The Artist It-List with Alice Yang
Our current gallery artist, Alice Yang, gives us the list of her favorite items in the shop:
"One of my fondest memories of shopping at Rare Device is when I was on a hunt for the perfect birthday gift for my sister. She had recently made the transition from an underpaid resident to a high-flying doctor who readily flexed her newly minted tax bracket, so it was hard to buy anything she fancied before she did the job herself. This meant that I had to find something she didn’t already know about, but would love to have.
Enter the Studio Arhoj Slurp Cup. I had first discovered them through a friend, and was immediately captivated by their kaleidoscopic glazes and substantial hand feel. As luck would have it, Rare Device was listed as their only San Francisco stockist. I raced there and had the best time pouring over every single cup (they were thoughtfully placed across the store, so the experience was not unlike hunting for easter eggs). In the end I picked out my favorite pair (shared below) and got to enjoy the satisfaction of delighting my lovely sister with something truly special.
If happiness could be bottled it would smell like Reed Diffuser - Golden Coast. Bonus: it also makes the perfect housewarming gift. Bring this if you want to be your friend’s favorite guest.
If I had the culinary talent and/or the motivation to host aesthetic dinner parties (I don’t), I would load up a magnificent candelabra centerpiece with Dip Dye Neon Candles - Rainbow Kisses
I’ve got a soft spot for lil danger noodles, so I must include Carolyn Suzuki’s Snake Sticker
When I was first starting out as an artist, I scoured the internet for role models I could look up to. One of them was Anna Bond of Rifle Paper Co, who hand draws all of the brand’s designs herself. It’s a level of care that I deeply respect. It also doesn’t hurt that they frequently feature cats and plants, two of my favorite things: Pair of 2 Menagerie Pocket Notebooks
Fluid Watercolor Paper Easy-Block - 6" x 8" Cold Press is my go-to for making quick watercolor sketches. Not only are they affordable, they’re also bound on two edges, which keeps the paper nice and flat no matter how wet it gets.
Make Your Own Screenprint I have not used these yet, but the idea of making tiny screen prints with a tiny squeegee fills me with joy. 
Artline 200 Pen .04mm - Black Everyone needs a good black liner. If you’re ever in a pinch and need to get an artist a small gift, always go for a fresh sharp pen. It’s like catnip to us, we can never get enough.
If you ever find yourself in a situation where someone says “I can't imagine how this could be any better”, you can prove them wrong by pulling out this Mini Gold Sparkler - Star. There is always room for more pretty lights."
Shop Alice's gift collection and be sure to check out Alice's gallery show Color & Light in store and online