Hello everyone! I just realized this is my FIRST post of 2019! It’s been a while, but I had so much going on in my life. Things are kind of settling down now, so I had the time to write here. I want to share with you guys some things that have been happening and things to look forward to.

First of all, I started a mini project where I’ll be doing written interviews featuring Hmong visual artists! Basically, I wanted to share the stories of Hmong artists from all walks of life and ask them why they do what they do and how they do it. Looking online, I was barely able to find any interviews conducted featuring Hmong artists. Now that there are more Hmong individuals pursuing art, I feel there is a need to share their stories and experiences. My hope is that by doing this, artists can learn about one another and become aware of others doing work in the community. You can read the interviews here.

Secondly, some of my other projects that I’ve been working on is doing illustrations for a Karen children’s book for the Saint Paul Public Library and writing and illustrating a new graphic novel for Avenue A Books!

In May, I’ll be attending my first SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) conference! It’s basically a conference for authors, illustrators, publishers, editors, agents, or anybody involved or interested in the KidLit industry to come together to share ideas, learn, and connect. I’m hoping to learn a lot of things and network with individuals who also share a similar passion as mine for creating great stories!

Lastly, I’m hoping to restock my book inventory and maybe attend some local events to sell them! But I’ll update you guys when the time comes!

Again, thank you for supporting and following my journey as an artist!

–Duachaka

Hello everyone!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving break. Some of you probably even did some shopping for the holidays, while those of you who have your own business may find yourselves having to ship out things! So with that, let’s talk about how to ship artwork! Some of you may have your own art business or want to start one, but isn’t sure about how to ship out things. I remembered when I was first starting out my business, I didn’t know where to begin and had to do some Youtubing and Googling around. Although there are many things you can ship out as an artist (depending on what you make), I’m going to focus this post on how to ship out art prints and comic books/graphic novels/art books.

NOTE: Some of the services I explain in this article only pertain to those who live in the United States and might not pertain to those who live outside of the U.S.

1) Art Prints
There are several methods to ship art prints. Some people ship them flat while others ship them in a cylindrical shipping tube.

For flat artworks, I’ve seen people put the artwork into a clear plastic sleeve. Then what they’ll do is place the artwork in between 2 cardboard pieces that are slightly larger than the artwork. From there, they can put the cardboard pieces into a bubble mailer or large envelope and ship it. For larger pieces of artwork, some people would use a large cardboard box instead and place shipping peanuts, newspaper, or air cushions into the box to prevent the artwork from moving around.

For artwork placed in a cylindrical shipping tube, all you need is a tube with the appropriate dimensions, then you’ll roll up the artwork and place it in there. The only downsides to shipping in a tube is that some people don’t like their artworks rolled up, plus shipping in a non-rectangular package can cost a bit more money.

2) Comic Books/Graphic Novels/Art books
To ship books, you can do it multiple ways. I’ve seen people just put a book inside a bubble mailer and send it out. This is probably the cheapest and easiest route to take especially if you have a hardcover book. You can do it where you place the book between 2 cardboard pieces and then put it inside a bubble mailer or a regular large envelope. There are also pre-made cardboard book mailers that comes with scored edges that you can fold your book according to the size you need. And of course, you can put your book inside a cardboard box and include peanuts, newspaper, or air cushions along with the book to keep it in place.

*USPS also provides their Priority Mail flat rate envelopes and boxes that you can use to ship. This is helpful if you think you’ll be shipping out a lot of books and need to save on shipping.

*Tip for shipping out graphic novels: Whichever way you choose to package it, when it comes to shipping graphic novels, you can actually send your books using the USPS Media Mail service. It is a cost-effective way to send media and educational materials, as long as you have nothing else in your package besides books or graphic novels. Comic books (the floppy ones) can’t be shipped with this method due to the advertising included. With this method, there is a possibility of your package getting inspected in case you really aren’t shipping books. This method may also have a longer delivery time.

After that, you can create a shipping label and take your items to the post office to ship. If you want, you can also pay postage online and drop off your package instead.

