Writing Article: What Art Supplies Would Make Good Gifts for Non-Artists?

I need to compose a little write-up about what art supplies would make good gifts to children and especially young adults who are not into art. The idea is that a given set of supplies, hopefully in a single preassembled and affordable set, would inspire young folks to experiment with drawing/painting/carving/etc.





My instinct tells me that art is best learned without any fancy supplies at first, but this is an assignment that I don't have the option of declining.





If anyone has any suggestions or can even point me to particular products, I would be immensely grateful. It would really help me find a way to bring order to this chaotic topic. Perhaps a focus on areas of art other than drawing and painting, such as carving of some sort, would provide an opportunity to focus on some supplies that would actually be necessary for a beginner rather than simply superfluous.





Thank you!

Writing Article: What Art Supplies Would Make Good Gifts for Non-Artists?
How about those new colored pencils from Crayola that you 'twist' up like an eyeliner? I like them, they are super useful for so many things, and you don't have to sharpen them.
Reply:Carving can become very frustrating very fast (trust me), so I wouldn't recommend that for beginners. Clay, though--modeling clay is excellent for beginners. It's relatively cheap, it's completely hands-on, and it gets people thinking in three dimensions. Sculpey is a pretty reliable polymer-clay manufacturer, and they make clay in all sorts of colors.





You might also want to try out a fabric-dying method called batik. All you'll need is some cheap cloth, paraffin or beeswax, and dye (there's all sorts of cheap fabric dyes on the market--I think you can even use food coloring as long as it's not on cloth intended to be worn).





The concept of batik is that you paint a design on your cloth with wax--and wherever the wax is, there the dye will NOT be. (a website that explains it really simply --%26gt; http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?... )





Well, there's two ideas. I hope these help out!





Best Wishes!
Reply:For the youngest child...a simple coloring book and crayons. A pack of colored paper, scissors, glue and some fun stickers.


For the older child, I'd suggest a good book, like the one on the link below and a set of prepackaged art supplies that can be found at any craft store.


http://www.dickblick.com/zz686/08/?wmcp=...





For young adults, and I'm assuming you mean the 12-17 set? Or ev3en a bit older, say 15-19? The best way that I ever found to approach it was to give them something that meshes in with thier interests. For instance, if they are interested in music, then give them a book about "logo" art....soemthing that will help them create a CD cover, and a simple sketch book and pencil set. A craft kit, perhaps, one that gives them the essentials, but allows them to use their own sense of color to complete the project. I gave my daughter (aged 22) a set for creating her own faux stained glass art bottles....she loved it, and she isn't into art at all.





Intertesting question...good luck!
Reply:for teens a sketchbook with a unique cover, something suited to that person and a variety of different sized pens would work very well. a variety of colored markers or colored pencils to go with it may also be good, depending on the person- black and white seems to be in these days. A re-fillable water color brush-pen would be a good alternative for a more emo- teen.


For a non- artist doodling and sketching is the easiest thing for them to get interested in. alot of people doodle, in the margins of school work, or what ever, and haveing a book specifically for that might inspire them to do more. or spark some ideas.