By Lori Musicer

THE GIFT OF art can enrich the lives of family and friends during the holidays, but most of us don't have the financial means – or the desire – to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on highbrow pieces. We're all familiar with "It's the thought that counts" as the quintessential cop-out from the giver, and "What were they thinking when they bought me this horrible gift?" – or, more simply, "Up yours" – from the receiver. But really, isn't the thought exactly what's been lacking in buying gifts for loved ones? Let's face it: nobody wants their gifts to belly flop into the abyss of garage sales, returns, and recycled gifting. Sometimes it pays to step out on a creative limb to bring joy to the people for whom we're obligated to shop each year. The gift of art is by no means limited to expensive sculptures and paintings from big-name galleries. Here are some ideas for artistic gifts that are good for the soul and the wallet.

For the new artist: kits and field trips

People don't need to be professional artists to get their creative juices flowing. They do, however, need some help getting started, and that's why there's a range of project kits available. Mendel's Art Supplies and Far Out Fabrics (1556 Haight, S.F. 415-621-1287) carries plenty of fun projects. A miniature crème wax candle-making kit ($39.99) makes a great gift and comes with wax, color dyes, vanilla scent, glass planter jars, and wicks. Jennifer's Mosaics stained-glass packs (less than $10) feature pre-cut glass and are ready to use, and there are plenty of designs to choose from, such as flowers, birds, a sun, butterflies, fairies, and geckos.

Another great place to browse for art kits is the Hobby Company of San Francisco (5150 Geary, S.F. 415-386-2802), a fun hole-in-the-wall in the Richmond District. Sixty colors of Sculpey oven-bake modeling clay ($1.89 each) can provide hours of entertainment, and for those who've never tried it, The Incredible Clay Book ($19.95) can help them get started. Of course, we can't ignore the fundamental art form for wannabe artists: adorable puppies, dolphins, zebras, giraffes, horses, fish, turtles, and more will come to life with paint-by-numbers oil-painting kits ($3.79 for a set of two 8-by-10-inch panels, $4.69 for a set of two 9-by-12-inch panels).

Though it primarily focuses on art supplies, Flax Art and Design (1699 Market, S.F. 415-552-2355) features creative gift kit ideas. Projects include the Ancient Art of Origami ($14.95), the Mosaic Turtle Kit ($25), and the Art of Glass Painting ($19.99). For a more personalized art project, the Decorative Marble Coaster Kit and the Decorative Tile Making Kit ($39.50) are unique ways to preserve photos.

When we participate in a holiday gift outing, we're also giving a gift to ourselves. Ahh, secretly selfish giving – now that's the holiday spirit in action. For an interactive, DIT (do-it-together) gift, one idea is to bring loved ones on a field trip to make their own art pieces on-site. At Terra Mia Ceramic Studios (1314 Castro, S.F. 415-642-9911), people can paint their own pottery (studio fee $10, $5 child, $7 to $60 for pieces). It's a great place to escape the stress of the holiday season.

For the emerging artist: honing skills

Established artists need tools, and there are plenty of art supply stores where you can pick up practical gifts. However, teach a person to fish and, well, you know the rest, so a riskier yet potentially more gratifying gift for the artists in our lives is art classes. City College of San Francisco (www.ccsf.edu/Services/Continuing_Education) offers dozens of courses through its Continuing Education program in various media, including bookmaking, clay, painting, sculpture, glass, drawing, and jewelry. Classes typically meet anywhere from one to eight sessions and cost between $35 and $190. Sharon Art Studio in Golden Gate Park (415-753-7004, www.sharonartstudio.org) offers 8-to-10-week classes in drawing, painting, mixed media, ceramics, glass, jewelry, and metal arts for youths, teens, and adults. The cost is generally in the $100 range. Artist Resource (www.artistresource.org/classes.htm) lists a plethora of art classes and dedicates a section of its Web site to life-drawing classes (www.artistresource.org/lifedraw.htm). Prices and locations vary.

For the art appreciator: one day only!

If what Aunt Betty really needs is something pretty to hang above the couch, or a decorative bowl to hold her plastic fruit, there's no shortage of local studio and gallery sales during the holiday season to help with the shopping effort. Artist-Xchange (3169 16th St., S.F. 415-864-1490) plans to hold a sale every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in December. Nonprofit Ruby's Clay Studio and Gallery (552A Noe, S.F. 415-558-9819) dedicates all December to its holiday sale. And Sharon Art Studio hosts its annual winter sale Dec. 5.

However, a good percentage of studio sales simply don't yield quality pieces to accommodate a budget stretched like taffy, so a good plan of action is to hit up local craft fairs. Check out CCSF's 30th annual Holiday Exhibition and Sale Dec. 3 through 5 (Fort Mason Center, Bldg. A, Marina at Laguna, S.F. 415-561-1840) to see students' art on display. Their affordable, high-quality work includes paintings, drawings, sculptures, pottery, photography, mixed media, textiles, and jewelry.

The 26th annual Celebration of Craftswomen (Fort Mason Center, Festival Pavilion, Marina at Laguna, S.F. 415-383-3470) could yield exciting, one-of-a-kind gifts. Held Nov. 27 and 28, the craft show benefits the Women's Building and features innovative work from 300 women artists, such as ceramics, sculpted wood and metal; beaded, stone, and precious metal jewelry; wearable art; photography; paintings; and children's toys ($8, $5 seniors, free for 12 and under).

Across the bay, ASUC Art Studio (UC Berkeley, MLK Jr. Student Union, Bancroft and Telegraph, Berk. 510-642-3065) holds its holiday sale from Dec. 7 to 11 and showcases quality work by students and community artists in areas such as photography, ceramics, sculpture, and painting.

This type of gift shopping seems so much more enjoyable than scrambling through the cold, mean mobs during a downtown rush. Ahh, having fun with the art of giving – now that's truly the holiday spirit in action.