And that’s it! I know shipping may be a pain and may not be the most fun thing to do, but it’s great to know that your package was put together by you and that it might be delivered in one piece.

WHERE TO PURCHASE SHIPPING SUPPLIES:
https://www.uline.com
https://www.clearbags.com
https://www.amazon.com
https://www.usps.com

BUYING POSTAGE ONLINE:
https://www.pitneybowes.com/us
https://www.endicia.com
https://www.usps.com
https://www.stamps.com

The months of November and December mark the celebration of the annual Hmong New Years. In the United States, Hmong communities from around the country would each host their own public events to celebrate the upcoming New Year. Traditionally, the Hmong New Year celebrates the end of the harvest season and was a time of gathering and feasting amongst family and friends. Nowadays, most New Year events consist of an entertainment program like singing and dancing competitions, kwv txhiaj (traditional Hmong folksongs), ball tossing, and various food and business vendors selling goods from clothing to jewelry to music and movies.

But we all know that one of the reasons to attend these events is the opportunity to wear Hmong clothes. As a child, I remembered my mom tried to sew my sisters and I a new pair almost every year; however, being young, I was that kid who did not want to wear Hmong clothes! I honestly thought I was not pretty in them and that it was too complicated to wear and take off (especially when using the bathroom). I also didn’t like to wear the Hmong hats because it concealed my hair and I thought that did not make me look pretty. Another reason why I didn’t want to wear Hmong clothes was because some of my Hmong friends didn’t wear it and I wanted to fit in with them. I thought wearing Hmong clothes would not make me cool. Growing up as a Hmong-American, I usually wore t-shirts and jeans and wasn’t used to wearing Hmong clothes that often (maybe once a year at most).

It wasn’t until I got older that I became more comfortable with myself and eventually grew to liking to wear Hmong clothes. Nowadays, Hmong clothes come in all sorts of styles and colors. The variety allows individuals to chose the ones that caters to them and their liking.

A few weeks ago was the Wausau Hmong New Year in my hometown. It was the first year in a long time that I wore a pair of Hmong clothes. It was also the first year that I put on Hmong clothes by myself. Usually my mom would be the one helping me. As I was putting on my Hmong clothes I enjoyed the process of layering on each piece. Each piece served a purpose and you had to put in on a certain way. The process of putting on Hmong clothes is an art form in itself.

My Hmong clothes were stored in a large black suitcase. I realized that I was probably going to wear these only once a year, so why not take them out? They were beautiful –so why not show them off?! For once, I was so excited to wear them. I picked the pair with the most sparkle and jewels embroidered on the fabric. And of course, you can’t forget to wear the money sash because you need that hear those coins jingling!

When I arrived at the Hmong New Year dressed in my Hmong clothes, I felt so proud and beautiful! I could not believe I used to be that kid who did not like to wear them. My mother once said, “You are only young for so long, so wear as much Hmong clothes while you still can.” And she is right. Now that I am a mother myself, I see the value in Hmong clothes and the meanings they hold. When my children grow older I hope to continue this tradition of dressing them in Hmong clothes for the New Years. Hopefully they learn to appreciate their culture and be proud of who they are.

Duachaka

Hello everyone! Today I’ll be talking about how to open an online store. This article is written particularly for artists and the platforms they can use to start selling their work online.

As artists, some of us may want to make money from our art or enable people all over the world to purchase our work, but where do we begin?

First of all, you’ll need merchandise! Whether that be art prints, books, charms, or any physical/digital goods. But how do you get these made? Well, with a simple Google search, you can find many companies that create art prints, books, phone cases, and all sorts of materials! Heck, there are even websites that will have these materials ready for you and all you have to do is upload your artwork! (Example: Society6 and Redbubble). Also, if you’re the type of person that don’t want to deal with shipping out to customers, these might be the right stores for you.

