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.
Spring has finally sprung—and so has the rain! We've had a few truly beautiful days, but Mother Nature seems to be leaning more toward the wild side lately. Thanks to the less-than-perfect weather, I’ve found myself spending more time indoors. A little bit of a bummer... but also kind of awesome, because it means more time for crafting! The May SketchBox showed up right in the middle of a stretch of dreary weather, so I took full advantage and got creative. Check out what I came up with below!
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 used to have an ongoing contest where a subscriber's artwork was featured on the lid of their box. For the past few months, they’ve been sending out repeat boxes—likely to use up inventory—but they mentioned that new artwork would return in the new year. However, we've still been receiving repeat boxes up until now. But here’s a twist—there’s no artwork on the box at all this time! It looks like they’ve decided to continue showcasing the winning artwork on the back of the pamphlet instead, which you’ll see below.
What's Inside the Box
Content Pamphlet
Instead of the traditional postcard, SketchBox has now transitioned to a full pamphlet featuring the box’s contents, a QR code for SketchBox School where you can learn how to use the materials, additional tips, and even details on how to enter a giveaway! This month even includes a written tutorial! You can also see the winner of the monthly contest here, which is usually featured on the shipping box. This month’s winning artwork, created by @Pueen__Queen, is a tasty cup of coffee. Check out her Instagram to see all of her awesome work!
SketchBox Signature 6-Set Professional Alcohol Markers - Retail Value $34.50
I love, love, love alcohol markers—they create beautiful, clean lines, fill in areas really well, and look incredibly professional. This set includes six shades: Sky Blue, Cotton Candy, Peachy, Raspberry, Key Lime, and Apricot. While they weren't quite as bold as I expected, the muted pastel hues are absolutely gorgeous and perfect for spring. The Raspberry shade definitely packs a punch, and the awesome brush nib and barrel design make them great for adding details, filling large areas, or just doodling for fun. Just be sure to put a sheet of paper underneath your artwork so it doesn’t bleed through onto your counter—whoops!
Touch Twin Brush Marker - Retail Value $7.00
We also received another alcohol brush marker—this time from a different brand—in the color "Mauve Shadow." Perfect for sketching lilacs, it's another beautiful spring shade that added lovely shadows and depth to my artwork this month. A fun addition overall, and I was really happy to add this marker to my collection!
PENTEL ARTS Micro Brush- Grey - Retail Value $4.99
Next up, we received a really nice micro brush pen in grey. It has a very fine tip that's perfect for adding details and shadows. This small pen works really well for outlining tiny objects. I appreciated the grey color—it’s not as harsh as black—and found that it paired beautifully with this month’s color palette.
Pigma Micron Pen - Blue .3mm - Retail Value $3.33
Also included this month was a Pigma Micron pen—a classic favorite! This fine-nibbed pen is perfect for adding crisp details to your artwork. While I’ve collected quite a few Microns over time, I’ve never received a blue one before, so this was a fun surprise! The bright hue added a playful dimension to the soft pastels and works beautifully for everyday use, too. Honestly, I’ll take all the Micron pens, please!
Sakura Gel Roll Retractable - White - Retail Value $2.92
Have I gone back in time?! Look at this gel pen! I used tons of these in the early 2000s, but I’ve never had a retractable one before—how cool is that? This white Sakura version has a decent color payoff and works surprisingly well over darker shades. I also really appreciate the retractable design—it makes it so much easier to keep it protected without worrying about a missing cap. A great addition to another fantastic box!
Clairfontaine Comic Book Paper - Retail Value $9.99
The last item we received was a pad of comic book paper. Sized at 4" x 6", this 15-sheet pad features a clean, smooth surface that prevents alcohol markers from seeping through. Perfect for postcards and small projects, it pairs beautifully with this month’s supplies and makes for some fun, bite-sized creative sessions!
Testing
Aren’t this month’s shades gorgeous? This color palette came just in time for spring! This month’s curation was so much fun!
SketchBox May Project
As I mentioned above, spring is in the air, and while the temperatures aren't convincing me of this, the calendar is! Using this month's supplies and the pamphlet tutorial, I created the butterfly sitting on a lilac cluster. While I didn't have a lot of time to put into this little project, I enjoyed utilizing all of the supplies and had fun testing out the new gel pen!! Also, the kids are back with their art! While they've been really busy with baseball and school, Charlie sat down with me to color and made these fabulous strawberries. Hank is working on a portrait of his favorite baseball player, and while he hasn't finished, he is having a great time diving into some art projects to enter into the upcoming county fair!
The Verdict
SketchBox is a fantastic subscription that delivers high-quality supplies in a wide variety of mediums. This month's Spring Marker Premium Box featured a beautiful color palette in a medium I truly enjoy. I appreciated the mix of colors and pen brands—there was a great balance! With enough materials to create at least 15 different pieces, I was really pleased with the curation and plan to keep experimenting with them over the weekend. Overall, I had a ton of fun! I can’t wait to see what we’ll discover in June. Any guesses?
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Value Breakdown
Being a repeat box, you can find all these items as as set in the Sketch Shop as the Spring Marker Premium Box for $40. The included contents card had a $62.73 value, which is higher than the cost of the box and allowed me to discover products I probably wouldn't 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 or buy this box in their shop as the Spring Marker Premium Box.
What do you think of SketchBox?
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