BEYOND THE STUDIO GIFT GUIDE
For the independent working artist in your life
We’re so excited to share the inaugural Beyond the Studio Gift Guide!
Our collection of gifts range from the practical to the professional to the whimsical, all in support of independent working artists.
We had a lot of fun putting this together, especially since most of the suggestions were crowdsourced from you all on social media—you’ll definitely want to check out our Instagram post for even more gift ideas.
If you’re looking for a unique one-of-a-kind gift, not sure what to get that creative person in your life (or you ARE that creative person, and have a reputation to uphold!), we hope you’ll consider one of the following.
Below is a curated list of recommendations, all by independently owned small businesses, artists, & makers:
Hand-painted ornaments by Ashtyn Sibinski — $45
Spruce up your tree (get it?) with these festive holiday decorations that are charming, colorful, and artist-made!
Artistic bar soaps from Mt. Royal Soaps — $7.50 each
Soap that looks like art? Form meets function with these beautiful bar soaps from Baltimore-based Mt. Royal Soaps.
“Last Artist Standing” by Sharon Louden — $34.95
We can’t recommend the book series “Living and Sustaining a Creative Life” highly enough, and this latest edition features essays by thirty-one working artists over the age of fifty (covering all the topics we love to discuss on Beyond the Studio).
★ Sharon Louden was previously a guest on Beyond the Studio, as part of our BTS Book Club series!
Small paintings by Kristen Texeira — $150
Little paintings by New York artist Kristen Texeira feel reminiscent of the work of Etel Adnan, with their direct playful compositions and specific palette.
2026 illustrated riso-print calendar by Céline Moya — £32.00
Not only are these calendars by UK artist Céline Moya beautifully illustrated, they’re each made by risograph printing, so every month is an artwork in and of itself!
This whimsical Kusama Lamp by Jen Dwyer — $500
We love these ceramic table lamps by Brooklyn artist Jen Dwyer, each one personality-filled and unique. Check out the rest of her handmade lamps (with titles that pay homage to famous female artists), most ranging from $350-650, on her website.
Riso prints on hand marbled paper by Christopher Martin — $25
These risograph prints by Christopher Martin merge the art of handmade printmaking with his background as a tattoo artist—find these and numerous other prints, patches, and sculptural wall hangings on his website.
★ Christopher Martin was previously a guest on Beyond the Studio!
Walnut pencil cups by Forest Culture Design — $35
What better way to keep your desk or studio supplies organized than with a bespoke walnut cup from Forest Culture Design—even better, they’re sustainably made with scraps leftover in their woodshop.
Hand-painted flower vases by Eve Lippa — €65.00
Would you believe these are made out of cardboard? These hand-painted vases (with a water-resistant interior) by French artist Eve Lippa are quirky, colorful, and probably just what your home needs.
Handmade watercolor palettes by Maison Banane — $84
These vegan handmade watercolor palettes are a work of art themselves, made in Paris by Maison Banane. They come in pre-made sets or can be customized to your own color palette.
Illustrated cards by Mary Kim Naylor — £6.00
If you love dogs and whimsical illustrations, these holiday cards by UK artist Mary Kim Naylor are the perfect way to send seasons greetings.
Screenprinted t-shirts by Nick Aguayo — $100
These screenprinted t-shirts by LA artist Nick Aguayo are all varied and one-of-a-kind. Their interplay of color and pattern are as vibrant as his paintings, in wearable form.
Jessie Laura “Responsive Eye” series — $350
We love the transparency and shadow play in this series of work by San Francisco artist Jessie Laura, each one handcut cotton paper against a backless floating frame. They’d look dynamic under any lighting condition.
DALTOKKI candle by Tosha Jihn Art — $15
These small batch hand-poured candles are perfect for morning meditations, writing your morning pages, or as a thoughtful gift; lightly fragranced with rice flower, white tea and ginger oils.
We love when a boutique shop does the work for us of carefully curating a selection of colorful home goods by independent creative brands. The Minneapolis based Soundwoven Goods is full of “storied goods for a vibrant home” (and ships throughout the country).
Copper Sausage Brooch by Power Clash Jewels — $250
Have you ever seen a more beautiful bratwurst? The handmade jewelry of Baltimore artist Cindy Cheng (a.k.a. Power Clash Jewels) is better described as miniature sculpture, which makes sense given her background as a sculptor and installation artist. Browse the full collection of wearable sculptures and hand carved gems on her website.
★ Cindy Cheng is a two-time returning guest on Beyond the Studio! Check out our most recent episode.
“Secret Word” embroidery by Ciara LeRoy — $85
We love a slow reveal, and these embroidered pieces by Cincinnati artist Ciara Leroy are well-crafted with a sense of humor. Other “secret words” include WTF, OMG, and other nostalgic internet slang.
Hand-painted garden gnomes by YouNeverGnome — $15
These adorable and tiny hand-painted gnomes are perfect for your garden, potted plants, or holiday decor. Perfect for stocking stuffers and plant lovers.
“Season of Light” gift box by Lisa Miller Studio — $125
This lovely set of tea light candle holders and cards are all hand-painted by Santa Barbara artist Lisa Miller and would make an excellent holiday gift (you can also purchase the cards or candle holders separately).
“Scene Seen” by Micah E. Wood — $55
For the music lover in your life, this archival photo book offers a snapshot into Baltimore’s music scene, photographed over a span of eight years by Baltimore artist Micah E. Wood.
★ Micah E. Wood was previously a guest on Beyond the Studio (and may be again in the near future)!
Artwork Archive subscription — starts at $9/month
This inventory management platform is one of our favorite tools “beyond the studio” so why not gift a subscription to the artist that’s looking to get organized in the new year? Perfect for recent grads, emerging artists, or any artist thinking about archiving or legacy planning.
★ Artwork Archive has previously been a sponsor of the podcast, but this post isn’t sponsored—we just love their software. We aren’t even sure if this still works, but you’re welcome to try this link for a discount: artworkarchive.com/beyond
Don’t forget your co-hosts are working artists too!
Felt String Lights Garland by Close Call Studio — $80
Beyond the Studio co-host Amanda Adams (a.k.a. Close Call Studio) has a wide variety of felted objects including ornaments, catnip toys, home goods, and more available on her website. All hand sewn from her Baltimore studio, these felted string lights are the perfect low maintenance holiday decoration!
Small oil paintings by Nicole Mueller — $500
Beyond the Studio co-host Nicole Mueller has recently stepped back into oil painting, and this limited series of original works on paper represent the early stages of a new phase in her practice. All are done “alla prima” or in a single session, at her San Francisco studio.
THANK YOU for supporting independent artists this holiday season!
This will likely be our last newsletter before the end of the month, but we’ll be back early in the new year with new episodes of the podcast.
Wishing you a restful holiday season, renewed creative energy, and time with loved ones.