After you have your materials you’ll need to choose a store platform. Lucky for you, there’s so many options to choose from. Here’s a list of several online stores that you can use to sell your merchandise:

• Etsy
• Storenvy
• Gumroad
• BigCartel

Here are the stores that you can upload your artwork to and it can get printed on all kinds of materials (prints, t-shirts, mugs, phone cases, etc.):

• Society6 
• Redbubble
• Inprnt

Or you can create a store through store-integrated websites:

• Squarespace
• Wix
• Weebly
• WordPress

Please note that each platform has their own policies and fees, so please take the time to research and compare the different stores and see which one is the fit for you. Everything’s about trial and error, and if you don’t like how something works, you can always change platforms.

After you choose a platform to go with, all you got to do then is set up your store, merchandise, policies, and prices. From there, let people know that you have a store running and hopefully you can get your first sale!

I personally use Gumroad as my online store for now because I can sell PDF/digital versions of my books. Plus, I don’t have to pay a monthly fee and listing fee for each item that I put in my store. Gumroad does, however, take a percentage of your sales, but that goes for some of the other online stores. For my store I sell art prints and books (physical and PDF versions). I’m hoping to expand it and sell other merchandise in the future as well. The only downside of Gumroad is that it’s not super well-known, so you might not get as much traffic as per say Etsy or Storenvy.

If you are interested in checking out my online store, here’s the link: www.gumroad.com/duachakaher

Duachaka

I remembered thinking about this question a long time ago, like back when I was still in high school. I remembered getting promotional mailers from the Art Institutes and thinking to myself if it was worth it to go or if I could even get into one? I also didn’t know if I was able to financial afford it.

There are a lot of things to consider before deciding whether to go to an art school (or a college that offers an Art or Design major). For one, it isn’t for everyone. A lot of high schoolers get bombarded with the message that they have to get a college education to get a good job or career after high school. That isn’t always the case, especially for artists or designers. Sure, some companies may require you to have a technical or Bachelor’s degree, but if your portfolio work stands out, there’s a chance they might consider you anyways.

Nowadays, with the help of the internet, one can learn how to improve their craft through the means of taking online classes, watching video tutorials, and of course reading and learning from good old books. You can actually teach yourself how to draw better by using the resources around you and doing some independent study and/or life drawings. Not all great or successful artists attended art school, some were self-taught. If you are the type of person who can learn on your own or be self-disciplined, not going to art school can save you a lot of time and money.

Then what is art school good for then? Is it worth it to go into debt for an Art education? Well, that depends on your situation and what you want out of it. I was that person who went to college and majored in Art, specifically Entertainment Design. Why did I go you may ask? The answer at the time was simply because I needed to get a college education. I was a first generation Hmong-American college student and this was my chance to prove to my parents that I was capable of fulfilling their dream. They wanted all their children to go to college because to them they saw it as a means of success and because they themselves were never given this opportunity. I went because of their encouragement, but also, because I felt it was the right thing for me to do. I knew I didn’t want to go into the workforce yet, and I knew there was more to learn and explore. I also wanted to get better at my craft, so I applied to local universities and got accepted into the University of Wisconsin-Stout. I chose Stout because it offered my field of study, the type of community I wanted, and it was affordable. I was thankful things fell into place and I was able to afford it. I took every opportunity I could to fund my education, such as applying for grants and scholarship, and it all paid off. I spent four years at Stout doing my best in every course and taking advantage of what it had to offer.

One misconception people get about art school is that it is supposed to teach you everything there is to know about being an artist, and that is just not true. Sure, some colleges could probably offer more business classes for artists, but as much as they would like to teach you everything, there’s just too much to know that cannot be covered in such a short time. Most of us learn on your own after college, and that’s just a part of being an artist and a part of life! We do things, we make mistakes, and we learn from them.

What I did learn in college was you got to work hard to get what you want, and that it takes great practice and discipline to stay an artist. You have to treat your art like a job, otherwise it’ll never be finished. Being in art school pushed me to go beyond my comfort zone and to do things I wouldn’t have ever done on my own. I was able to try all sorts of mediums (such as screen printing, oil painting, and graphic design) and realized which ones were and were not for me. While in art school, I learned about the human figure and did a ton of figure drawings, which helped me improve my anatomy. Taking art and design courses meant being involved in critiques, which played a major role in improving my work. Art school allowed me to connect with professors and other art students that shared a similar interest as me. It enabled me to build life-long friends and partake in all sorts of experiences that I wouldn’t have gotten had I not gone to it.

