SketchBox Review + Coupon: May 2026

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 May, and time is flying by at warp speed! Baseball season is in full swing, and our schedule is packed. With just 20 days of school left, we’re trying to fit it all in—and I can’t even keep track of our schedule!

Even though I didn’t have much time to get creative, I made time, because it’s exactly what I needed to keep my sanity. 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 @vprautzsch, features a beautiful potted plant and has me wanting to head to the greenhouse! Be sure to check out her work on Instagram—she creates lovely animal and nature pieces and shares many other beautiful creations.

SketchBox Signature Watercolor Powder 5 - Set - Retail Value $23.46

The first item I received was something I was really excited about! This five-pan set of watercolor powders, made exclusively for SketchBox, includes the colors Smitten, Lemon, Sea Glass, Thistle, and Golden Hour. These powders are gorgeous and mix beautifully with water or the included gum arabic to create a smooth watercolor.

Powders can be a bit messy, but they also included a small spoon to help portion them out—making it easier to mix multiple shades and create a variety of colors. My favorite is, of course, the gold metallic, but all of them performed wonderfully and are incredibly versatile.

SketchBox Signature Gum Arabic - Retail Value $5.00

The next item I received pairs perfectly with the watercolor powders. This 1-ounce bottle of gum arabic is also exclusive to SketchBox and is used to bind the powder and make it usable as watercolor. The formula is easy to work with and can be added directly to your palette. It enhances transparency and intensity while adding a subtle gloss.

I used it with some of the powder mixes, and also tried the powders with just water for a more traditional look. It was really fun to experiment with and added a dimension that water alone can’t achieve.

12 - Pan Portable Palette - Retail Value $6.50

I have to say, this entire box is curated so nicely. This palette features 12 wells, making it easy to create a variety of color mixtures. The small pans are removable, and the case closes tightly to keep your watercolors secure. I love the bright yellow color and especially appreciate that it allows you to create your very own personalized set.

Stainless Steel Mix and Pour Cups - Retail Value $2.99

Here’s another painting accessory. This time, we received three small stainless steel mixing and pouring cups. Though compact, they provide a great space to mix liquid watercolors and feature a small spout for easy pouring into the palette.

I didn’t use them right away since I mixed my paints directly in the palette, but if you’re looking to prepare larger amounts of color, these would be perfect. It’s another great item I didn’t already have, and I’m happy to add it to my watercolor collection!

Sakura Sketch Brush Pen - Retail Value $1.79

I love pens, and this month we received one from one of my favorite brands—Sakura. This version features a beautiful rose-colored barrel and waterproof ink. It works wonderfully with watercolors, won’t bleed, and has a fine nib that’s perfect for outlines, details, and sketching.

I didn’t already have this particular pen, so I was thrilled to add it to my collection—and I used it to sketch in some baselines for this month’s artwork.

SketchBox Signature 1/4" Stroke Brush - Retail Value $9.99

To round out this month’s box, we also received a 1/4" stroke brush. This SketchBox Signature brush is small enough for fine details, yet versatile enough to cover larger areas. I’m always on the lookout for new brushes, and this is a size and shape I know I’ll reach for often.

SketchBox Signature Coldpress Watercolor Paper - Retail Value $7.99

The final item we received was a set of ten 300 gsm cotton paper sheets. These 4" × 6" professional cold-press watercolor papers pair beautifully with this month’s supplies. I always enjoy experimenting with new papers and colors, and these were especially fun to work with. They made an excellent addition to the box.

Testing

I love this month’s color combo! The bright and beautiful hues are definitely giving me summer vacay vibes!

SketchBox May 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 watercolor landscape tutorial that was easy to follow and turned out pretty well.

Using the illustrated instructions, I worked through the piece and incorporated all of this month’s supplies. I don’t usually create landscape pieces because they can feel a bit intimidating—the layering and techniques aren’t what I’m most comfortable with—but the tutorial provided clear guidance and made the process enjoyable.

I’ll admit, it sat on my dining room table through multiple sessions, but that actually worked out perfectly. Since I didn’t have a lot of time, I was able to fit in several short creative sessions, which made the experience even more fun. While my final piece may not match the tutorial exactly, I learned a lot and really appreciated the helpful tips along the way.

The Verdict

SketchBox is a fantastic subscription service that delivers high-quality art supplies across a wide range of mediums. This month’s Watercolor Premium Box featured a medium I love, but in a form I don’t have much experience with—and I really appreciated that! With enough materials to create multiple pieces of artwork, I was very happy with the overall curation and variety in this box.

While my schedule has been busy, I’m looking forward to using these supplies more in the near future. Overall, I had a lot of fun, and I can’t wait to see what June’s box has in store. Any guesses?

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

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 Watercolor Premium Box $40. The included contents card had a $59.43 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 Watercolor Premium box.

What do you think of SketchBox?