anefi asked:

What kind of stuff would be nice for an artist to get as a gift? Are there any penciling/inking tools that are generally fun to play around with before you settle on a favorite type?

I think it benefits every artist to have a good sable brush, and know how to use it. A good brush costs about $15-$40 depending on size and brand, and they make a wonderful gift. They are very challenging to use for a long time, but the control you develop through consistent brush practice will spill over into everything else you do.

Side note: whenever I bring this up, people try to lump traditional brushes in with brush pens, which is a mistake. Brush pens are a more convenient version of brushes, but far less versatile and skill-building. To put it another way, lots of brush pen users can’t use a brush, but all proficient brush artists can use a brush pen. Learn the brush first and be cool as hell!