolor community and they have very particular needs. Portable, lightweight, and functional are the magic words.
The Peerless Sidekick. It genuinely doesn't get more portable than this. Forty-five colors in checkbook size, works with just a waterbrush, no setup, no spill risk. For anyone who paints outdoors, travels, or sketches on location, this is the gift. Full stop.
A compact watercolor sketchbook. A5 hard cover with good paper is the sweet spot for travel painters. The Etchr sketchbook, Hahnemuhle watercolor book, and Moleskine watercolor journal are all popular options that are sized for painting anywhere.
A waterbrush set. If they don't already have one, a waterbrush is genuinely life-changing for painting on the go. If they do have one, a set with a couple of different tip sizes (fine, medium, and a flat or mop) is a useful upgrade. Pentel Aquash and Kuretake Bimoji are the most commonly recommended.
Sakura Pigma Micron fineliners. Most outdoor sketchers use waterproof ink for line and wash work. A set of Pigma Microns in a few nib sizes (0.3, 0.5, and 0.8 are the most useful) is a practical, well-priced gift that travel painters genuinely use constantly.
A lightweight portable stool. Sounds unglamorous but is actually a revelation for anyone who paints outdoors. Sitting on curbs and benches gets old quickly. A small folding stool that fits in a bag makes outdoor sessions significantly more comfortable and therefore more likely to actually happen.
Gifts Under $30 That Don't Feel Like an Afterthought
Good art gifts don't have to be expensive. Here are some genuinely thoughtful options at a lower price point.
The Peerless Paint Along Palette is a perfect small gift: unusual, fun, good quality, and something they might not have discovered yet. Approachable price, lovely colors, zero learning curve.
A kneaded eraser sounds boring but every artist who uses one loves it and goes through them. Zero risk, genuinely useful.
A set of Sakura Pigma Micron fineliners in waterproof ink is useful for anyone who sketches before they paint.
Good masking tape (artist-grade, low-tack) is something painters always need for taping paper to boards. Unsexy but appreciated.
A small spray bottle for misting palettes and keeping paint workable is one of those things artists use every session and don't always think to buy for themselves.
One Last Thought
The best gift for a watercolor artist is something that either supports what they already love doing or introduces them to something they didn't know they'd love. You don't have to get it perfect. A genuinely thoughtful gesture in the direction of their creative life is going to land, even if it's not the exact right shade of ultramarine.
And if you want to play it safe with something that's genuinely unique, beautifully made, and almost certainly something they haven't tried yet, Peerless is a pretty excellent answer.
Explore Peerless gift options at peerlesscolorlabs.com
FAQ: Watercolor Gift Questions
What is a good gift for a watercolor artist?
Quality watercolor paper, a well-curated paint set, or a unique format they haven't tried yet are all reliably good options. For something genuinely unusual and exciting, Nicholson's Peerless DryColor sheets or the Sidekick palette are a format most watercolor artists have never encountered, which makes them a genuinely memorable gift rather than a duplicate of something they already own.
What should I buy a beginner who wants to try watercolor?
A quality watercolor journal at 140lb (like Hahnemuhle or Stillman and Birn), a decent starter paint set (Winsor and Newton Cotman or a Peerless Paint Along Palette), and a round brush and waterbrush covers everything they need to actually start painting. Avoid very cheap starter sets, as low-quality pigment makes learning significantly harder and less enjoyable.
Is it okay to buy watercolor supplies as a gift for an experienced artist?
Yes, with a few caveats. Consumables like paper, sketchbooks, and paint are almost always welcome because artists use them up. If you're buying paint specifically, something in a genuinely different format, like Peerless DryColor sheets, avoids the risk of duplicating their existing palette. Brushes are a lovely gift if you're willing to do a little research into quality brands.
What are the best watercolor gifts for travel painters?
Anything that makes painting on the go easier. The Peerless Sidekick (45 colors, checkbook size) is a standout option. A compact watercolor sketchbook with a hard cover, a waterbrush, and a set of waterproof Sakura Pigma Micron pens round out a perfect travel painter's gift kit.
What is the Peerless Sidekick and is it a good gift?
The Sidekick is a portable palette from Nicholson's Peerless Watercolors that holds 45 DryColor sheets in something roughly the size of a checkbook. It's one of the most portable watercolor setups available because the paint format is dry (so no spill risk) and activates instantly with a wet brush. It's a genuinely unusual and useful gift, especially for artists who paint outdoors, travel frequently, or love urban sketching.
What watercolor gifts work for both beginners and experienced artists?
Quality watercolor paper is universally appreciated at any skill level. Peerless DryColor sheets work for both audiences too: beginners love how simple and forgiving the format is, and experienced artists love discovering a new format that opens up painting possibilities they didn't have before.