The Best Gifts For New Digital Artists

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Welcome to Our Gift Guide for Digital Artists!

Digital artists create their masterpieces with the help of technology and software. Using a computer, and most times, a writing tablet, they can sketch, draw and paint by freehand or using various drawing software.

The art can be uploaded to websites, shared on social networks, entered into digital art contests, printed in posters and more. Just like other artists, they're only limited by their imagination.

For new digital artists, they will need a handful of quality equipment to make quality art.

My son is a new digital artist; he's been an artist in various medias since he was in elementary school. Now a high-schooler, he's transforming his paper/pen art to the computer. We did some research, talked to his digital art friends, and found the best equipment. We chose art tools that are quality made, had great features, and could be categorized in the middle price range.

For example, we researched cheaper computer tablets, but we decided on the middle range Wacom Bamboo tablet because of the features, quality and cost. I didn't want to buy something really inexpensive that wouldn't include cool art software or wouldn't last. Wacom Capture tablet includes two art software programs and is well made.

On the other side of the spectrum, you can also find art tools that cost hundreds (or thousands) of dollars. Our focus wasn't on the high-end tools, especially since my son is just beginning his digital art interest.

If you know a budding digital artist, you can help them by buying them the best graphics art gifts on this page.

Photo courtesy of Christmas graphics-plus.com

Create Your Own Masterpiece with Digital Art

Computer Drawing is Fun and Easy with the Right Tools

My teenage son has always been an artist. He started like most, with drawing on pen and paper, then experimented with different mediums, such as painting, photography, sculpture, and metal to name a few. He's always had a good eye and a huge imagination. When he was young, he quickly tired of the coloring books that friends bought for him. They were too 'confining' for his imagination -- he wanted to draw his own designs!

For the last few years, he's been a self-taught stop animation film maker, which has transformed into live action filming.

A few of his friends are really interested in graphic, computer or digital arts, and he returned to his original love of drawing. It's simple when your art tools are paper and pencil (or colored pencils or paint), but he was really interested in creating the drawings online with his computer.

He researched what equipment he'd need to create digital art, and we're on a quest to get everything on his list. That's the foundation of this page -- to share what we've learned and recommend the best digital art tools for your new artist.

Here are the absolute basics -- a computer graphics pen tablet, art software, a computer (desktop or laptop) and a printer.

Our son has a laptop, a wireless printer and free art software. We researched what products he'd need to create quality works of art. Here is our list on the best gifts for your digital artist! Enjoy!

Graphic or Digital Art is a Popular Artform

Imagination and a few computer tools can transform you into a digital artist

Are you new to creating digital art? Are you ready to use these tools to create something for yourself? Or are you looking for the best art tools for someone you love?

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Drawing Tablet

Digital Art: Wacom Graphics Tablet Recommended

Find out why Wacom Capture is Our Choice Tablet

The Wacom tablets are known for their quality and ease in creating digital art forms. It allows the artist to create their own work by using a digital tablet, pen and art software. It has a huge bonus in computer art in that the tablet's surface can be "tilted" virtually, so the artist has more control than the perspective in a flat drawing screen.

This Wacom tablet also includes the best art software - Photoshop Elements, AutoDesk Sketchbook Express and Nik Color Filter. It also lets you mark up Word documents and edit photos.

Take your art to the next level and buy a Wacom Capture art tablet.

Wacom Bamboo Capture Pen and Touch Tablet (CTH470)

Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 05/30/2012)Buy Now

Quality tablet with art software INCLUDED in the package! It's reasonably priced compared to those that can run hundreds of dollars.

