The Texture Lovers Gift Guide


Us designery illustrator creative types are notoriously difficult to shop for. How do you find the perfect gift for someone who will happily agonise over the difference between a 15 & 17lpi halftone screen? To get you started we've curated this handy gift guide for the textural enthusiast with a heavy emphasis on gifts from independent artists, makers, studios and publishers.

 

PART ONE: NOTEBOOKS, SKETCHBOOKS & PLANNERS

Potentially clichéd yet always a winner, the sketchbook is a classic creative gift and with just a little inspiration from outside the standard (but admittedly great) Moleskine or Feld Notes offerings, there's gift givers gold to be found.



Test Print Sketchbooks by LandLand

These beautifully bound 80pg sketchbooks feature covers crafted from an assortment of unique test prints from LandLand. Not content with chopping up test-prints and slapping them on a note book LandLand's Dan Black & Jessica Seamans meticulously edit out the shitty bits, curating the covers so no two sketchbooks are the same. In their words it's a 'get what you get' kind of situation. Y'dig? While you're visiting check out their incredible body of work including illustration, gig-posters and art-prints.

$10 each or 3 for $25
Shop: LandLand

 

 

The Necessary Planner from Poketo

If Google Calendar or Teux Deux isn't quite analogue enough for your planning needs then the Necessary Planner from Poketo is for you. Featuring a subtly textured cloth cover and meticulous internal design, the Necessary Planner features well spaced timestamps, daily, weekly and monthly formats along with extra pages for notes and sketches when a napkin just won't suffice. 

$36
Shop: Poketo

 

Magma Sketchbooks by Lawrence King

These 152pg sketchbooks are available in two sizes and four different editions tailored for a variety of creative disciplines including Design & Art Direction, Art & Illustration, Fashion and Film & Animation. Thoughtfully designed and sturdily bound Magma sketchbooks feature 96 pages of smooth, off-white paper, 16 pages of thick, textured craft paper plus 16 pages of detailed notes and reference info specific to each discipline such as standard brush sizes, pencil grading, paper sizes, anatomy and typographic glossaries to name a few. 

From $9.95
Shop: Magma or Lawrence King

 

PART TWO: POSTERS, PRINTS & PINS.

Hang it, wear it, pin it. An art print, poster or wearable is never anything but a great gift idea and there's so much great independent work out there it's goddam near impossible to pick just a few. Here's some deliciously textured picks.

 

GIG & MOVIE POSTERS BY YOUR CINEMA, WBYK & CATHARSIS

Nothing completes a home or studio space like the textural fan-boy or fan-girl delights of a meticulously crafted silkscreened poster. Current faves for this holiday season are (Left to Right) Black Rebel Motorcycle Club by Your Cinema - $25, The Matrix by We Buy Your Kids - $30 and Tame Impala (Milwaukee Show) by Catharsis -

From $25
Shop: Your Cinema | We Buy Your Kids | Catharsis

 

LIMITED EDITION ARTIST PINS FROM STUPID KRAP

Founded by renowned Artist Ben Frost in 2005 as a limited edition print concern, Stupid Krap has added artist pins to their catalogue for 2016, hosting their first major Pin exhibition, Pinzilla. Give a little piece of independent art with pins from giants such as Jon Contino, The Hungry Workshop, Aaron Craig, Gemma O'Brien, Denial, Staybold, Kelly Rule, Broken Fingaz, Anthony Lister, Morning Breath, James Jirat Patradoon, Ryan Ady Putra and more.

From $10 AUD
Shop: Stupid Krap

 

 

RISOGRAPH ART PRINTS BY TAN & LOOSE PRESS

Founded by Chicago based illustrator and designer Clay Hickson, Tan & Loose Press is an independent publisher of limited edition artist prints and zines. In Clay's own words Tan & Loose pride themselves on producing medium quality, Riso printed ephemera for the tasteless art collector. Be that as it may, Tan & Loose's annual print show Tan Lines is always one to look out for. Featuring sought after artists such as Cody Hudson, Nathaniel Russel and Luke Pelletier, T&L have a limited number of prints available from past shows, ready for you, the discerning gift giver. 

From $10
Visit: Tan & Loose Press.

 

PART THREE: BOOKS & MAGAZINES.

