NEVER buy this for an artist

Before you give the artist in the family one of these "art kits" watch this video and think about if they're really the best person to give it to. Sometimes these art kits are better for really young kids who DON'T draw all the time and are still figuring out what kind of art supplies they like to work with.

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[jannaj]

They’re good for little kids. It’s how I started. Now I’m on to better things . I bought my son a wooden box one and it’s better quality than the plastic box one.

[ZebraWyvern]

This advise goes for more than just kids lol. For Christmas when someone doesn't know what to get me they just get me paints, I don't paint...i mostly do digital or sketch in my sketch books.

[lolitslloyd]

I remember my dad getting me an art kit years ago. I might have been 11. The quality was pretty trash, but I did appreciate the support.

[Natumichipi]

I was never considered “the art kid” but my brother and sister got them. My sister liked the case like previously mentioned and when she got to a certain age she gutted the case and used it as pretty storage. But the one they used the most was one from crayola, they still have the cases to this day over ten years later.

Personally I would have loved something like this as a little kid, but indeed crunchy crayons are not fun to use when you’re sensitive to the sound that anything makes against another surface. I remember telling my mom not to buy a specific brand of pen simply because it bothered me how it sounded against the paper.

[sabrinasmith]

Oh I remember these, my grandma and uncle gave me an art kit as one of my presents every year. Of course I was grateful and happy to get it, but the only things I really ever used were the colored pencils, the one or two markers that weren't completely dried up, and the case when I got a wooden one (I totally agree the crunchy plastic ones are the WORST). I was also never a fan of the pastels, I don't think I've met anyone that actually liked them lol

[thatonemessyartist]

This is exactly why I have a bunch of un-used art kits under my bed, lol

[lizb]

I totally agree! One of the best gifts was from my also artist grandmother who gifted me a set of eraseable prismacolors with a yellow pouch when I was in 4th grade. If price isn’t as much of a concern don’t be afraid to also give kids nicer things too- they’ll know it’s nice!

[xXAlexOrWhateverXx]

I got one of these kits and almost everything was dried out or broken. I think getting an artist/ new artist a sketchbook, pencils, and an eraser would be a better (and less expensive) gift idea.

[haileymatthew]

When I was young I received an amazing kit in a wooden case with drawers to remove with each media in. I got it from my great aunt who painted amazing watercolours, and I appreciated it so much!

I definitely received the crusty plastic cases from other family members, way into my time as 'the artist' in the family, and while fun to play with, didn't help with my actual art!

[icelio]

My parents used to buy us Mr. Sketch scented water color markers and those were the best as a kid. I still remember the green and black one having a strong smell. We weren't allowed to use blank printer paper, instead my mom gave us recycled paper with random text on one side. Trying to scan the artwork feels awkward as the text faintly bleeds through since it's thin paper.

[jessicafoster]

While I appreciated getting more paper and art supplies but there was always at least half of it that I didn’t use. Like the chalk, or the crayons. Half the markers never worked for me, and I didn’t use the wax crayon thingies. The colored pencils were always nice though

[RedXiongmao]

My dad used to get something like this for my sister every year because he didn't know anything about her besides that she could draw. It ultimately kind of put her off creating art

[dailydoodlesyoutube]

I painfully remember getting those kits.

[silverflame_firebug]

I did buy one for my artistic child many years ago. Everything was in a wooden case with a handle that also doubles as an easel. I have little recollection regarding the quality of the materials, but they still have it and do use the easel periodically. Honestly, one of the main reasons I considered it was because it seemed like a good way to keep everything contained and easy to move/store between creative sessions.

[VerchielxKanda]

I got one when I was little from my grandma. I was obsessed with markers and gel pens and yet none of the markers worked. She was SO pissed, especially cause it was way too late to return or exchange it for me. She got me some Crayola and I was content, cause Crayola has never let me down(except when I bought the Gel Markers, wtf even were those awful things?!).
I got one again about 10 years ago(still have it) and it was a higher quality one. I like to try many different things(am starting to paint a lot now) and so I loved it. It survived 3 rough moves, cause it's in a beautiful wooden box.

[Nyx_ofthenight]

I was the older of the two Art Kids TM of the family so I got a lot of random art supplies from well meaning relatives(which I really did appreciate and shitty art supplies are great for experimenting, its an interesting cure for the 'i don't want to use up the fancy pretty sketch book/art thing' fear). But when I got older and my relatives started asking me what they should get for my younger, artsy cousin. I enjoyed playing the expert and trying to get my family to spoil them with the good stuff that I would have wanted at those stages/mediums.

[Noah-lovb]

Yup yup yup! Someone had to say this, I have like 4 or 5 of these stuffed in my closet from over the years, most of which I never opened

[BEX]

As an adult I love the challenge of them now. It's fun to test my skills for me. They weren't the most helpful as a kid but love them now lol.

[Super_Grover_]

I always suggest organizational items for artists, like a case for markers and pens, or a rotating brush and paint holder, a small plastic chest of drawers for supplies, etc. We’ll use these items all of the time, truly appreciate it, and I guarantee no one else will have thought of it. Otherwise, just ask what supplies and mediums they use. Canvas, mixed media pads, and sketch books are always great! Can’t ever have enough!

[animatedmooncloud]

My mother gave me one, two years ago when I turned 25 lol. But it was the metal one and the were pretty decent. I just use them for sketch art and when Im in an Art block. Then I redo them with my nicer stuff or transfer them to digital