SketchBox is a monthly subscription box for art supplies. Each month, they'll send you 4-9 art supplies (often full kits) plus a piece of art to inspire you. The items included are for 2D media, such as pens, markers, pencils, paints, etc.
SketchBox runs an ongoing contest to put a subscriber's artwork on the lid of their box each month. There's information on how to enter their monthly contest on the info card!
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.)
This is a review of the $35/month Premium box. SketchBox also offers a $25/month Basic box.
About SketchBox
The Subscription Box: SketchBox
The Cost: $35 + $5 U.S. shipping. Save with longer subscriptions.
ACTIVE DEAL: Save $5 off your first box!
CODE: SKETCH5
The Products: A selection of hand-picked art supplies, plus an art print to inspire
Ships to: The U.S. for $5, Canada for $10, International for $15
My SketchBox November 2020 Review
Their info card includes a list of the products and why they were chosen for the box. There is also a link to SketchBox School, a video they release each month showing you how to use your items and demonstrations, too! If you are new to art, these are really great, and even if you aren't, they are filled with helpful knowledge and smart tidbits.
You also get a card with a drawing by this month's featured artist, Terra DeHart.
There was also a super cute SketchBox box sticker. This month, it is in the shape of a chubby marker.
1 of 4
MONAMI Color Twin Brush in 'Grey' - Listed Value $5.50
MONAMI Color Twin Brush in 'Green' - Listed Value $5.50
MONAMI Color Twin Brush in 'Blue ' - Listed Value $5.50
I absolutely love this trio of muted shades. They have a soft and almost vintage quality to them that is really pretty and actually a great choice for dynamic shadows too. The tips are super flexible but very smooth and this ink has a transparent quality to it that allows for some interesting overlapping if you choose to layer them.
Top to bottom: Grey, Green, Blue.
1 of 3
KURETAKE ZIG Menso Brush Pen in 'Sepia' - Listed Value $11.80
This is another really soft and interesting little mark-maker. The sepia ink somehow is both bold but also wonderfully faded, which was super apparent in the bristol paper I used for the swatches below. Again, this is another pen that is very fun to layer because the ink itself is slightly transparent.
I feel like this one has a lot of character.
1 of 3
COPIC Sketch Marker in E11 'Barley Beige' - Retail Value $7.99
Though I have refrained from buying COPIC markers for myself in the past (those things are expensive!) I am building up a nice collection from this subscription! This color is a wonderful neutral that would also make a nice lighter skin tone option for marker portraits. It is double-ended with a thick chisel tip and a finer brush style nib.
Pretty and smooth.
1 of 3
TOMBOW ABT Pro Dual Brush Pen in 'Sand' - Retail Value $5.99
This is another very pretty and subdued neutral shade. It also has two tips: a brush style, and an angled chisel. This subtle brush is super smooth.
This is a great neutral.
1 of 3
SPECTRA Blender Pen - Listed Value $6.55
I am not the biggest fan of blenders because they either work really well or not at all depending on the markers you are blending and how waterproof or permanent they are. Again, this is another brush with dual ends. You can use the smaller brush tip for detail work, or the larger chisel for larger areas and hard lines and angles.
It worked better on the sandy alcohol-based marker than it did on the pink India ink.
1 of 3
FABER-CASTELL Pitt Artist Brush Pen in 'Madder Lake' - Retail Value $6.00
This pen checks off a few boxes for me in the best way. I adore a chubby marker and I love the color pink! I also use India inks a lot because they are waterproof and permanent, meaning I can layer them underneath wet mediums without disturbing my lines. This tip is also great and it mimics a brush shape with a lot of flex.
I am obsessed with this one!
1 of 3
CUSTOM Hahnehuhle Layout Pad 4x9, 30 sheets - Listed Value $15.00
This paper is specially designed for markers with a felt tip! The finish is super smooth and markers don't bleed.
From the second I saw these colors, they reminded me of the mountains out west. I spent some time out there when I was a student (mainly in Wyoming and Arizona) and the landscape is magical. It's been over 10 years since those days, but I still think about it all the time! I decided to try an exercise where I just try to draw this memory straight out of my mind, without any reference:
1 of 9 | I started by just sketching organic mountain shapes from my head and memory.
Here was my finished sketch. I had a lot of fun with this one.
The Verdict: This month's SketchBox was full of some of my favorite colors (which spurred some of my favorite memories!). I loved all of the markers included this month and thought they were really unique since they were of a more muted palette. This box is always one I look forward to, and this month left me with an especially nostalgic, warm and fuzzy feeling.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No. At time of publication, you'll likely receive the January box. Also, SketchBox is currently fully operational during COVID-19.
ACTIVE DEAL: Save $5 off your first box!
CODE: SKETCH5
Value Breakdown: Since this box costs $40 after shipping, each of the 7 items has an average cost of $5.71.
Check out all of our SketchBox reviews and the Craft Subscription Box Directory!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
What do you think of SketchBox?
Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.