So what does all of this really boil down to?

Go if you feel it’s what you need. Things will work out only if you’re willing to put in the effort to make it work. And if you go and don’t like it or things didn’t work out, it’s okay to leave.

Don’t go if you feel you don’t need it or if you’re unsure what you want to do yet; however, it’s never too late to go later in life if you decide to change your mind.

Simple as that.

Last updated: March 7, 2019

Growing up as a Hmong-American girl in a mainly Caucasian community, it was difficult to find books (particularly picture books, chapter books, and graphic novels) about the Hmong people or books featuring Hmong characters or experiences. Because of that, as a child I didn’t have an appreciation and acceptance for my culture.

When we don’t see ourselves portrayed in literature or the media, it feels like our stories don’t matter, or that they don’t exist, or that there isn’t someone going through the same things we’re going through.

For a long time, I didn’t bother with my culture. I thought that if nobody cared about it, why should I?

It wasn’t until college that I realized the importance of portraying diversity in books. I took a children’s literature class and learned that a good book can aide a child’s growth, and that books can provide answers to some of our issues and questions in life. Good books connect with our emotions and show the world in a way which we may never have imagined. When you portray diversity in literature, you have an ability to empower an individual, and when you empower someone you’re telling them that their voices matter. You’re showing them they are capable of doing things just like everyone else.

And so, I embarked on a mission to search for books that featured Hmong characters or Hmong-related subject matters. Over the years, I’ve compiled a list of published and self-published books with these qualities.

I hope that my list will continue to grow as I am certain there are authors, illustrators, publishers, and readers who feel it is important to have books for all children. I hope that children of the future will be able to open books and see themselves as heroes and learn to appreciate and accept who they are.

BOARD BOOKS

Kaum Tus Me Nyuam Ntses by Yee Lee

Ua Si, Ua Si by Mykou Thao | illustrated by Stephanie Ritter

Kuv Ua Tau by Mykou Thao | illustrated by Stephanie Ritter

Nyob Zoo by Pang Khang | illustrated by Mary Dominique Oliverio

PICTURE BOOKS

A Map Into the World by Kao Kalia Xiong | illustrated by Seo Kim

Nine-In-One, Grr! Grr! by Blia Xiong, Cathy Spagnoli | illustrated by Nancy Hom

The Greedy Couple by See Lor | illustrated by Duachaka Her

The Family that I Love/Tsev Neeg Uas Kuv Hlub by See Lor | illustrated by Duachaka Her

Clothes for See by Champa Lo

The Tiger in the Village by Pakou Vang

Once Upon a Time in a Faraway Land by Duachaka Her

Leej Twg Hlub Koj? (Who Loves You?) by Stephanie Xiong | illustrated by Vam Moua

Tougi the Toad by Gaonou Thao | illustrated by Sally Johnson

Superheroes (Phab Ej) by Pang Xiong | illustrated by Reji Maindrid

The Story of the Dog and Wolf by Lee V. Xiong | illustrated by See Thao

CHAPTER BOOKS

Shoua and The Northern Lights Dragon by Ka Vang

Pa Lia’s First Day by Michelle Edwards

My Country: My Lee Comes to America by Elmira K. Beyer

Last Updated: April 5, 2019

“In a 1974 National Geographic article, Lyteck Lynhiavu, a young Hmong Leader, was asked, “why virtually no Hmong become artists?” To which he responded, “The Hmong dream only at night…An artist must dream all day, and we don’t have time.” Festival organizers say that things have changed since 1974 – today the Hmong community has found time to dream and to realize their dreams as artist in a wide variety of disciplines.” Source

Here is a list of Hmong visual artists from around the world. Visual artists include painters, illustrators, photographers, graphic designers, cartoonists, sculptors, filmmakers, and much more. The names listed below are only a few that I have found. Feel free to suggest any that are not listed below, or feel free to add yourself! Just email me.

