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.
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I can't even believe I am typing this, but March is here! Generally the winter months seem to drag by for me, but with all of our extra-curricular activities, the days are passing by so fast that my head is spinning! While sports are great, my sanity needs creative time to keep my anxiety in check, so this month's SketchBox arrived just in time. Read below to see what we discovered this month and what we created with it.
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's featured art was created by @mozart_carmen and is of a fantastic howling wolf. Included in this 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
Each month we receive a content list of all the 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
This month's artist card was created by Amanda Johnson and showcases a beautiful foliage portrait. More of Amanda's art can be found on her Instagram page @alou_jo. Check her out, she is very talented!
Sticker
I love the creativity SketchBox shows with their monthly stickers. This particular one features a box holding a colored pencil and marker with legs. Cute in design, this is a great addition to our sticker stash.
Archer and Olive Paint Pen in Shroom and Asparagus - Retail Value $12
I have a little experience with paint pens, but the Archer and Olive brand is new to me. Thin in diameter, these water-based acrylic pens feature beautiful opaque paint that layer over other mediums and add a wonderful punch of color and detail to any artwork. The shroom and asparagus colors coordinate perfectly for stems and foliage, and the coverage is second to none. Overall, I prefer these to larger nibbed paint pens, and plan on ordering these in a few more colors.
Copic Ciao- Retail Value $16.46
Now these are markers that I have some experience with! These Copic Ciao markers came in three different colors: New Leaf, Moss, and Olive, and all were brilliant in hue and provided professional looking coverage. Each marker features a brush and chisel tip, and the fact that they are alcohol markers makes them perfect for designing and illustrating. I loved the coordinating green colors and thought the pairing of them with the paint pens was really fun.
Holbein Colored Pencil Set - Retail Value $12.75
Sets of items seems to be the theme this month, and to continue with this trend we received three Holbein colored pencils. In White, Fir Green, and Lamp Black, these pencils are great for highlighting artwork, while creating deep values. Premium in coverage, these are wonderfully pigmented and work great with a mix of media.
Hahnemuhle Manga Paper - Retail Value $7.50
The last item we received was a pad of 4" X 6" Manga paper. This 80 gsm paper comes with 20 sheets for a variety of illustrations. Lightweight and bleed-proof, this paper paired perfectly with the paint pen and alcohol markers, and didn't leave streaks, which is great. This paper is also acid and lignin free, so it will not degrade over time. Yay!
SketchBox Review + Coupon: March 2024
Aren't these colors fantastic?! This month's theme was "Spring Green" and it shows. With five different shades of green in a mix of mediums, this was a really fun curation that offered a variety of options to create.
SketchBox March Project
This month I created while I was waiting for my son to finish up some basketball practice, and decided to depict spring with a lot of grass and a tree. Using the lamp black colored pencil, I sketched out my design and started utilizing the Copic markers. Once colored in, I traced the edges of the design with the paint pens. To add a bit of depth, I also added a bit of colored pencil to the tree. Overall, I don't feel this was my best work, but kept me busy while Hank was practicing, all while letting some creative juices flow. I can't wait to test these out a little more seriously and see if I can create a portrait similar to the artist card we received.
The Verdict
SketchBox is a really fun subscription that never disappoints. Each and every curation is thoughtful and fun, and can lead you into some pretty interesting directions. This month included some products that I am familiar with, but also ones that were new to me. I was really excited to give them all a try and see how they worked together. As always, I already can't wait to see what we'll discover in April. Any ideas?
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Value Breakdown
Because most of this month’s products were custom sizes or custom made for SketchBox, it was hard to determine an accurate retail value. BUT, now you can purchase some individual products from the Sketch Shop, making it easier to buy more of the items you love! The included contents card had a $48.72 value, which is over $10 more than the cost of the box. I felt this was a decent value, and a great 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 March box was February 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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