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.
This is a review of the $35/month Premium box. SketchBox also offers a $25/month Basic box.
ACTIVE DEAL: Save $5 off your first box!
CODE: SKETCH5
As an amateur artist I am all about learning, having fun, and being okay with stepping out of my comfort zone.... most of the time anyways. I find inspiration in my daily life, but Pinterest is also a big help in that department. That being said, SketchBox always seems to know just what I need in my life, even before I do. I think they could definitely sense I was in the mood for some bold and vibrant colors to brighten up my day, in a new medium I hadn't even heard of previously. Read below to find out what I thought of May's box.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)
First Impressions
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.
What's Inside the Box
Content Card
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Because of a delivery delay last month, we didn't receive our product list or featured artist card. This month we are back to normal and received a list of all this month's featured products - along with a short summary of each item and listed retail prices. Also included is a QR code for the SketchBox school where you can learn how to use the materials, try different techniques, and even create your own piece of artwork.
Artist Card
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This month's artist card was created by Andrew Pena. Andrew uses art as a form of meditation, and his works can be purchased on his website. I love the abstract city street he has created for this month's box - it really looks like one of our neighboring towns!
Sticker
Each month we also receive a sticker that coordinates with the theme of the month. This time our custom sticker features a mini tube of gouache. It looked so real in the photo, It could almost be mistaken for the real thing. Cute!
Holbein Artist Gouache
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I have never tried gouache before, so this was an entirely new experience for me. In my research, I learned that gouache is a method of painting using opaque pigments ground in water and thickened with a glue-like substance. This particular brand of gouache offers brilliant colors, and we received four different hues: light ochre, mitosis blue, hummingbird blue, and peony. Because 15 mL tubes seem to be most popular, I had a hard time tracking down purchasing info for these specific colors in the smaller tubes, which is why I didn’t have a retail value listed. I was curious to see how this likened to watercolor (as that is my favorite medium) and found this to be as easy to work with, with insanely great coverage. As a tip, I learned you can dilute the colors for a transparent wash as well as straight out of the tube for opaque details. I found this medium a breath of fresh air to work with, and really interesting to use.
Liquitex Acrylic Gouache
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Unlike the very creamy gouache we received in the tubes above, we also received this fully opaque version in titanium white. Used to mix with the Holbein colors, I was able to create different hues, as well as highlight areas on my finished work. I do have to say the bottle was a little rough to use, as the top unscrews quite easily, which could lead to a definite mess if not careful. Paired with our bright Holbein colors, this was a great addition to the box, and really versatile.
SketchBox Signature Tri-Wedge Brush Size 8
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Custom-made for SketchBox, we received a size 8 tri-wedge brush, perfect for florals and different techniques. After a bit of playing around, I discovered that this can create some really interesting strokes, but I definitely need a bit more practice. SketchBox school is great for this!
Copic Multiliner Cobalt Blue - 0.3mm - Retail Value $3.99
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Like I have said again and again: keep the Copic Multiliners coming!!! These fineliner pens are fantastic for detailing, sketching, and just plain writing. They are waterproof and archival when dry. I used this to add details to my painting, but also have a stash of these doozies by my envelopes to help spice up my handwritten letters!
Magnani Toscana Block
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The last item we received was this utterly adorable circular sketchpad. Made of 140 lb. cotton, this textured paper is great for an array of mediums, including gouache, as it is very absorbent. The fun shape is quite unconventional, but made for really cute little notes in my boys’ lunch pails!
Testing
Vibrant and creamy, I have discovered a definite appreciation for gouache!
SketchBox May Project
This month I was inspired by a bright painting I flashed by on Pinterest that included florals, lemons, and greenery. Here in Minnesota, we are heading into May with January-like temps, and I want all of the summery vibes I can get!
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To start, I used a regular pencil and sketched out my leaves, lemons, and flowers. Squirting the gouache on a little plate, I found the consistency to be similar to a mix of acrylic and oil paint. Using the tri-wedge brush I went ahead and mixed the blue and yellow paint to create green and started painting the foliage. I was very impressed with the way the gouache covered my pencil marks right up. The texture it left on the paper was awesome, and the painted just flowed onto the paper. I had fun mixing the gouache with water for a more watercolor like effect as well. Once the paper dried, I added dots of the acrylic gouache Titanium White paint to highlight the brilliant colors. All in all, I was happy with the painting and loved the circular shape of the paper - it just added a really interesting element a square or rectangle just can’t give.
The Verdict
I found this month of SketchBox to be quite thrilling. Because gouache is not a medium I am familiar with, researching and trying this medium was a lot of fun. Because it was easily manipulated, covered well, and came in such pretty colors, I already have a variety of other colors added to my cart. Paired with the circular paper, paintbrush, and all of the other necessary items in the box to create a masterpiece, I found this month’s curation to be one of my favorites ever. What were your thoughts about this month’s box?
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Value Breakdown:
Because most of this month’s products were custom sizes or custom made for SketchBox, it was really hard to determine an accurate retail value. The included contents card had a $62.48 value, which is almost $30 over the cost of the box. Beings that I loved every item and really enjoyed this month’s theme, I felt this was a really good value, and a really neat way to try items I may not have discovered otherwise.
To Wrap Up
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? According to SketchBox's website, the cutoff to purchase the May box was April 21st, but you can still subscribe to get next month's box.
ACTIVE DEAL: Save $5 off your first box!
CODE: SKETCH5
What do you think of SketchBox?
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