Adam Lee (MN) – Illustrator / Animator / Visual Development
https://www.instagram.com/ihuaj/

Adora Vang (MN) – Illustrator / Designer
https://www.adoravangdesigns.com

Anisha Yang (MN) – Handletterer / Designer / Visual Artist
https://www.anishayang.com

Aulora’s Crafts (CA) – Arts & Crafts
https://www.facebook.com/AulorasCrafts/

Bao Lao – owner of Ouji Studio (MN) – Illustrator
https://oujistudio.weebly.com/

Bert Lee (MN) – Graphic Designer
https://bertlee.myportfolio.com/projects

Boon Ma Yang (CA) – Fine Art Painter
http://bumahmongartist.blogspot.com/2007/02/fine-art-painter.html

Caitlin Xiong (WI) – Illustrator
http://hmoobdejntshiabart.wix.com/caitlinxiong


Cha-Ji – Graphic Designer, Illustrator & Photographer
https://cha-ji.deviantart.com

Champa Lo (NY) – Designer / Illustrator
http://www.champonit.com

Cho-Zero – Illustration
http://cho-zero.deviantart.com

Chou Her (WI) – Cartoonist / Illustrator / Animator
http://zuntxuj.deviantart.com

Choua Xiong (Tshua Xyooj) (WI) – Artist / Graphic Novelist
https://tshuax.deviantart.com/


Christina Vang (MN) – Art Director / Designer

http://christinavang.com


Cy Thao (MN) – Politician / Painter
http://chgs.elevator.umn.edu/asset/viewAsset/57ed9baf7d58aeea1d9043ac#57ed9d6b7d58ae3c7a9043ed

Daniel Yang – Illustrator
http://danielyangart.com



David Thao (KS) – Photographer
http://www.davidthaophotography.com


Dina Her (MN)- Painter / Comic Artist / Graphic Designer
https://www.facebook.com/dibnashawj

Duachaka Her (WI) – Cartoonist / Illustrator
http://duachakaher.com

Gaoshua Vang (MN) – Illustrator / Photographer
https://artbygaoshua.com

Hai Lo (MN) – Animation / Illustration
https://www.facebook.com/hailoart/


Houa Vang (NC) – Photographer
https://houavang.com

Hua M. Conry (WI) – Art Director / Graphic Designer / Illustrator
https://www.huaconry.com

Hue Vang (WI) – Digital Artist
http://huue.deviantart.com

Jennifer Tshab Her (IL) – Visual Artist
http://www.tshabher.com/
 

Jessi Xiong (MA) – Visual Development / Animation / Illustration
https://www.jeiyex.com

Jim Vang – Artist
https://www.facebook.com/JimVangArt/

Joanna Kangazoua Herr (KS) – Photographer / Graphic Designer
http://www.angsdesign.com/about/

Kangbao Thao – Owner of “Miv Nyuas Hmoob” | Arts & Craft
https://www.facebook.com/Miv-Nyuas-Hmoob-613916242278143/

Kao Lee Thao (MN) – Painter / Animator / Designer
http://www.innerswirl.com


Katherina Vang (a.k.a. Kat) (MN) – Fine Arts Portraiture Artist
https://www.maivabphotography.com

Kazua Melissa Vang (MN) – Artist / Photographer / Graphic Designer
http://www.mnartists.org/user/15347

KB Lor (MN) – Artist
https://artbykblor.com

Keu Cha – Comic Artist
https://keucha.deviantart.com

Khamsao Yang (WI) – Painter
https://www.facebook.com/artkys1


Khou Vue (MN) – Freelance Illustrator + Designer
https://www.instagram.com/khouvueillustration/

Kia – Illustration
https://katzmiao.deviantart.com


Kimberly Yang (MN) – Designer / Developer / Aspiring Illustrator
http://kimberlygyang.com

