Color wheels, books, and accessories are very popular with our artists. That's because there are so many ways of thinking about color, depending on how you will use it (mixing paint differs from mixing colors of light, for example) and what you're trying to communicate.

Fun fact: Our color wheels are made by Color Wheel Co., a small business in Oregon. We're proud to work with dozens of small manufacturers to stock our shelves.

These easily-mixable sets are made by Federal Color, our in-house manufacturing operation. Optimist is our permanent pigment ink (similar to india ink) and Tonic is our best-selling watercolor. They're both made with high-chroma pigments that make color theory easier.

Sashiko is an ancient form of embroidery from Japan. It's easy to pick up (just grab one of our sampler cloths, a pack of needles, and a skein of thread) and addictive once you get started.

If your favorite artist is into needlecraft or fiber arts, try picking out a few sashiko supplies for them. You might just get a cute throw pillow in return.

Book lovers love our Bookshop. We carry a specialized assortment of titles on art, culture, and theory — to tickle the brain and generate new ideas. Here are our top 12 picks for gift books this year (and even more to browse in the stacks.)

A paintbrush is like an extension of the artist's hand, and each one offers a different set of gestures. We're proud to offer the lovely, handcrafted brushes from Tintoretto Pennelli, an independent Italian manufacturer.

These brushes are quite different in quality — their precision, shape retention, and absorbency — than anything available at the big-box stores. Your recipient will ask where you got them; do us a favor and tell them, please :)

In the few years since Kakimori (a small company in Tokyo) introduced their revolutionary dip pens, the industry has rushed to copy them and make them cheaper. None of the imitations compare to the original, which flows from thin to thick lines with the subtlest flex of the fingers.

We know some folks who like to give all stocking stuffers, because small presents means more presents! Personally I like to mix big gifts with small gifts, so that the recipient doesn't know what to expect next.

They certainly won't be expecting our array of unusual stocking stuffers, from imported travel brushes to pencils that look like dynamite sticks. This is definitely one where you'll want to shop the full collection...

Amigurumi are lil' stuffies that crafters make with yarn. Starting with a knitting or crochet pattern, some yarn, and some stuffing, you can craft one of these guys in a weekend.

An amigurumi kit is an ideal gift for anyone who knows how to knit or crochet, because it's a stand-alone project they can do between sweaters and shawls.

Since the sixteenth century (yes, that's 400+ years) they've made fine art paper in central Germany. Near Dassel, quick-flowing mountain streams pass near the mill, and these natural flows have powered paper production for centuries.

For sketching, try giving your favorite artist a pad of Hahnemühle Bamboo Sketch or Skizze 120. For mixed media, there's Nostalgie and D'Aqua. And for watercolor, Hahnemühle boasts a huge range of options, including their best-selling 100% cotton journals.

We've heard from so many customers who are passionate about mending broken things. It's not just a sustainability practice (although it is) — mending is also an expression of artistic style and a way of connecting to the things around us.

Every studio needs its special comforts. We like to bring scent into our art-making spaces by lighting incense, using nice soaps, and even sharpening scented pencils.

We carry models for writing and drawing. Many fountain pens are compatible with converters, which allow them to work with bottled inks from a wide range of different brands.

Pro tip: make sure you get them some extra ink.