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
How in the world is it possible that it is already August? I swear, we just started summer vacation and already the "Back to School" advertisements are plastered all over every store, and I am on the countdown of heading back to work. Yikes! Though I am not fully destressed and rested, I am excited for August as it is the time for our local county fair. For the past 6 years, the boys and I have entered multiple items, and this year we have done the same. Because crafts are near and dear to my heart, I plan on entering a few, and you can bet I will be using some of this month's supplies on the entry! Read below to find out what I received!
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. This month the artwork featured portraits done by Danie Arink. Included in the box is information regarding how to enter the monthly contest on the info card. Check it out if you are interested!
What's Inside the Box
Content Card
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Each month we receive a content 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 Lois Sparks. Lois is a self-taught artist and specializes in modern calligraphy and brush lettering. If you check out her Instagram page, you'll find some really cool pieces that are definitely inspiring - so inspiring, in fact, that I created a similar piece you will see below.
Sticker
We also receive a sticker that coordinates with the theme of the month. This month I think I accidentally received two because they seemed to be stuck together, but I was happy because one of these holographic little guys landed on my computer, while the other made it to my notebook. Adorbs!
Sakura Gold Gelly Roll Pen - Retail Value $1.56
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Nostalgia is definitely kicking in here with the glimpse of this glittery gel pen. Early 2000s Becca wrote a gazillion notes to her friends and crushes with these lovely guys, and I am happy to have one back in my life after such a long hiatus! Perfect for adding details and embellishments to any media, this pen really glides well and has a beautifully metallic sheen once dry. I'm very tempted to get myself an entire kit of these bad boys to start writing notes with!
Marabu x SketchBox Shimmer Art Crayons - Retail Value $15.92
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I have little experience with art crayons, but these shimmer versions are super fun! Coming in three different colors, the crayons themselves twist up to keep the color flowing. While they are beautiful on their own, you can create some softer effects by diluting the wax with water. Because the tip is larger in diameter than what I'm used to working with, it was harder to create fine details with these crayons, but they definitely were a welcome component in this month's box.
Marabu Aqua Graphix Metallic Copper Ink - Retail Value $3.29
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I have an entire kit of Graphix Aqua Ink, but because this particular color is brand new, I don't yet have this beautiful copper version. Brilliant, and sparkly, this very pigmented watercolor adds a bit of sparkle to everything and is so easy to use. Clean up with these inks is a breeze, and they store so well. I just can't say enough good things about this brand and these inks. I'll take one in every color, please!
Finetec Metallic Watercolor Pans - Retail Value $17.50
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Sticking with the metallic theme, we also received two pans of Finetec metallic watercolor in golden rose and blue silver. Honestly, I thought they were eyeshadow pans when I first opened them, and while I wouldn't have minded that either, I am excited to add these beauties to my collection. Highly pigmented and just plain gorgeous, these pans create beautiful metallic detailing and washings, depending on how you use them. Storing neatly in their little plastic casing, they are safe and sound and stack nicely in my watercolor box. Another win for the month of August!
SketchBox Signature Round Brush Size 4 - Retail Value $9.99
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SketchBox just wouldn't be complete without the addition of a tool, and I am always excited to see a brush appear. This month we received a signature round brush in size 4, which is perfect for fine details and water coloring. The versatility with this brush is amazing, and it has quickly become one of my favorites to use.
Van Gogh Black Watercolour Paper - Retail Value $11.95
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Last but not least, we received a 10 pack of 4" X 6" cold press, black watercolor paper. This paper worked great with the included metallic watercolors and crayons and was fun to work with. Complementing the lovely sparkly paints and crayons we received, this paper didn't buckle or curl when wet, and dried perfectly. With the addition of a white address label on the backside, these are going to make adorable postcards!
Testing
What do you think about all that metallic and glitz? Personally, I can't get enough, and am loooovving this month's curation!
SketchBox August Project
Feeling inspired by this month's artist card, I decided to not think and just do. Grabbing the crayons, I opted for some abstract textures, and just let myself have fun.
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My first piece was a bit of a collage of textures. Just going with the flow, I tested out every item we received in this month's box and loved it!
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Dahlias are in full bloom around my yard, so I decided to try and create one with the art crayons. Using the included brush, I blended some of the crayon, and layered more petals until I reached the center. Shimmery and bright, I had a lot of fun just playing around with these new products.
Because this month's featured art was so fun, I decided to try my hand at it, using my name instead of the word "create". While not perfect, I had a lot of fun and can't wait to divulge a little more in the future when life slows down a bit.
The Verdict
It seems redundant to say, but this month of SketchBox is just about my favorite curation ever. If you didn't know, I love sparkles, metallics, and watercolors, so a box packed with all three is a bit like hitting the jackpot. Not only were the items fun, but they were ultra-high quality as well. Being an amateur artist, I would have never discovered some of these things just because there is so much out there. SketchBox makes art easy and fun, taking away the guess work on which supplies work well together, and which brands are cost effective. I love this box!
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Value Breakdown:
Because most of this month’s products were custom sizes or custom made for SketchBox, it used to really hard to determine an accurate retail value. BUT, now you can purchase individual products from the Sketch Shop, making it easier to buy more of the items you love! The included contents card had a $56.26 value, which is more than $20 over the cost of the box. Being that I loved every product and this month's theme, I felt it was a very good value, and a 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 August box was July 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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