1. Holbein Sumi Suzuri Painting Kit
This kit is a lot simpler than some sumi sets - perhaps even austere - no fancy carving, no red ink. But it has a lovely large grinding stone with a large well area, which will allow you to do big washes, and the box folds up to make a brush-holder. It's functional in a somewhat austere kind of way. I'm not too sure about the handle - I tend to throw all my art stuff into a big carry-all, but some might find it useful. Comes with three bamboo brushes, black ink stick and water bottle.
2. Sakura Gelly Roll Pen Set
Blick Art Materials
Sakura Gelly Roll? Am I serious? Absolutely. Smooth professional markers and black ink are all very well... but sometimes art should be fun. Bright, colorful, icecream and sparkles fun. These pens are beautiful and smooth to draw with, the ink flows beautifully and they'll even write on black paper. They are a huge hit with teens, taking idle doodles to the level of fine art. As I said, I'm serious - my daughter has some of these and has created some stunning henna-inspired designs that I'd gladly display in a frame.
3. Staedtler Pigment Liner Pen Set
Fine Liner Pens are something you tend to either love or hate as an artist. For a while there I used nothing else; nowadays I prefer a more expressive line with the variation that you get with a dip pen. However, if you need something clean and portable, that offers a smooth-drawing, consistent line, you can't go too far wrong with these. Archival, acid-free, metal-tipped pens in a set of four different sizes - perfect for carrying with your sketchbook.
4. Speedball Number 5 Artist's Set
This is a great starter set, giving you all the basic needs for ink pen drawing and lettering, this set includes a range of lettering pen nibs with a pen holder, plus a school dip pen, Hunt crow quill and crow quill holder. Speedball are good nibs - nothing fancy, but well made and reliable. I don't think I've ever had a bad one. Likewise, the plastic holders are basic but very functional. Just add a bottle of ink and some good paper, and you're all set.
5. Copic Black Ink Pro Kit
Blick Art Materials
This great kit would be a fantastic going-to-college gift for a budding cartoonist or illustrator; or for pretty much any other occasion you can think of. Copic markers are an 'industry standard' tool for cartoonists, illustrators and designers, and this set of liners and markers, complete with refills. Just the thing for toting along to a Sketch Crawl or for keeping the fans happy at Comicon.
