topic Re: Help with a gift in Among Friends

Help with a gift

sue311 — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 17:41:37 GMT

My husband is always saying he can draw and he was very good in school. I want to give him a drawing set or maybe a painting set. Any suggestions. I looked at Michaels/Hobby Lobby but I am lost.

Re: Help with a gift

Stevie Nix — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 17:56:26 GMT

What medium does he prefer? If he likes only to draw then a nice set of charcoal or professional colored pencils, coupled with a sketch pad, would be nice. Don't buy him a paint set if he's not a painter.

Re: Help with a gift

haddon9 — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 18:00:07 GMT

If he likes colored pencils get a quality set like Prismacolor colored pencils. Not all colored pencils are created equally. They make beautiful sets!

Re: Help with a gift

sue311 — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 18:04:45 GMT

@haddon9 @Stevie Nix I have never seen him draw anything but want to get him started.

Re: Help with a gift

nyc1 — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 18:07:50 GMT

A set of beautiful art lead pencils would be nice. There is a huge range of softness/hardness. The "B" pencils are soft so you can have a 1B or a 6B, and the softer the pencil, the more he could work the line and smudge it. It also comes out darker and normally thicker than the "H" pencils, which are the harder range and much sharper and more crisp on the page. Pencils and a nice drawing pad would be a wonderful gift.

I was also going to recommend a Rapidograph, but those are somewhat costly and come in a range of various point thicknesses.

You're probably best off starting with the pencils to make sure he is enjoys taking up drawing once again.

Re: Help with a gift

haddon9 — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 18:06:33 GMT

I think it' a great idea! If you think he'll be happy with either pencils or paints I would opt for the pencils...much easier clean up and not as much work to set up!

@sue311 wrote:
@haddon9 @Stevie Nix I have never seen him draw anything but want to get him started.

Re: Help with a gift

RoughDraft — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 18:23:31 GMT

If all you know about his past experience is that he can draw and was very good at it in school, I'd start out with some good drawing pencils, gum erasers and several spiral sketch pads.

If he indeed picks up on it, it's best to start simple and not inundate him with various choices of mediums, i.e. paints, pastels, etc. which can be frustrating to a relative novice.

Re: Help with a gift

sue311 — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 18:24:58 GMT

@RoughDraft he has talked about a lot over the years but he is getting ready to retire so this is just one of the many things I want to get him.

Re: Help with a gift

RoughDraft — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 18:31:31 GMT

@sue311 wrote:
@RoughDraft he has talked about a lot over the years but he is getting ready to retire so this is just one of the many things I want to get him.

@sue311 That's why I suggested starting out with something simple If he hasn't ever demonstrated his drawing talents in the years you've been married, it's best to not spend a lot of money on materials at the outset. Drawing and painting is like any other talent. If not used, one gets rusty and it takes time, patience and practice to bring it to the forefront again. Staring at a plethora of art supplies can be daunting at first blush.

Good luck. I hope he will enjoy expressing his art once again.

Re: Help with a gift

aroc3435 — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 18:36:30 GMT

@sue311

Strathmore produces quality drawing paper and pads of paper.

If he is going to use graphite pencils and or charcoal also get him a kneaded eraser or two. There is soft--vine charcoal--and hard--or compressed charcoal. Using both types makes interesting effects.

The best fixative spray for his finished work is the Krylon brand. They have "workable" and permanent versions.

This is a very thoughtful gift that you've come up with.

Re: Help with a gift

kitcat51 — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 19:03:15 GMT

Derwent & Prismacolor have quality pencils that are reasonably priced. I recently gifted the Prismacolor Mixed Media set to a friend getting back into drawing after an accident, it has a nice mix of pencils.

Re: Help with a gift

GenXmuse — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 19:20:31 GMT

What a great idea! I might go to an art store where staff can give you some guidance. It might be more expensive but those people know their stuff as many are artists themselves.

Re: Help with a gift

chrystaltree — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 19:20:41 GMT

Did actually say that he WANTS to take up artwork again? I was into writing short stories when I was in high school and I was good. It's not something I would want to do now. Also there's difference between drawing and painting. Did he draw with pencils? Charcoal? If he wants to get back into it.....you have to know what "it" is.

Re: Help with a gift

Peaches McPhee — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 19:24:29 GMT

Drawing is different from painting, so be sure he really does have an interest in painting first. Google "art stores" in your area, to see if you can get some advice locally.

Re: Help with a gift

CelticCrafter — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 19:58:23 GMT

If he hasn't drawn since he was in school and is getting ready to retire, that's how many years ago?

I'd buy him a sketch pad and a box of colored pencils and see how it goes.

Re: Help with a gift

2blonde — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 20:14:41 GMT

@sue311 He may not be ready until after he's retired and has more time to play. I did a lot of drawing and painting when I was young, but life kind of took over and I haven't done anything in many years as well. I'm still working full-time, and honesty don't have the time or inspiration at this point.

I have a retired friend about my age that I met at my gym. He knew I worked at a college and asked me about art classes. He had worked as a machinist all his life and never had the time or inclination to develop his talent until retirement. In Ohio we have a program for 60+ where they can attend tuition free. I told him about it and encouraged him to register for a drawing class (everyone starts with that). I watched this man progress from drawing to painting to becoming an amazing artist. He's had many local shows and has sold many paintings. He spends all his free time on art now, and I feel privileged to have had a small part in it!

Re: Help with a gift

Shanus — Sat, 19 Oct 2019 12:27:00 GMT

Our Michael's stores have art classes as well as shops where you make your own pottery (draw/paint), they fire it and you pick it up finished the following week. Quite satisfying. You may want to google art classes/drawing classes in your area. I know we have an ArtCenter that offers beginning classes.

If you have doubts he'd attend, give him an IOU for class.

Re: Help with a gift

NYC Susan — Sat, 19 Oct 2019 22:58:54 GMT

@CelticCrafter wrote:
If he hasn't drawn since he was in school and is getting ready to retire, that's how many years ago?

I'd buy him a sketch pad and a box of colored pencils and see how it goes.

I think I might give him something similar, along with a generous gift card. And I might also plan a day of buying supplies, having lunch or dinner, and doing something else he enjoys.

It's probably best if he chooses what he would like rather than the OP simply guessing or relying on a salesperson who doesn't know her DH. Only he knows what interests him and how he'd like to fill his time. It actually might be fun for him to pick out what he wants. He may not be sure either, and he'll be like a kid in a candy store looking at all of his options.

Re: Help with a gift

sue311 — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 12:48:05 GMT

@chrystaltree you are so right about its one thing to like it in school, etc. Initally he was puzzled as to why I bought it but the next day its like it got him thinking about the stuff he wants to build and he can start drawing them. Not exactly what I had in mind but luckily I only bought him a sketch pad, pencils and an eraser. Thanks everyone as it was overwhelming inside the store.

Re: Help with a gift

qbetzforreal — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 15:27:45 GMT

@sue311- A sketch pad, pencils and erasers are a good start.