It seems like at this time of year, every website and newsletter is offering advice (and affiliate links 😉). So I thought I should do the same, but with a twist.

Here’s a list of meaningful gifts to inspire generosity, connection, and creativity—all without opening your wallet!

1. Regift it: Go through your unused art supplies and pick out a few to pass on. Write a short note on why you like these materials or, if you never used them, what you intended with these materials and how the user might accomplish what you never got to do. It’s also a great way to empty your closet (and then buy more stuff!)
2. Change their life: Teach them something you love doing. Make a coupon for a time when you will teach an art lesson to a loved one or even a group of friends. Provide paper, pencils, and snacks, and let everyone create together. If you aren’t sure how to teach or even how to draw, just sit down with one of the lessons in my How To Draw series on YouTube, watch it together, and work through the exercise.
3. Illustrated Memories: Turn a favorite shared memory into a visual story. Sketch the moment, write a note, and share it with someone who was there—or someone who should’ve been. Variation: Spend quality time with someone and illustrate their story as they tell it to you.
4. Collaborative Artwork: Start a drawing, painting, or collage and pass it around among friends or family to continue developing. The result will be a piece you all own together.
5. Sketchbook Swaps: Exchange sketchbooks with a friend or family member to fill pages for each other. Return them at the end of the year as a unique, shared keepsake.
6. Artist Date: Invite someone to an artist’s date with sketchbooks in hand. Do some urban sketching, join a life drawing class, visit a museum, and then exchange your interpretations over coffee.
7. Live Portraits: Offer to draw someone’s portrait in real-time. It’s an unforgettable experience for both of you.
8. Portrait from a Photo: Upcycle an old picture frame and draw their portrait from a favorite photo. (Or their pet’s. Or their car’s. Or their favorite____’s ….)
9. Creative Pen Pal: Offer to be a creative pen pal for the year. Exchange sketches, poems, or doodles monthly—it’s a gift that keeps growing over time.
10. Home portrait: Type your loved one’s address into Google Street View, then do a drawing or watercolor of their home.
11. Fantasy Shopping Spree: Fold a piece of paper into an 8-page book (instructions). Then draw and write all of the things that you considered buying as gifts (make it as extravagant as you like: a trip to Tokyo, a new car, a facelift) but decided to give them this gift of love instead.
12. The gift that keeps on giving: Sign them up for a free subscription to Danny’s Essays. Then you’ll have something interesting to discuss whenever you’re in touch!

Happy gift-giving!

Your pal,

Danny