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It’s Black Friday! Not all (or many) sale items are actually good buys, but we’ve done the research and found real (if sometimes modest) deals on electronics, photography gear, and software. Our recommendations below will help you get a jump on your holiday gift shopping for family, friends, and even yourself. We’ll be updating this page throughout the weekend, so check back often.
How we pick each product:
Our mission is to recommend the most appropriate artists’ tool or supply for your needs. Whether you are looking for top-of-the line equipment or beginners’ basics, we’ll make sure that you get good value for your money by doing the research for you. We scour the Internet for information on how art supplies are used and read customer reviews by real users; we ask experts for their advice; and of course, we rely on our own accumulated expertise as artists, teachers, and craftspeople.
All-new Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB)
Buy for $129.99 and save 19%
Reading the new Mondrian biography from the road? Amazon says this Kindle is the fastest they’ve made yet, with 25 percent faster page turns. It’s also ultrathin and waterproof, comes with a 7-inch glare free display, and has battery life that can last up to 12 weeks on a single charge. (It charges via a USB-C charger). What’s more, you can easily adjust the screen’s brightness and warmth.
Google Nest 2nd Gen Wired Video Doorbell Camera
Buy for $99.98 and save 44%
If you like to keep an eye on who’s at the door of your home or art studio, you’ll appreciate the features on this Google Nest Doorbell. It has three hours of of video event history, can tell the difference between a person, package, animal, and vehicle, and is compatible with smart devices that work with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. It can also connect to the Google Home app. (This model is designed to replace a wired doorbell and requires a compatible chime and transformer, both sold separately.)
Apple AirTag
Buy for $24.00 and save 17%
AirTags aren’t just for luggage! These tracking devices (which use a Bluetooth wireless signal) can help you keep tabs on all sorts of items, from artworks in transit to your plein air painting kit to your phone. Simply AirTag the item you want to track. Then, if you can’t find that item, you can use Apple’s Find My app to locate it. If it’s nearby, you can even play a sound on the built-in speaker by going to the New Items tab in the Find My app.
JBL Tour One M2 Wireless Over-Ear Noise Canceling Headphones (Black), Medium
Buy for $199.95 and save 33%
There’s a lot to like about these versatile noise-canceling headphones. For starters, they have four built-in mics that you can adapt to the surrounding environment, all in real time. You can minimize distractions when you need to focus or lower the the level of noise cancellation so you can hear what’s going on around you, all via the JBL Headphones mobile app on your phone. They also have a very good battery life.
Glocusent 3-Color & 6-Brightness Reading Light
Buy for $17.98 and save 45%
Artists will find lots of uses for this handy reading light, whether you are sketching on a dimly lit train or reading at an outdoor cafe. The light’s arms fit around your neck and are adjustable, so you can get the angle that’s most comfortable for you. It has three color temperature modes—yellow (3000K), warm white (4000K) and cool white (6000K)—and an independent switch for three brightness levels. It also boasts 80 hours of battery life and recharges with a USB-C cable.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 44mm Bluetooth Smartwatch
Buy for $155.24 and save 45%
If you’re the type of artist who likes to keep a watchful eye over not just your schedule, but your workouts, health, and even sleep, a smartwatch, like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, is worth the price. It’s easy to use and very versatile. It’s also water resistant.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL Unlocked Android Smartphone
Buy fo r$849.00 and save 23%
This is the larger of the two Pixel 9 Pro models, and it’s packed with features. It comes with a 6.8-inch touchscreen display and 128 GBs of on-board storage, for keeping and displaying images of art. You can change shutter speeds and focus the camera manually as well as use its Magic Editor to adjust your photos. It also has a Night Sight Video feature, which allows you to take sharp videos in low light.
Canon PIXMA PRO-200 wireless professional inkjet photo printer
Buy for $399.00 and save 33%
This is the older version of the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300, although it’s still an excellent printer and has many of the same specs as the Pro-300. The main difference is that it has only eight color cartridges, instead of nine color cartridges, and the ink is dye based, instead of pigment based. While some photographers prefer a pigment-based system instead of dye-based system—dye being somewhat less archival than pigment—this model offers less expensive alternative. Just like the Pro-300, it can print out 13 x 19-inch color photographs that look fantastic.
