<p>I know someone who is graduating HS early and going to art school. I know supplies are pretty expensive, so for you art students out there, what would be a good gift that would be useful??? Thanks for any and all suggestions!</p>
<p>If I knew what field the kid was interested in it would be easier to make suggestions. I'll list some of the art supplies I use all the time, but these things may be useless to someone who's into fashion design or glass blowing.</p>
<p>A wacom tablet (bamboo is cheapest I think).</p>
<p>A palette and some good quality brushes. It's typically better to buy 1 or 2 expensive brushes than a handful of cheap ones. You don't know what kind of paint the student will use, but chances are they will need brushes.</p>
<p>A gift certificate to Pearl, Utrect, or something similar. (Charette is nice, but they sell the same supplies as Pearl at an inflated price.)</p>
<p>Good quality paper or sketchbooks. Arches is very nice paper and moleskin is the best kind of sketchbook. In my opinion moleskin is too excessive though. I like canson.</p>
<p>A good electric pencil sharpener, not the kind that breaks down constantly.</p>
<p>A portfolio case (they probably already have one).</p>
<p>An olfa utility knife with snap-off blades.</p>
<p>A large metal yard stick.</p>
<p>Portable easel. I have one that fits in a small bag. </p>
<p>Electric eraser.</p>
<p>Given that people can be very picky what what brands of art supplies they use, and also that the art school will assign all sorts of projects that you have no idea what is needed for, if it were me, I'd do this. Get one small thing (the utility knife it a great idea), and a gift certificate to the art supply store that is located closest to the school.</p>
<p>Great list, Linzoy! Rachacha, No matter what this student's area of concentration, I'll wager they start with a foundation course that includes drawing. I think the gift card is a great idea, but if you want to give something more, a canvas tote large enough to carry at least a sketch book would be nice (and not expensive). Throw in a couple of the drawing supplies mentioned by Linzoy and you're set.</p>
<p>I strongly agree with the gift certificate. I know that we have relatives who try to buy art supplies for my daughter, but unless you put in a lot of work researching it, it's hard to know what's best -- different focus means different sorts of supplies. </p>
<p>By the way, I have to second the comment about the Wacom Bamboo tablet. Though it comes in bright colors, it's an excellent tool and has all the quality you'd expect from Wacom. The 'medium' size offers a substantial surface at a good price, given the features; it's more affordable than the Intuos3 line, but still a reasonable choice for a young artist.</p>
<p>A large portfolio case for carrying oversized drawings to foundations level classes. </p>
<p>A fishing tackle box with lots of compartments for bringing art supplies (rubber cement, charcoal, kneaded erasers, x-acto knives, etc) to class.</p>
<p>Sketchbooks.</p>
<p>A year's supply of Red Bull.</p>
<p>Red Bull -- lol. And caffeine pills.</p>
<p>I second Moominmama's suggestion. I never want anyone to buy supplies for me. My parents sometimes know when I want something special, but unless you get a specific suggestion, definitely go with the gift certificate. They will be thrilled with that. And i like the idea of getting a small universal thing, like a box of good drawing pencils or a moleskine sketchbook. Tie the gift card envelope to it with ribbon.</p>
<p>You can't lose with sketchbooks, prismacolor pencils, and copic markers :)</p>