ArtSnacks is a monthly art supply subscription service that curates products to help inspire you to create. ArtSnacks is the brainchild of siblings Lee and Sarah Rubenstein, founders of eatsleepdraw.com, a user-submitted art site.
There are two subscription tiers for ArtSnacks: $24 or $39 for the Plus box.
This is a review of the $39 Plus box.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About ArtSnacks
The Subscription Box: ArtSnacks
The Cost: $24.00 a month, with savings on 6- and 12-month subscriptions OR buy the Plus box for $39.00 a month. International boxes cost $34 for the base box or $39 for the Plus.
The Products: 4-5 full-size premium art products in the base box OR 5-6 full-size premium supplies plus a full-size work surface in the Plus box.
Ships to: The US and worldwide for free!
ArtSnacks Plus May 2020 Review
Shall we peek inside?
A very cute sticker arrived.
As well as our little snack! These are still as sour as I remember!
Also inside was a pouch made of bubble wrap. It reminded me a lot of the ones that come with Glossier orders!
Here is the menu for May. These are also the items that should arrive in the base box.
And here is the card showcasing what additional items arrived in our Plus box.
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Custom ArtSnacks Assortment KINGART Real Brush Pens in 'Warm Tones', set of 4 - Retail Value $6.99
These pens each have a marvelous brush tip that feels and looks just like an actual brush. The shades feel like watercolors too, especially if you get an actual brush, some water, and wet them when they are already on the paper. The colors are incredibly vibrant and remind me so much of a campfire.
Here are the gorgeous shades.
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Tombow Irojiten Colored Pencil in 'Peacock Blue' - Retail Value $2.39
This is one of my favorite colored pencil brands and this blue is a beauty! I love these pencils because the leads are just the right amount of firm with the optimal color payoff and a smooth finish.
A darn good blue!
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Higgins India Ink Pump Marker, 2mm Chisel Nib - Retail Value $11.30
I am an India Ink enthusiast, but I have never played with an India Ink pen! This is a lot easier to use than my normal bottle and brush setup, and if you have ever knocked over a bottle of India Ink you know this pen is genius. It took a little coaxing to get the tip to fill up but when it did I immediately appreciated the bold lines it created.
Perfect for bold lines, patterns, and accents.
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Marabu Aqua Pen Graphix - Retail Value $2.99
What a dreamy pale pink color! I wish I knew what shade it was but there was no number or name on the marker itself. This is exactly the sort of shade I would use to add depth to flower petals and skin in sketches and drawings. It is also double-ended, one side being a brush tip and the other a more precise line maker.
Loving this pink!
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Copic Multiliner in Black - Retail Value $3.99
Ahh, the workhorse of my drawing routine! I go through a ton of liners just like this, so I was happy to see it inside the box. The nib is firm and creates a bold and consistent line, perfect for outlining!
Perfection.
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Marabu Fineliner Graphix, Skyline Set of 4 - Retail Value $6.99 (found here for $6.15)
This is a really nice set of sketch pens in red, black, green, and blue. They remind me so much of the pens my Architecture friends prefer because the palette is limited but you can really create some pretty cityscapes with them.
I think these are all super useful and versatile.
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Strathmore 400 Series Vellum Surface Bristol Paper Pad - Retail Value $12.49
Bristol paper is one of my favorites because it is heavy-duty enough for lots of mixed media applications as well as watercolor, and as luck would have it, I am out of slightly heavier paper. It also has a nice texture that especially shows well with colored pencils and charcoal. This 9" x 12" pad is a perfect medium size.
What did I make with my new tools?
Though the colors are brighter than I generally reach for (aside from the blue and pale pink) I actually love how weird and loud this turned out. My work is generally pretty line heavy, which suited these pens just fine!
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Verdict: This was my first ArtSnacks and I am a fan. I love art supply subscriptions because they always include items and tools I never would have reached for myself because it is so much easier just to buy the same supplies I always have over and over. New things can lead to new techniques though, so assortments like this are very valuable to me. In addition, for $39 I received around $47.14 worth of really great products, which adds a little element of savings to a great curation.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, you will receive the June box if you subscribe. This box is still for sale as a single purchase for $42.00
Value Breakdown: This box costs $39 with free shipping, meaning each of the 7 items has an average cost of $5.57.
Check out all of our ArtSnacks reviews and the best arts & crafts subscription boxes of 2020!
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What did you create with the May ArtSnacks items?
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