2025 Art Supply Gift Guide

I’ve officially been running HALMAIL on Substack for 1 year. I told myself to just experiment and not put pressure on it to be anything in particular. I’ve seen it slowly take shape into something that’s like: Weekly-ish (often autobiographical) comics and handwritten missives where I share my observations on parenthood and life’s ups and downs, while raving about art supplies.

So I guess that’s good information to have. I’m going to continue experimenting and letting it take shape. It’s nice that it’s free. I don’t feel like I owe anybody anything, I’m simply grateful you’re here, and I offer you my art as a gift. I hope it makes your everyday life better in some way. I hope you try new pens and pencils and make your own art, and I hope that makes your life better, too.

This year, even more so than last year, I’m thinking about an “art supply” in a wide-ranging way. An art supply can be something you literally use to make art, like a pen, or something like a book that inspires you to make art.

Kuretake Zig Ai Liner Brush Pen

I was re-ordering recently and noticed on the page for the Kuretake Ai Liner it said “not for use on your eyes.” Apparently it was designed after eye liner brushes! Which now that I think about it makes total sense. I’m obsessed with this pen. A very fine, delicate look from a really sturdy brush pen. It looks and feels like you’re using an actual brush and ink. It’s very calligraphic and graceful. It’s waterproof!

It’s fun to draw cats, rain, foliage, anything wispy with the Ai Liner. Vary your pressure and go from an incredibly fine line to a thick brushy one. I feel fancy when I draw with it, but also childlike, in a nice way. It’s pretty and has gold decoration on it and would probably be an delightful gift for anyone who enjoys a cool pen. I’m sad to report they’re out of stock on JetPens (trying not to freak out about it getting discontinued) so we have to resort to Amazon for now ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

William Whale pencil case from Donna Wilson

UK-based Donna Wilson makes lovely, magical illustrated products like stuffed animals, knitwear, and cute goodies like this pencil case. Fill William Whale with some thoughtfully pre-sharpened colored pencils from Blackwing, throw in an artistic license and you’ve got yourself an absolute home run.

A fun bumper sticker

My husband Jack is, among other things, a true artist in the medium of bumper sticker. He really has a way with them! His bumper stickers are carried in cute lil shops across the country. A few weeks ago we spotted HELL AIN’T REAL in a museum bookshop in Columbus. He just released a new batch on Buy Olympia!

A blank board book

I stumbled across this interesting (possibly christian??) school supply store called Miller Pads & Paper when I was panicking about marbled construction paper being discontinued. They had it and I ordered like twenty pads of it which now cram my shelves.

Anyway, while I was perusing their site, I discovered they sell blank books, including board books! I immediately ordered one and made Billy Bunny, which is, you guessed it, about a Bunny named Billy. I love a blank book! So official. Order a couple and turn it into a fun bonding activity: let’s make board books! It’s nice that they cost like two dollars so you can just go crazy and not be too precious about it. Consider combining with a gift of COPIC markers which I can confirm work well on the board book surface.

My picture book, Eggasaurus

Did you know I illustrated an actual picture book?? It’s called Eggasaurus and it came out in 2022. It’s about baby dinosaurs and is silly and heartwarming and was a blast to draw. Some people have told me their kids demand to read it again and again at bedtime 🥹 Especially now that I’m a parent myself, it’s a true honor!

A beret

I have always found a beret to be validating of my identity as an artist. Even 12 years into my career, I wrestle with impostor syndrome constantly. But artist = beret, and I feel like an artist when I wear one. A cute artist!

I had a yellow beret for a long time and now I have a white one. They’re usually made of wool, so they’re warm. It’s easy to feel a bit silly buying a beret for yourself, so it’s a nice thing to be gifted. Maybe there’s somewhere that sells really fancy berets but this one from Kohl’s looks great and comes in nice colors. I like the green one.

Another validating and useful accessory? An apron.

A giant paper roll

Option 1: Give this to the artist in your life who might enjoy the encouragement to draw bigger & take up more space with their art.

Option 2: Bring a big roll of paper to your holiday gathering. Tape the paper down over the dining table and dump some crayons and markers out on it. Let the whole family doodle to their heart’s content for a day or two. Enjoy having something to do with your hands. Enjoy how kids and adults can participate equally. Enjoy seeing the handwriting and drawing style of your loved ones who don’t usually draw. Take some photos of stuff you want to remember and when you’re done, bunch it up and toss it in the trash!

A graphic novel / illustrated book

Graphic novels and illustrated books make great gifts! They tend to be more pricey, so it’s an exciting and indulgent gift to receive. Also, I think there are a lot of readers who haven’t gotten into graphic books YET but would love them if they were exposed to them by, say, being gifted the right one by you. Here are 15 graphic novels that might make good gifts:

1. For the creative - What It Is by Lynda Barry

2. For the dog lover - Fetch by Nicole Georges

3. For the animal lover - Sad Animal Facts by Brooke Barker

4. For the new or expectant parent - How to Baby by Liana Finck

5. For the Beatles fan - Fab4 Mania by Carol Tyler

6. For the sweet kid/ tween - Stepping Stones by Lucy Knisely

7. For the teen/ young adult - Am I There Yet? By Mari Andrew

8. For the punk - King Cat Classix by John Porcellino

9. For the Bigfoot truther - In Me Own Words by Graham Roumieu

10. For the true crime fan - Murder Book by Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell

11. For your parent or adult kid - What To Do When I’m Gone by me and my mom

12. For anyone you want to get to know better - A Proust Questionnaire by Joanna Neborsky

13. For the word nerd - The Elements of Style illustrated by Maira Kalman

14. For anyone who loves a good memoir - Ducks by Kate Beaton

15. For the romantic - Drawn Together by Olivia de Recat

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I hope you give art and art-related things this season, and shop small, for pete’s sake.

Thanks for being here,

❤️ Hal

• Here’s last year’s gift guide if you want to check it out.

• Here is where you can buy beautiful tee shirts that support Palestine relief efforts & other important causes.

• My prints, cards, etc. are sold at BuyOlympia.