The Latest on Wacom Bamboo Tablets

Graphics Tablets News

Get reviews, news and deals on one of the best in graphics tablets -- Wacom Bamboo tablets.
Review: Wacom Intuos5 Touch Medium Pen Tablet
The Tablet Control Panel utility lets you customize the multi-finger settings. By default, you can use your fingertip to navigate in the same way you navigate with a pen or mouse (Wacom's lower-priced Bamboo pen tablet already had this feature).
Wacom Intuos5 tablet: Good for power users, daunting for everyone else (review)
By Ricardo Bilton | May 24, 2012, 12:57pm PDT Summary: Wacom's Intuos5 tablet is a wonder for professional users, but might be a bit daunting for those looking for something with a less demanding feature set. First things first: Wacom's Intuos5 tablet ...
Wacom Stylus Duo Review: The World's Best Tablet Pen? (PHOTOS)
Both should be used. At once. So how does the Bamboo Duo perform? Pretty great, it turns out. Wacom's pedigree in graphic drawing doodads is near unmatched. The company owns the graphic design tablet market, from consumer to pro levels, and has a good ...
Wacom Tablet Deal: 15% Off, Buy Wacom Bamboo Create Pen and Touch Tablet For ...
Well look no further than today's amazing deal on the Wacom Tablet where you can buy the Wacom Bamboo Create Pen & Touch Tablet right now for only $169.99, a 15% discount from it's original retail price of $199. It's time to start expressing your inner ...

Wacom Bamboo Tablet Review

Watch Wacom Tablet Reviews and Graphic Arts

Check out the reviews on Wacom Bamboo tablets before you decide on exactly what your digital artist needs. The most versatile of the medium-priced drawing tablets are the Wacom Connect, Capture and Create tablets.

Also, you'll see how a digital photo is created using these tablets and art software. Amazing!!
Wacom Bamboo Connect Pen Tablet Review - Connect, Create, Capture
by dipmvideos | video info

916 ratings | 65,258 views
curated content from YouTube

Art Software

The Best Graphics Art Software for Digital Artists

Digital Designs Are a Breeze With Art Software Programs

Some of the Wacom tablet (like the Bamboo Capture tablet) includes Photoshop Elements (though an older version) and Autodesk Sketchbok in the tablet. You can also add some art programs to your computer for even greater art abilities.

Here are our choices on the best graphics art software.
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Find art software deals on eBay

PS: For every sale we donate $1 to Room to Read

One of the best places to find deals is on the auction site, eBay. Check out the deals on Art Software! If you see something you like, hurry and bid! These are updated daily, so don't miss out on the deals!
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Computer ~ Desktop or Laptop

Best Laptops for Digital Artists ~ Toshiba Satellite Laptops

The Toshiba Sallite laptops are our family's favorite laptops. It has a tru-brite monitor for clear graphics, good hard drive and dual core processor (to help run art software). Check out these deals on Toshiba Satellite laptops.
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Best Computer Desktop for Digital Arts

HP Touch All-in-One Touch Monitor

This is on my son's wish list for his new digital art studio. It has a hard drive, high-speed processor and a nice 20-inch touch-screen monitor.

The HP Touch features:

4GB RAM memory
1TB Hard Drive
SuperMulti DVD Burner
AMD Radeon%u2122 HD 6410D integrated graphics

It also includes exclusive touch screen programs, including HP Smart Touch Video, Photo and Music

HP TouchSmart 320-1030 Desktop Computer - Black

Amazon Price: $699.44 (as of 05/30/2012)Buy Now

Touch screen is a nice feature, including special programs for touch Music, Photo and Video. It offers a 1TB - big hard drive. The all-in-one design is stylish. Fast with lots of memory will be perfect for setting up your digital design studio.

Wireless All-in-One Printer

Best All-in-one Wireless Printer for Artists 2012

Kodak All-in-One Printer Provides Wireless Printing with Low-Cost Ink Replacement

Kodak is one of the best in printers, especially in creating a printer that has the lowest cost in replacement ink. That's a huge benefit in our house and for anyone who will be printing their digital art. It automatically senses the weight of the paper, so you can print on regular computer paper, stock paper, photos or other specialty paper.

This one has a flat-bed design, which allows you to print, copy, scan and fax -- all in one! It's wireless, so you can create your art in one room and send it to the printer wirelessly. You can also save your masterpieces to a memory card and insert the card into the printer.

It's easy to set up with a walk-through menu and CD for connecting your computers wirelessly. You can also connect the computer by USB cord, if you want to.

