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
It is the midst of summer and in northern Minnesota we are still waiting for summer-like temps! It was 34 degrees this morning, and our garden is in rough shape. With all of the rain, we've been stuck inside, and though we are off from school, the to-do list is never ending. That being said, I am in much need of a reprieve, and this month's SketchBox arrived just in time to boost our creativity. Read below to see what I discovered this month and what we created.
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 @lauras.art.journey and is of a beautiful bird. 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 Pamphlet
Instead of the traditional post card, SketchBox has now transitioned to an entire pamphlet featuring the boxes contents, a QR code for the SketchBox school where you can learn how to use the materials, other tips, and even information for your chance at a giveaway! (I really hope I win a larger Hahnemuhle pad!)
Artist Card
This month's artist card was created by Anne Dormann and showcases some beautiful architecture. More of Anne's art can be found on her Instagram page @DrawMusic_78. Check her out, she is very talented!
Winsor & Newton Cotman Sketchers Pocket Set - Retail Value $34.99
This month's theme is "Premium World Watercolor" and SketchBox really hit it out of the park with this Winsor & Newton Cotman pocket set. Featuring twelve individually wrapped colors, the quality of this set is unbeatable, and the variety of colors is great. This petite set is easily packable and even includes a two-piece brush. With mixing palettes included, this really is a one stop shop and you are off painting! Watercolor is my favorite because it is so easy to take out, clean up, and put away, and this set speeds up that process even more. I am very impressed!
SketchBox Signature Dual Headed Brush - Retail Value $15.99
I am all about a good brush, and though we received one in our pocket set, we also received this SketchBox Signature Dual Headed brush that houses a Round 4 and 3/8 inch dagger. Again, for storage and portability, I love that this tool was designed to be versatile, and love both ends of this brush. Great for large area washings and fine details, this is a great design and another wonderful inclusion.
Winsor & Newton Fineliner - Retail Value $3.29
Fineliners are a must for me, especially for added small details to watercolor, so I was really excited to receive this Winsor & Newton addition. While I typically use black fineliners, I liked the change of pace this Cool Grey version offered. While still bold enough to create pop, this color was more soft and warm, and I love the 0.3 mm nib. Because it is waterproof, it works well with watercolor, and really helps finish off a project.
Jacquard Masking Fluid - Retail Value $7.99
While I have some experience with masking fluid, I haven't used it very much in the past. If you are new to the masking fluid scene, this liquid includes a plastic applicator tip that allows you to create lines and details on your paper that will stay the color of the paper. As you can see in the photo, I placed the fluid in swirl marks to keep my bookmark white where the blue designs are. This fluid takes a while to dry, and then you can paint. Once painted, you let fully dry again, and peel off the sticky blue lines, revealing crisp lines underneath. Fun in theory, I didn't let the watercolor fully dry, and ended up with some tearing, so definitely need more practice with this trick!
Hahnemuhle Watercolor Bookmark Pad - Retail Value $9.95
The last item we received was this cool set of watercolor bookmark paper by Hahnemuhle. Featuring 15 sheets of 140 lb cold pressed paper. These 2.2" X 7.9" sheets are thick and highly absorbent. With a pretty texture, these create absolutely lovely bookmarks.
Testing
I love watercolor, and this month's palette was beautiful!! Just look at those vibrant hues!
SketchBox July Project
One would think that on summer vacation I would have more time to create than I do in the winter, but I am finding that to not be true. With a huge lawn and garden, most of my time gets spent outside trying to keep it up. That being said, to avoid burnout, I carve out a little inside time for small creative moments. This month, I was pleased to see the bookmark paper, as it allowed me to create something small and functional in a short time frame. I went pretty simple this month, and created a "Choose Kindness" bookmark with some florals, along with a green tree bookmark. Simple but fun, this was a great way to unwind!
Charlie's Project
Charlie loves art, but he especially loves reading. We are currently reading Clan by Sigmund Brouwer, and he decided to depict that in his bookmark art. Painting the background green with a darker mountain shadow, he used the fineliner to add a tree, thunderbird, along with Atlatl and cub. While not his most detailed work, he was excited for this to dry and to add it to his book. Fun!
The Verdict
SketchBox is a really great subscription that sends high quality supplies in all sorts of different mediums. This month featured my very favorite medium and a really cool travel palette. I have to say, this is probably one of the best curations we've received, and I loved the inclusion of the bookmark pad. Receiving enough supplies to create 15 fun bookmarks, this set was not only fun to use, but produced amazing results. The kits and sets were very high quality and great for beginners and experts alike. I can't wait to see what we will discover in August. Any guesses?
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
Value Breakdown
Because some 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 $72.21 value, which is over $30 more than the cost of the box. I felt this was a great value, and an awesome 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 July box was June 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?
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.