Kids or adults, experts or dabblers, sculptors love to receive presents related to their art. Encourage kids interested in claymation, wood carvers, jewelry makers, and other sculptors with these Christmas present ideas, and show an artist in your life that you are interested in their work.
Gifts For the Miniaturist or the Jewelry Maker
Miniatures and jewelry often require magnification. A stand magnifier or a small electric kiln make great gifts. Sterling silver clay and wire, and a few strands of semi-precious beads, or some unique glass beads would make any jewelry maker happy. There's also some wonderful mold making materials available for miniaturists and precious metals sold in small sheets.
Gifts For the Wood Carver
Wood carvers can use either power or hand tools, or a combination of both. If you have a store in your area that specializes in wood carving supplies, that is a great place to start. You don't need to be knowledgeable yourself, but explain that you're looking for a present for a wood carver, and the types of carving they do, the staff can help find a nice piece of wood and some appropriate wood carving chisels, mallets, knives, or a pattern.
It's also possible to gather wood yourself, keeping in mind that it needs to dry slowly for several months before it can be carved. The Sculpture Studio has a wood tutorial for those without a nearby store. Chainsaw carvers like the softness of pine, but harder woods are preferred by hand carvers. A new chainsaw, chainsaw blade, or a gift of having a blade sharpened along with a tree trunk will be welcomed by chainsaw carvers.
Sandpaper, stains, and oils used for finishing wood carvings make good stocking stuffers for the wood carver in your life.
Gifts for Clay Artists
There are many varieties of clay for sculpting. Some never harden, others air harden or harden in the low heat of a regular oven, others need to fired in a kiln. Clay can be homemade or purchased, and tools for working clay can be simple everyday objects or purchased from an art store.
Found Objects to Become Part of Sculpture
Some sculptors specialize in re-purposing found objects into sculpture. They are happiest surrounded by other people's junk, envisioning it as something entirely different. Before throwing out items well past a useful life, offer your discards to a sculptor that works in found objects. Or rescue interesting objects from the dump, throw in a bucket of nuts and bolts, and you may get a whimsical yard sculpture in return.
Sculptors who work in metal use welding torches and spray paint. Arc welders and accessories like fire resistant aprons and eye protection are good accessories an artist may need or want.
Creating sculpture for a hobbyist or professional artist satisfies a creative need. Receiving the encouragement of family and friends through creative Christmas presents is a gift any artist would love. A gift of sculpture tools and materials may just spark creative happiness.
Corinne Shibley - Corinne Shibley studied sculpture in art history and created her own sculpture on the way to a B.A. in Studio Art. "There's something ...
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