 

Can't go wrong with a well chosen book right? Here's three top picks to inspire and delight he texturally minded creative in 2017. 

OMG POSTERS: A DECADE OF ROCK ART.

It's no secret we're big gig-poster fans here at TGTS and OMG Posters curator Mitch Putnam's first foray into the publishing world is a banger with 208 oversized pages of gig posters from over 40 independent artists and illustrators celebrating the current state of the gig poster scene. 

From $30
Shop: OMG Posters: A Decade of Rock Art.

 

LITTLE WHITE LIES SUBSCRIPTION

Founded in 2005 by TCOLondon, Little White Lies is an independently published magazine committed to championing great movies and the talented people who make them. Combining cutting-edge design, illustration and journalism the magazine is currently art-directed by designer, illustrator and textural wonderboy, Timba Smits and regularly features some of the worlds best illustrators working in the field today. 

Six Issues: £29.00
Subscribe: Little White Lies

 

NEW RETRO FROM VICTIONARY. 

New Retro is a stunning compendium of contemporary design created for the present whilst drawing from the past. Whether it is to tie our contemporary culture with stories of former times, or simply to manifest a love for the good old days, this book serves as a testimony that memories and aesthetic ideologies are always something we can return to for comfort and warmth. New Retro features the best of contemporary heritage inspired design including over 600 logotypes and wordmarks. Featuring work by some of the worlds best studios and independent designers, New Retro is a must have gift for the grain lovers who roam amongst us. 

From $35. 
Shop: Victionary

 

PART FOUR: FOR THE STUDIO.

Give them a little somethin' somethin' to brighten up their studio space or simply get them through the day with these office accessories picks. 

 

PREMIUM LEATHER MOUSEPAD FROM UGMONK.

Starting out as a side-project in 2008 by designer Jeff Sheldon, Ugmonk's expanding range of leather goods now include Chemex Coffee maker sleeves, Bags, Wallets and this Premium Leather mousepad in a range of colours. The thick full-grain leather will slowly transform over time as you use it and take on a unique wear pattern according to your individual use. As a bonus, Ugmonk are donating 3 meals to orphaned kids for every item purchased through Dec 31. 

$36
Shop: Ugmonk


DESKTOP CALENDAR FROM TELEGRAMME PAPER CO.

This desk ready calendar contains 12 new textural type illustrations crafted in-house by Bobby and Kate at Telegramme Paper Co. Featuring a functional monthly design with space for notes, the calendar also contains seasonal holiday dates and comes packaged in a beautiful string-bound envelope making it an ideal gift to brighten your favourite designers desk space.

£12.50
Shop: Telegramme Desktop Calendar

 

COULD BE WORSE MUG BY AESTHETIC APPARATUS.

For over 15 years Michael Byzewski has made incredible textured work under the moniker Aesthetic Apparatus for everyone from broke local bands to international advertising firms creating impactful, iconic images for them and everyone in between. Hailing from Minneapolis, the Could Be Worse Mug is AA's nod to the three typical Midwest responses to the question “Soooo, how are you doing?” Midwest positivity via negativity at it’s best!

$10
Buy: Could Be Worse Mug

 

SMOKE SPICED RUM BY STOLEN RUM.

We've all had those days in the studio where only a Donald Draper sized pour of somethin' brown and strong can end the day right. You're gonna' need to fill that Could Be Worse Mug with something so it may as well be the worlds first smoked spiced rum. Launched in 2010 by two rum-loving Kiwis longing to give up the corporate grind to pursue their passion, Stolen Rum have been making award winning rum ever since. Bottoms up!

$48 - $70 Available in the USA, New Zealand and Australia.
Find out more: Stolen Smoked Rum 



 

TRUE GRIT TEXTURE SUPPLY GIFT CARDS.

Finally, where would this gift guide be without at least one shameless piece of self-promotion.
With a TGTS Gift Card you can effortlessly deliver a knowing wink to that texture loving friend, think outside the sketchbook at the office Kris Kringle Party or risk it all and let your forbidden office crush know you're the one with a gift that's totally dirty, yet 100% clean.

Available in $25, $50, $100 and $150 denominations TGTS Gift Cards are printable and delivered straight to your email for instant redemption or forwarding to your new biggest fan.

Nail it with a TGTS Gift Card this holidays.