Looking for a unique gift this holiday season, birthday celebration, or just because you like giving gifts? Our list of the Best Mental Health Gift Ideas for Artists, Art Lovers, and Creatives, will be sure to help find the perfect mindfulness gift for that special person in your life… or treat yourself, because you deserve it too!
Mental health matters and is so important to practice, even for artists. This list will help give them the extra boost of self-care they need to keep creating. And that gift is priceless.
1. Scribble Activities Card Deck
The first gift idea up to the plate (and probably one of our favorites) is the self-care activity deck of cards: Scribble. Scribble is perfect for individuals seeking self-expression and a boost to their mental health, counselors, an art therapy toolkit, and in the classroom.
The process is simple. Choose an emotion to focus on (anxiety, any emotion, confidence, focus, gratitude, happiness), then let Scribble lead you through a series of activities involving drawing and journaling. Each of the 19 activities are designed to help your brain discover shiny, new insights that can smooth the path of your mental health journey.
Whether you’re an adult, teen, child, male, or female Scribble makes the perfect mental health gift!
2. Cosmic Care: An Intergalactic Guide to Finding Your Glow
Featuring the visionary art and signature style of Robin Eisenberg, (one of my personal favorite artists) Cosmic Care is an escape into a vivid, immersive universe that’s simultaneously familiar, relatable, and out of this world. Cosmic Care brings readers on a dreamy journey through space to reveal tips that will help them unlock their inner glow.
To be honest, I own a copy of this intergalactic guide to self-care! The art alone gives me that extra guidance I need to embrace and love myself while inspiring me at the same time.
Cosmic Care by Robin Eisenberg
3. Personalized Art Journal
Journaling can be effective for many different reasons and help you reach a wide range of goals. It can help you clear your head, make important connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and even buffer or reduce the effects of mental illness!
The truth is any artist, art lover, or creative could always use an extra journal. But a personalized one is a thoughtful upgrade. What’s so special about this art journal is that you get to: personalize the leather cover, add a custom printed title page inscription, choose the size, binding type, and page style.
Yes, they even have pages thick enough for watercolor painting, pages for writing music, or recipes. No matter how they decide to express themselves journaling is important for a healthy mind.
4. Art Classes
Give a gift that keeps on giving. Art classes are such a thoughtful hands-on approach to giving a gift. Learning a new skill or perfecting the one they already have will truly give them the self-care they are needing.
Check out CourseHorse, Groupon, Eventbrite, or possibly Facebook Groups for art classes in your area. If they are more of a homebody look into a virtual art class. The Paint Sesh Virtual Events is a fun option for the artists that like to get down into some paint in the comfort of their own home!
5. Art Museum/Exhibit Tickets
Another kind of mental health gift idea experience is tickets to their favorite museum or an exhibit that they’ve been wanting to check out. Sometimes artists need an extra spark of creativity. What better way than to inspire them with a local art museum or exhibit admission.
I personally would love an art museum or exhibit admission gift. I’ve had my eye on the Van Gogh Immersive Experience. The experience has several exhibits thoughout the U.S. with glowing reviews. You actually feel like you’re apart of the paintings. Sign me up!
6. Self-Care Activity Book
This mindful gift idea is geared for more adult creatives. The Adulting Manual book is a guide to help you navigate life. Read, write, color, and draw your way through this interactive self-care activity book for adults, with STICKERS in it. Because adults deserve stickers too!
Don’t just take our word for it:
“It’s so hard to find decent books like this one, beautifully illustrated, talks in a plain and simple way, really truly helps people who are struggling- the seller is a hero and I definitely recommend this book to everyone.” – Amy M.
7. Mindfulness Mandala Coloring Book
Another kind of book gift idea is a mandala coloring book. The great thing about coloring books is that they help calm your mind as you color beautiful images.
perfect for markers, gel pens, crayons, or colored pencils. Angel provides helpful tips and advice on her coloring techniques, along with an inspirational gallery of full-color examples. Printed on high-quality, extra-thick paper, each page is perforated for easy removal and display.
