When shopping for a perfect present for that special someone this holiday season, consider giving the gift of art.

“Art is enduring,” said Steve Mullensky, an artist who displays his work at Gallery 9 and does freelance photography for The Leader. “(A) movie, you see it and then it is over in two hours, whereas art, you can place on a wall and always see something different. A sweater is good. It is comforting and keeps you warm, but they too wear out.”

On the other hand, art “holds something for you,” Mullensky added. “There is some reason you bought the art, or somebody gave it to you. There is some meaning.”

Such a gift is highly unique, Mullensky said.

“They would have to know something about you in order to make that selection and to buy it for you,” he said. “I don’t know if I would enjoy a piece of art if I had not expressed some sort of interest, or if it was some random piece. My thinking is that people who would give me art are people who would know me and they know what I like.”

And the recipient likely will not give it away, Mullensky added with a laugh.

“Those things are very hard to get rid of,” he said.

Jeanne Wiechert of Port Townsend decided to put that idea into action and bought a handmade one-of-a-kind amulet for a special person from Gallery 9.

“I want them to have something memorable that they can hang on to and get some beauty from,” she said, adding she chose the gift specifically for the recipient based on what she thought they would enjoy.

Mullensky said the recipient likely would look at the piece years down the road and be reminded of the person who gave it to them.

Another option is to give supplies to an adult or child to create their own art, said Allie Stelzner, Quimper Mercantile assistant manager.

“You are going to increase the imagination,” she said. “You are going to get the kids thinking and imagining what they can do to turn their artistic abilities into something tangible, instead of just sitting there, watching video. It gets their brains moving in ways that video games will not, when they have to create something of their very own.”

Stelzer pointed to the plethora of art supplies available for purchase at the Quimper Mercantile, including brushes, paints, oils, pastels, canvasses, sketch books, watercolor paper and all kinds of kits.

Places where art can be purchased in Port Townsend:

• Pacific Traditions, 637 Water St.

• Northwind Arts Center, 701 Water St.

• Earthenworks, 702 Water St.

• Port Townsend Gallery, Inc., 715 Water St.

• Forest Gems Gallery, 807 Washington St.

• Luke J. Tornatzky’s Water Street Gallery, 833 Water St.

• Simon Mace Gallery, 236 Taylor St.

• Red Raven Gallery, 211 Taylor St., Suite B2

• Elisabeth Haight, 211 Taylor St.

• Wynwoods Gallery and Studio, 940 Water St.

• Gallery 9, 1012 Water St.

• Daily Bird Pottery, Studio and Gallery, 2009 4th St.