This might not be the ideal gift for your friend, but I'll mention as something I love to do myself and also something I exchange with friends with similar interests. I'm into graphic arts, and love to design and color all kinds of abstract and less abstract images in the computer. For "easier" approaches, there are free softwares for mandalas -- coloring, and you can also make your own. Then save and/or print them out. Attempting to work with manual art supplies for me actually makes me more nervous than otherwise, probably because I'm not good at it... but the digital art is very relaxing for me.
If you are interested, it's easy to google "online mandala coloring", for example. Here are two tools that I think are pretty easy. They can also be used in the traditional way: print out and color with one's choice of tools.
Print and color mandalas online Online Mandala Coloring Therapy
Nice gift idea btw, and best wishes to your friend
