 A letter to Santa from an artist, story and illustrations by Sandy Almok. On the night before Christmas, Santa dug through his bag to find gifts for artists to see what he had. Was what he was giving to be a delight? He wasn't an artist, what if he wasn't right? Let's see what he's got and assess what we think before he makes mistakes and gives things that stink. An artist with Copics needs colors for perfection. Gift cards are just right to fill in her collection. Oh what creative hurdles an artist could clear with a Copic airbrush and compressor this year. Please wrap up some cardstock, a ream or a pack, and for that red stocking a white pen or black. A class to learn skills would be quite a ball. From jumpstart to blueprints, a gift card fits all. A sketcher needs pencils from H to 9B to create depth in sketches. A whole set will bring glee. How about sketchbooks? All things to draw on. From tone gray to white, Santa cannot go wrong. Stocking stuffed with erasers of all kinds are needed. Needed black and white, remove mistakes repeated. Watercolorists will love pretty paints in a tube, but if beloved colors aren't known, Santa, what will you do? Here are ideas for unique colors to try. Nickel Azo Wisteria, Lunar Blue for Night Skies. Amethyst Genuine, Cascade Green Christmas Trees, Kyanite for Blue Sparkle, Thalo Blue Turquoise will please. For small format painters, cold press and rough pads are always beloved, paper never goes bad. Full sheets of paper are tough to get wrapping, but 10 sheets with a bow will make painters so happy. Blocks of arches or saunders are a treat off the hook, or go a step further with a custom sketchbook. To delight a fine artist, sable brushes abound, Windsor Newton or Da Vinci, a needle or round. Synthetic blends for beginners are quite a good fit, plus Santa's budget will not therefore take a big hit. Crafters with collections of stamps are served best, with gift cards to buy what they love over the rest. A few things they'd enjoy are rainbows galore, whether ink pads or paper, they can always use more. If you have a full wallet, oh Santa, come clean with a misty, a gemini or a foil press machine. Please provide an artist with a rainbow in a tin, pencils to color with would be a win. When you nod your head and turn with a jerk, leave us a lovely gift of a favorite artist's work, whether by Anita Jerome or good ol' Bob Ross, a coloring book gift would make you a boss. Santa, if these ideas are burying you in tedium, here's one that we'd all love, no matter our medium, a beautiful fountain pen and a bottle of ink and a journal or sketchbook to jot down what we think. All artists make marks and an elegant pen turns those into artist's renderings now and again. Santa, I have but one last thing to ask. Could you wrap a little inspiration for me in your pack? Merry Christmas!