8. Creative Tribe Affirmation Card
Need a small stocking stuffer or an addition to your greeting card? This customizable Affirmation Card is for all the artists, makers, and creators that need a little creative confidence. Included on the back is the Creative Tribe Oath. Sometimes we need to give ourselves or others a little bit of self-love to keep the inspiration thriving! Plus, it’s made of plastic so it fits perfectly in a wallet so you bring it with you wherever you go.
9. Create More Worry Less Sticker
Another small mindfulness gift idea is the Create More Worry Less Sticker. The friendliest reminder, that creativity brings happiness. “Create More, Worry Less” is self-explanatory but so true for any artist, art lover or creative. If stickers aren’t your jam the design is also available on other goodies such as apparel, art prints, pencil cases, tote bags, mugs, and pillows. There’s a Create More Worry Less goody for everyone!
Create More Worry Less Sticker
10. Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
I don’t know about other artists and makers but I love reading an inspirational book when I’m feeling down about my art or have hit a blank canvas. Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Jennifer Gilbert is a must.
With profound empathy and radiant generosity, she offers potent insights into the mysterious nature of inspiration. She asks us to embrace our curiosity and let go of needless suffering. She discusses the attitudes, approaches, and habits we need in order to live our most creative lives. Balancing between soulful spirituality and cheerful pragmatism, Gilbert encourages us to uncover the “strange jewels” that are hidden within each of us.
(Seriously though, I already read it three times.) Big Magic will give you the magic you need to want to keep creating and sharing your art with the world.
11. Art Supplies & Art Kits
You can never go wrong with some art supplies for a mindful gift idea for artists. You could even take it one step further and get everything they need to create a masterpiece with an art kit. Honestly, anything will do because it’s something they can actually use and explore their creativity with!
Art Supplies:
One of our favorite art supplies we use, for specifically painting, is our colorful set of acrylic paint! For a more in-depth on what painting supplies to get check out our other article: Acrylic Painting Supplies: A Beginners Shopping List.
If you are looking for more variety of other kinds of art supplies we recommend Arteza or Michaels. Arteza is one of our new favorite places to find art supplies. Not only is the quality great but they really do have an impressive variety of art supplies to choose from.
If you’re looking to support a small business, check out your local art supply store. Spread the small business love while supporting local art in the process!
Art Kits:
Quality art kits are hard to find since there are so many out there. If you’re looking for a fun Paint at Home Kit then any of our painting kit options including: Paint and Sip Glassware, 420 Friendly Paint and Puff Glassware, Ornaments, Tote Bag, and Traditional Canvas. Which of course includes everything to paint your own masterpiece!
Another suggestion would be a subscription to a monthly art supply box. Each box is curated for the individual to create more. If your fellow artist enjoys drawing more, check out Sketch Box or Art Snacks. If they are more of a professional or advanced artist than look into
Art therapy is the perfect way to practice good mental health.
12. Happy Little Accidents Party Game
Who doesn’t love Bob Ross? His whole persona is about spreading good vibes through creativity. Take a break from creating and enjoy this Bob Ross-themed board game.
Players turn whimsical squiggles into creative masterpieces in this positive party game. Happy Little Accidents is the game where your mistakes become your masterpieces! Celebrate your creativity in this positive party game inspired by the wisdom of legendary painter Bob Ross.
Okay, it’s not totally a mindfulness gift idea. But sometimes having fun with others is the best form of self-care! You also can’t have a mental health gift idea list for artists and not mention Bob Ross.
Mental Health Matters
At the end of the day, any form of art or creating has a positive effect on our mental health. It’s kind of like therapy. Therefore no matter what you decide to give as your mindfulness gift, you are truly making a difference in their creative process.
If you are still on the hunt for the perfect gift idea for the artist in your life check out our Top Art Lovers list of Enamel Pins.
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