Lashia Lee (MN) – Artist
https://lashialee.deviantart.com


Lee Xiong (MI) – Painter & Digital Illustration
http://www.leexiong.com


Lee Yang (Elver-Lee) (MN) – Artist
https://www.facebook.com/elverleeart/

Linda Vang – Art/ Illustration / Craft
https://www.facebook.com/LindaVang-Art-Illustration-Craft-532722550183018/

Lor Lao (WI) – Artist
https://www.facebook.com/StudioLorLao/

Ly Kune (MN) – Artist
https://www.deviantart.com/lykn

Ma Ly (CA) – Painter / Educator
https://vernissagefresno.com/ma-ly/


Mai Chao Vang (MN) – Artist
https://www.facebook.com/maichaosart/

Mai Dao Thao (CA) – Photography / Digital Media
https://daoartblog.wordpress.com

Maikao Her (WI) – Cartoonist
http://shorenx.deviantart.com

Mai Koua Yang (MN) – Artist / Painter
http://www.kouamyang.com


Mai Lo Thao (WI) – Graphic Designer
https://dribbble.com/blahdee


Maiyer Jadeyon Thao (MN) – Artist
http://www.mjatdreams.com

Melanie Xiong (WI) – Artist
https://www.facebook.com/melaniexiongart/

Monkato Yang (WI) – Concept Art / Illustration
https://katosartdesk.tumblr.com

Nancy Her (CA) – Visual Artist
http://theartnher.wix.com/arts


Neng Thao (CA) – Scientist / Artist / Informal Educator
https://www.facebook.com/nengnow

Ngianhormua Yang (MI) – Illustrator / Designer
https://ngianhormua.carbonmade.com


Nicollazzi Xiong (MN) – Graphic Designer
https://www.rhymeswithpaparazzi.com

Nou Chee Her (WI) – Artist
http://tsim.deviantart.com

Oskar Ly (MN)
https://www.oskarlyart.com

Pang Khang (WI) – Photography
https://pangkhang.com

Pang Zong Vang (NY) – Artist
https://pangzvang.com/section/376609.html

Pao Houa Her (MN) – Visual Artist
http://www.paohouaher.com


Ricky Fang (a.k.a. Hooksnfangs) (CA) – Pinups / Cartoons / Comics
https://hooksnfangs.com

Sarah Moua (MN) – Filmmaker
http://www.sarahmoua.com

See Xeng Lee (MN) – Painter / Educator
http://www.seexeng.com

Sheena Vang (a.k.a. Pabgha) – Illustrator
https://www.instagram.com/pabgha/?hl=en

Shoua Yang (WI) – Printmaker
http://shouayangprints.weebly.com

Sieng Lee (MN) – Installation Artist / Graphic Designer
http://www.mcad-mfa.com/sieng-lee-graphic-design/

Song Yer Thao (MN) – Visual Artist
http://www.carbonmousestudios.com/carbon_mouse_studios/Song_Thao.html


Stacey Lo (MN) – Graphic Designer
http://staceylo.com

Stacy Lee Yang (MN) – Graphic Designer
http://651slydesign.wix.com/portfolio


Suzie Chang (CA) – Illustrator & Painter
https://www.facebook.com/suziechangart/?fref=ts


Tai Moua (WI) – Illustration
http://tailmoua.blogspot.com


Teeko Yang (MN)
https://www.teekoyang.com

Tony Pha (WI) – Filmmaker
https://vimeo.com/user33657686

Tori Hong – Visual Artist
https://torihong.com

Tou Her – Illustration
http://touher.com

Tou Vue – Comic Artist
http://www.twovoo.daportfolio.com

Tou Yia Xiong (MN) – Illustrator / Designer
http://www.tyxdraws.com

Tshua Xiong – Artist
https://www.deviantart.com/tshuax/

Txeu Ying Vang / Sébastien Vang (France) – Painter / Sculptor
https://www.facebook.com/Txeu-Ying-Vang-1593099220955149/?ref=br_rs

Txia Yang – Artist
https://society6.com/tsey

Vam Moua (CA) – Fashion Illustrator / Graphic Designer
http://muajtiagclothingco.weebly.com

