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.
Guys, I’m a little bit heartbroken. I swear, it was just July, and now it’s September, and school starts next week. I am so far from feeling recharged and definitely not ready for the year, but I guess I have to face it anyway!
I have been getting a little more creative time in lately, and with the amount of time I spend sitting in my classroom waiting for my kids to finish football practice, I’m sure I’ll have even more. That being said, I was thrilled to get this month’s SketchBox and couldn’t wait to try out everything inside!
Now, let’s dig in and see what kind of new supplies I can put to good use!
This month's SketchBox arrived packed with fresh art supplies and an awesome step-by-step tutorial, giving me the perfect opportunity to try out some new artistic skills that I finally had a little time to explore. Read on to see what was included and how my project 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 art contest featured in the pamphlet—a section that was previously showcased on the shipping box. This month's winning artwork, created by @marciehill, features a hummingbird and flower scene! Be sure to check out her work on Instagram—she's incredibly talented!
Daniel Smith Walnut Ink - Retail Value $12.98
I’ll admit, I haven’t used walnut ink very often in my life. I do remember trying it out around 2020 for an art project and thinking it was quite interesting, but I haven’t pulled it out of my art supplies since. This version is made by Daniel Smith and is a finely pigmented, water-based ink made from walnut husks. It has a gorgeous color and works somewhat like watercolor. It creates a beautiful sepia tone that can be darkened, and it’s also fade-resistant.
This 2-ounce jar is huge and will give me plenty to use for many future projects. I decided this jar will go in my watercolor box so I can use it more often, because I really do like this hue better than some of my watercolor browns. Overall, I was excited to try walnut ink again and loved how it worked for this month’s tutorial!
Winsor & Newtown Cotman Viridian Hue 8 mL - Retail Value $6.89
While I love receiving signature items from SketchBox, it’s really nice to receive products from other brands as well, so I was happy to see this 8 mL tube of Viridian Hue watercolor. This green is absolutely gorgeous and unlike any other watercolor greens I have, so I was very thankful to receive it!
It created such a pretty vintage color for this month’s tutorial and worked especially well with the walnut ink. I also love these squeezable tube watercolors because they’re easy to work with and make cleanup a breeze! I’m already loving this month’s curation!
SketchBox Signature Brush Liner - Retail Value $5.50
The next item I received was a set of Signature Fine Brush Liners, and I am obsessed! The Bellbottom Blue and Woodstock Brown colors are perfect for this month’s vintage vibe. They’re waterproof and feature a tiny, narrow brush tip that makes adding details a breeze. I also appreciate the pocket clip on the pens, which makes them easy to store in my pouch.
These are fantastic brush liners, and I’d love to add more colors to my collection!
Faber - Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolor Pencils - Retail Value $7.00
My mom literally gave me a set of watercolor pencils two weeks ago, and I have to say, those things are going in the garbage after trying these Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer versions!!!! These are the creamiest, best watercolor pencils I have ever used, and the pigments are absolutely fabulous. Compared with the brand I used last week, these are completely different—in the best way.
The way these blend with water is mind-blowing, and I literally need these in every color!!!
Signature Pointed Filbert Size 3 - Retail Value $9.99
I always appreciate a good brush, and this size 3 Filbert is great for both precision work and covering larger areas with wider strokes. It feels comfortable in my hand, and the synthetic bristles are really nice. I had an easy time using this brush and was happy to add it to my collection.
SketchBox Signature Vintage Toned Paper - Retail Value $10.75
I love that SketchBox includes paper in every box, and this month’s Signature Vintage Toned Paper was such a fun addition! With 12 sheets of 180 gsm paper, I especially loved the 4" x 7" size. It’s a little longer than the usual format, making it perfect for creating smaller pieces while still giving you plenty of room to work.
The subtle grain adds a beautiful texture that paired perfectly with this month’s tutorial and the vintage-inspired color palette. I absolutely love this paper and can’t wait to use the rest of it!
Testing
This month's color set was absolutely gorgeous. With a variety of fall inspired hues, the opportunities are seriously endless!
SketchBox September Project
This month, we received a really fun step-by-step tutorial for creating a vintage-themed room. We were given the option to design our own room, but I personally like to follow the tutorials step-by-step. I really loved the addition of the plant and chair, so I kept my design very similar to the example.
I honestly didn’t read many of the instructions and mostly just followed the illustrations. I find this easier for me and really enjoy working this way because it lets me focus more on the creative process.
While my picture didn’t turn out quite as well as the one they created, I found the whole process to be incredibly calming. By the end, I was already thinking about creating more rooms with this same vibe and changing things up a bit. Overall, I learned some fun new techniques, loved the entire curation, and really enjoyed this month’s tutorial!
The Verdict
SketchBox is a fantastic subscription service that delivers high-quality art supplies across a wide range of mediums. This month’s Vintage Mixed Medium Premium Box featured a medium that I really enjoy, with the addition of one I'm new at! 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 still been busy, I’m looking forward to using these supplies during my waiting time for football, and can't wait to design more vintage rooms!! Overall, I had a lot of fun, and I can’t wait to see what October'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 Jewel Toned Illustration Marker Premium Box $40. The included contents card had a $53.06 value, which is quite a bit 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 September's box was August 21st, but you can still subscribe to get next month's box or buy this box in their shop as the Vintage Mixed Media Premium Box.
What do you think of SketchBox?
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