Alex Kincaid Art Gift Guide 2025
Every week in my email newsletter, I share a "favorite thing." It could be a watercolor supply, a beauty product I love (everyone always asks about my curling iron 😂), a recipe, a book, or any other fun little thing that's bringing me joy.
This year, I’ve pulled them all together into one cheerful gift guide for Christmas 2025. Whether you’re shopping for a fellow artist, a self-care-loving friend, or just want to treat yourself, you’ll find something special here. ✨
Click a category below to jump to a specific category, or scroll through for some fun-filled inspiration!
(I saved this one for last since it's the longest list, but it's worth scrolling all the way, I promise!)
(This gift guide contains affiliate links for products I personally use and love, which means if you click on one of the links and buy something, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!)
My Top Recommendations
Don't have time to sift through the whole guide? Here are a few quick recommendations that pack a punch! These are some of my most-loved picks from each category, and I hope you'll enjoy them!
Lightbox
A lightbox is a must-have for easily tracing onto watercolor paper. If you or a watercolor artist in your life doesn't have one, this is THE gift to get them. It's so affordable but so useful!
Foot Rest
The artists in my community loved this recommendation. It's great for making painting more comfortable and enjoyable!
Arches 140lb Cold Pressed Watercolor Paper
This is the number one gift that any watercolor painter will love to receive. It's the highest quality paper out there, and you can never have enough of it.
Any of the Books on My List!
I've linked some of my favorite books of the year here. Any of these would make great stocking stuffers for the bookworm in your life!
Beauty
When I'm on camera teaching watercolor classes all day every day, I like to make sure I'm looking my best for all of you! That means hair done, nails done! 💅🏻 (And yes, that means when I'm off-camera I can be found with a messy bun and a hoodie 😉)
Here are a few of my favorite beauty tools that I use almost every day! I get questions about my curling iron so often, and I'm excited to finally share it with you!
Dazzle Dry Nail Polish
My hands are being filmed literally every day in my classes. And I like my nails to look cute! This nail polish brand is the BEST for DIY-ing your nails.
Face Ice Roller
Ever wake up with puffy eyes? This magical little roller instantly perks me up and makes my skin feel rejuvenated!
Nail Polish Case
Because I paint my nails so often, I needed a way to organize everything. Here's my favorite case!
Beachwaver (Curling Iron)
By popular demand, here is my curling iron I use daily!
Lifestyle Products
Here are a few little things that make my life easier and bring me joy. I hope they'll do the same for you!
List Notebook
I'm a pen and paper person, and this simple little notebook is where I keep a running list of all my ideas, sketches, and more. It's unlined, which allows for my particular brand of controlled chaos and constant doodling.
Cushy Socks
I'm obsessed with these soft, cushioned socks for all-purpose wear. They're so high-quality!
One-Line-a-Day Five-Year Diary
I love the concept of this little journal. You write one line a day, which takes the pressure off of daily journaling. But it still is a great way to document what you were up to that day or jot down something that was bringing you joy. It spans the course of 5 years, and I can't wait to have this to look back on!
Cozy Slippers
These orthotic slippers are perfect for lounging around the house while still getting good support under your feet! They're cozy and sturdy and I wear them all winter!
Lap Desk
Inspired by my great grandmother, I love a lap desk. It's great for propping up my iPad to read on the couch, bringing watercolor with me while I watch my favorite shows, and so much more. Here's my favorite one.
Durable Pet Toy
If you have pets, (especially if you have dogs who want to tear apart their toys) you're going to want to get this crab chew toy. It's the only brand that my dog Charlie can't immediately destroy!
Steam Inhaler
If you're ever under the weather, this little gadget is going to change your life. I use it every time I'm sick and sometimes even just when those seasonal allergies kick in.
Cozy Floral Candle
This little peony candle smells so nice and really sets the tone while I'm painting.
Foot Rest
This one is a crowd favorite. I use this little foot rest while I'm painting, working, sitting on the couch, you name it. It makes sitting for long periods of time so much more comfortable, and lots of members of The Garden Studio have said how much it's improved their own painting setup! It's great for those of us who are shorties.
Carry-all pouches
I don't know about you, but I have a lot of little bags all over my house. They're great for organization without having to think too much about organization. Plus, they come in lots of cute prints!
Bright Lamp
This lamp is so bright and makes any room light up even on the darkest winter nights. Great for painting after the sun has gone down and has adjustable brightness and light tempearture from warm yellow to cool blue.
Cube Productivity Timer
This little desk timer keeps me focused! You can set a certain amount of time and something about the analog nature of the clock makes me immediately get into focus-mode!
Games
I love board games! Here are a few of our recent favorites that I've recommended in my newsletter!
Rummikub
This is a great game for two players or more and it's easy to learn! Highly recommend for all ages!
Carcassonne
This is a fun strategy game with fun illustrations and an interesting storyline! We love opening this one up on the weekends!
Books
I am a huge bookworm, and you can always find me on the porch with my Kindle and a cup of coffee in the morning. So, of course, my first recommendation in this category is a Kindle! I love how portable it is and that all of my books are in one place.
Shop Kindles
I have one in this pretty sage green color!
And here are some of my favorite reads of the year! You can't go wrong with any of these lovely books!
Right now, I am just loving the Emma M. Lion books. Highly recommend!!
Art Supplies
Last but not least, here's the one that I know will be a crowd favorite - art supplies! This list includes my go-to watercolor supplies, plus some fun studio extras that I like to keep on hand.
Alex's Go-To Watercolor Supplies
High-Quality Paper Recommendations:
Brush recommendations:
I recommend that you mainly use pointed round paintbrushes. Having a couple Filbert brushes on hand gives you a fun way to make organic petal shapes, as well.
Princeton Heritage Watercolor Brushes in a variety of sizes
Inexpensive Brushes:
Paints I love:
Reminder: You don’t need to buy everything, but I’m giving you some options because some students will already have some of these colors and other students are starting from scratch. Take a few minutes to read the product descriptions, research, see what colors come in the sets, and plan your palette out.
Alex’s Actual Palette Has These Paints:
Great Starter Sets:
Other Great Art Supplies
Smooth, consistent, and easy to erase — these are my go-to for sketching before painting. They make it easy to get a clean outline without pressing too hard on your paper.
I use this when I want clean, fine lines without messing with a pencil sharpener.
This low-cost drawing pad is great for practice and for planning out your compositions. I wouldn't use it for final paintings, but it's a great option when you need to warm up before using the "good stuff."
This eraser is a must-have for watercolor artists. It lifts up pencil marks without damaging your paper. I literally use it every day.
I get asked about metallic paints all the time. This set is a favorite of mine. Fair warning - do NOT mix these on your regular palette. You'll never be able to get the sparkle out of your regular watercolors if you do!
Great for toting high-quality paper while you travel.
Speaking of travel, this set is great and compact when you're on the go.
I love this cup for plein air painting!
Sometimes you just need a little different texture than what you get with a round brush. This fan brush is a fun alternative to the traditional brushes I recommend.
If you need super fine lines, these brushes are the way to go!
A lightbox is a must-have for easily tracing onto watercolor paper. If you or a watercolor artist in your life doesn't have one, this is THE gift to get them. It's so affordable but so useful!