Vanghoua Anthony Vue (Australia) – Visual Artist
http://www.vanghoua-anthonyvue.com


Vang Cheng Xiong (WI) – Artist
https://www.facebook.com/vxartwork/

Venla Vang (MN) – Arts / Crafts
http://venlaa.com


Victoria Kab Vang – Graphic Designer / Illustrator
https://www.victoriakabvang.com

Victoria Kue (PA) – Visual Artist
https://victoria-kue-f43f.squarespace.com

Xee Reiter (MN) – Visual Artist
https://www.facebook.com/Xeereiterink-619874244705792/

Yayao Yuying (USA) – Comic Artist
https://globalcomix.com/a/da-pow-

Yer Za Vue (OR) – Artist / Painter
http://www.yerzavue.com


Yinkong Vue (MN) – Animation / Illustration
https://www.facebook.com/yinkongvue/

Ziang Her (CA) – Design & Illustration
http://www.slantypearcreative.com

Hello everyone!

I’m always on the lookout for Hmong books and educational materials, not only for myself but for kids as well. I’ve compiled a list of businesses and products that feature such items. If you’re looking into gifting Hmong-related books or educational materials to someone this holiday, consider the list below. If I missed something you think should be on the list, please let me know and I’ll look into it. Thanks!

Door in the Mountain – Children’s books

Duachaka Her – Comic books

Hmong Baby – Books, Flashcards

Hmongprints – Book

Reading Karma – Children’s books

Shoua and the Northern Lights Dragon by Ka Vang – Chapter book

Skill Stacker – Children’s book

Zoosi – App, Flashcards

*If you are looking for more Hmong books to add to your collection, please check out my other blog post.

Hello all!

With the holiday season coming around the corner I thought I’ll post something a little different today. I’ve compiled a list of gift ideas for people who are planning to buy something for their artist friend/family member, but don’t know where to start! These are just a few things that I’ve come up with or would personally love to receive as a gift.

1) Tools – It never hurts to have more tools! Of course, these are our essentials to making great art! Depending on the type of medium your person uses or the level at which they are at in their career, you might consider purchasing some of these:

• pens
• brush pens
• pencils
• erasers
• markers
• brushes/brush set
• colored pencils
• watercolor/watercolor set
• ink
• paint
• paper
• sketchbooks
• drawing pads
• digital drawing tablet & pen
• laptop
• desktop
• scanner
• camera
• external hard drive

2) Gifts for the Workspace – Having stuff for the workspace is also an essential component of our art making. Maybe the person you’re gifting actually needs a nice place to work or a way to store their art supplies? Well, here are some things you can considering gifting:

• desk
• table
• chair
• bookshelf
• shelves
• lamp
• storage/filing cabinets
• wall art

3) Subscriptions/Memberships – I know I work with Adobe Photoshop and InDesign a lot, but to do so I must buy a subscription! If you know your artist uses an art service or might be interested in taking online art course, how about consider gifting them a membership or paying for their class? Below are a few examples:

• Adobe suites subscription
• Online art courses
• Tickets to conferences, conventions, or workshops
• Premium accounts (DeviantART, Patreon, etc.)

4) Books/Artwork/Miscellaneous – As much as we are artists, we are also art lovers and consumers! We are most likely fans of another artist’s work or collect items of some sort. If you know your artist friend/family member well,  here are some ideas of stuff to consider gifting:

• art books/“art of” books
• art prints
• posters
• plushies/toys
• stickers/sticker books
• buttons
• enamel pins
• patches

5) Gift Cards/Money – Yes, it never hurts to gift them a gift card! Chances are, the artist will probably have a better idea of what to get themselves. Here are some places where artists shop for art supplies:

• Michaels Arts and Craft
• Hobby Lobby
• Dick Blick
• Amazon
• Ebay

6) Something you created! – We love thoughtful handmade gifts as well, so if you’re on a budget consider making us something!

I hope this helps some of you out. Again, the holidays isn’t about just gifts! Gifting your time and attention is the most important gift of all.

Duachaka Her