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.
It’s April, and I can’t believe how fast time is flying. Baseball season is in full swing, yet our schedule has been surprisingly quiet. With a little extra time on my hands, I decided to get creative. My SketchBox arrived with a fresh set of supplies and an awesome monthly tutorial, giving me the perfect chance to try out some new artistic skills. Read on to see how it all turned out.
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
Each month, SketchBox sends a lovely curation of supplies in a simple white box featuring key information and a QR code. Everything is packaged in bright blue tissue paper (this time with white lettering) and arrives safe and secure. It’s always a special treat when I see this in my mailbox!
What's Inside the Box
Content Pamphlet
Instead of the traditional postcard, SketchBox has switched to a full pamphlet that showcases the box’s contents. It includes a QR code for SketchBox School—where you can learn how to use the materials—along with extra tips and information on how to enter a giveaway. This month even features a written (and illustrated) tutorial!
You’ll also find the winner of the monthly contest highlighted in the pamphlet—a spot that was previously reserved for the shipping box. This month’s winning artwork, created by @HollyBCalligraphy, features a beautiful depiction of a sea turtle, and I absolutely love it! Be sure to check out her work on Instagram—she creates lovely calligraphy and shares many other beautiful pieces.
4 Pentel Mattehop Gel Pens - Retail Value $11.96
The first item I received was something I haven’t gotten in quite a while. Back in the early 2000s, gel pens were all the rage—I used to write countless notes with them and loved giving them to friends. While I do have a set I received as a birthday gift about five years ago, I haven’t come across many since.
This set is not only gorgeous in color, but the ink flow is superb. Bright and springy, it’s a fantastic addition to my collection, and I truly think they’ve been designed to be better than ever. Easy to hold, beautifully pigmented, smooth in flow, and featuring a convenient clip, these are a must-have!
Faber-CastellPitt Artist Pen Dual Marker - Retail Value $6.50
The next item I received was a really nice dual-tip marker. I use black pens and markers often, so I was excited to try this one. With both a fine tip and a broader nib, it’s a versatile tool that works well for detailed lines as well as larger areas of coverage.
Faber-Castell is one of my favorite brands because of its high quality, and the pigment of this marker did not disappoint. It pairs nicely with the gel pens, making it a great addition to the box—and one I know will definitely come in handy.
Uniball Signo Impact Gel Pen - Retail Value $4.04
To coordinate with the beautifully spring-colored pens, we also received a white Uni-ball version. This pen felt a bit more refined than the colored ones and had excellent ink flow. I already own a black Uni-ball Signo pen and love it, so I was happy to receive the matching white version.
SketchBox Signature 5" Bookmark Ruler - Retail Value $2.99
Honestly, I don’t have many ruler-type tools in my art box—I’ve actually been using a decades-old ruler with my sister’s name on it! This 5" bookmark ruler is a fantastic addition. It measures both inches and centimeters, is very thin, and lays nicely flat—and it doubles as a bookmark!
Perfect for my sketchbook, this has been a fabulous inclusion that I’ve already used a ton. I’m really loving this curation!
Zebra Vintage Saris Clip Gel Pen - Retail Value $1.79
When I first checked out this month’s tutorial, I was curious about the yellowish-brown sketch color and surprised to learn it was created with a gel pen. The third gel pen brand we received was Zebra Vintage, and it came in a unique camel yellow shade.
It turned out to be a great tool for sketching on the brown-toned paper included in the box. While it’s not something I would have picked out for myself, I found it worked beautifully and is something I’d love to use more in future projects. Every month, I discover tools and techniques I never would have considered through this subscription—and I love it!
SketchBox Signature Roll Up Case - Retail Value $10.99
When I travel, I usually bring along a whole assortment of art supplies, packing everything into a bag or box. After this month, however, things are going to change! I received a nicely sized roll-up case that easily holds the larger marker along with my gel pens—and I can even tuck my ruler inside.
With an adjustable tie to keep it securely closed, this case keeps my art supplies organized and safe while traveling. So useful!
Legion Stonehenge Kraft Paper - Retail Value $11.99
The final item we received was a set of ten 250 gsm cotton paper sheets. These 4" × 6" kraft-toned sheets paired beautifully with this month’s pens and supplies. I always enjoy experimenting with new papers and colors, and this one was especially fun to work with. It made for another excellent addition to the box.
Testing
I love this month’s color combo! The bright hues are definitely giving me spring vibes!
SketchBox April Project
I have to say, while I’ve always loved SketchBox for its amazing premium supplies, I’ve come to appreciate their step-by-step tutorials just as much. This month’s pamphlet featured a still life drawing and encouraged us to create our own—but I’ll admit, I followed along with the tutorial instead.
Using the illustrated instructions, I worked through the piece and incorporated all of this month’s supplies. Pen drawings aren’t usually my strong suit, but the tutorial was easy to follow and came together really well. Since I chose to follow their setup rather than create my own still life, I didn’t have to tackle lighting and shadows from scratch—which can feel a bit intimidating. Even so, I’m really happy with how my piece turned out.
The color combination and playful design really drew me in and introduced me to a style I don’t typically explore, so it was a fun and inspiring experience to discover something new this month.
The Verdict
SketchBox is a fantastic subscription service that delivers high-quality art supplies across a wide range of mediums. This month’s Pen Sketching Premium Box offered a medium that I don't utilized often, and included brands I have now switched to! With enough products to make multiple pieces of artwork, I was really happy with the amount of products in this curation. While my schedule has been busy, I am looking forward to utilizing these more in the near future. Overall, I had a ton of fun, and I can’t wait to see what May's box has in store. Any guesses?
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Value Breakdown
You can find some of these items as a set in the Sketch Shop listed at the top of the page as the Pen Sketching Premium Box $40. The included contents card had a $50.26 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 April box was March 21st, but you can still subscribe to get next month's box or buy this box in their shop as the Pen Sketching Premium box.
What do you think of SketchBox?
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