Our family recommends this as the best printer for artists.

Kodak ESP 2170 All-in-One Printer

Amazon Price: $83.00 (as of 05/30/2012)Buy Now

Lots of benefits including memory card reader, wireless printing, flat-bed design, and low cost ink replacement!

Honor Graphic Artists with These Fun Tees!

Whether a future graphic artist or experienced one, they'll love these clever graphic artist t-shirts.

Future Computer Graphic Artist Toddler T-Sh

A computer "artist" complete with art palette on the front of this tee with the words "Future Computer Graphics Artist" ~ perfect for your young one.

Price: $14.99 Buy Now

This Is My Brush Jr. Jersey T-Shirt

A computer mouse on a mouse pad sits front and center of the words "This Is My Brush" ~ fun for graphic artists.

Price: $23.74 Buy Now

BusyBodies Graphic Designer Organic Cotton Tee

Cute, stick figure sits at his computer desk with the t-shirt caption "I Design."

Price: $25.99 Buy Now

Graphic Designer Rock Star Women's T-Shirt

Caption: "Graphic Designer by Day
ROCK STAR by Night"

Tee has a gold star in the center, a perfect gift for your Rockstar Graphic Artist.

Price: $24.99 Buy Now

"oh, crop" Dark T-Shirt

Graphic art humor ~

"Oh, crop"

Price: $24.99 Buy Now

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Ready to create your art masterpiece?

Make This Season an Artful and Happy Holiday!

  • GypsyOwl Apr 26, 2012 @ 8:30 am | delete
    I am a digital artist and I love your selection of digital drawing tools. These would make great gifts for beginners and professionals alike.
  • RinchenChodron Mar 4, 2012 @ 7:45 pm | delete
    I'm learning digital design right now - I've just received my own Photo Shop Elements. Wish me luck.
  • unholyscribe Feb 10, 2012 @ 8:28 am | delete
    Hi Jennifer
    Great lens and as a digital artist I use a drawing tablet for all my digital art. Plenty out there to buy and some of the lower priced drawing tabletshave similar specifications to the more expensive drawing tablets and perform just a s well, but great lens on a great subject.
  • BarbRad Jan 8, 2012 @ 1:40 pm | delete
    Thanks for this information. Now I can add a digital drawing tablet to my wish list.
  • Tipi Jan 4, 2012 @ 1:19 pm | delete
    Wonderful gift choices for digital artists and blessed!
  • sandyspider Dec 24, 2011 @ 10:02 am | delete
    The drawing tablet is on my Wishlist. Have to wait a day to see if Santa brought it. Wonderful lens for digital artistes out there. Blessed! Please add this to my Christmas Gifts and Blessings lens.
  • Jewelsofawe Dec 23, 2011 @ 3:07 pm | delete
    Two of my girls would like this. They are artists and do digitally draw as well as using pencils and other things.
  • Judy_Filarecki Dec 18, 2011 @ 2:26 pm | delete
    I love the Wacom Intuos4 for art work. thanks for the info.
  • LaraineRose Dec 17, 2011 @ 6:15 am | delete
    I like to draw but never tried a tablet. I'm going to investigate these. Thank you for the information. Blessing.
  • yano_jl Dec 8, 2011 @ 2:27 pm | delete
    Great stuff Jennifer - I have some creative people on my Christmas list who would enjoy many of these gift ideas. thank you!
  • papermotor Dec 8, 2011 @ 11:44 am | delete
    Yes, Wacom is the best tablet. Big screen is also important to draw free, or the best solution is use two monitors with a dualhead graphic card.
  • jimmyworldstar Dec 4, 2011 @ 7:11 pm | delete
    For my son when he started digital artwork, I got him some programs like Adobe Photoshop and a Wacom tablet so he could draw onto the computer using a pen. It's important to have a big computer monitor too because it makes working a lot easier by viewing more detail at a time.

by

JenniferAkers

Before I buy anything new, I research the product, reviews, and friends' recommendations. My son is a new digital artist, and we both searched the net... more »