Gifts for painters land between $30 and $100: a funny painter tee ($34.95–$39.95), consumables he burns by the box, and a hard rule — never buy his brushes. A painter's cutting brush is broken in over years and guarded like a firstborn; everything around it is fair game.
1. A painter tee (two coats quoted, one rolled)
Our painter tees run $34.95–$39.95 on heavyweight 220gsm AS Colour cotton, printed to order in Melbourne. The lineup: Two Coats — Maybe One and a Bit, the wombat standing proud in front of a wall with good intentions; Cutting In — Cut Meself In for the roo wearing more paint than the wall; and Drop Sheets Down — The Cockies Still Got In for anyone who's laid every sheet in the house and lost anyway.
2. The stuff he burns by the box
Painter's tape in bulk, clean rags by the bag, and proper hand cleaner that actually shifts dried acrylic — the $20–$40 layer of the trade that vanishes weekly. It's unglamorous, it's exactly right, and he'll never say a bad word about it.
What not to buy
Brushes (see above — sacred), cheap roller covers (lint in the finish is a firing offence), "will paint for beer" novelty gear, and colour-themed anything — he spends all day inside other people's colour choices, spare him at home.
FAQ
How much should I spend on a painter's gift?
$30–$100 does it. A tee stands alone at $34.95–$39.95; tee plus the consumables box makes a complete gift around $75 without going near the sacred kit. Whole crew on the brush? Three tees saves $10, four saves $15 — automatic at checkout.
What size should I buy?
Size up if you're guessing — painting means reaching, rolling and layering, and because every tee is printed to order, change-of-mind returns including wrong sizes aren't covered. Thirty seconds on the size chart beats a re-coat.
When should I order for Christmas?
First week of December at the latest. Printed to order in Melbourne, standard delivery 8–15 business days door to door, longer in the festive queue — think of it as drying time. Express at checkout if you've left it late.
Buying across trades? The general tradie guide has everyone covered, and the full colour range hangs in Tradie Tees & Smoko Gear.