ArtSnacks is a monthly art supply subscription service that curates products to help inspire you to create. ArtSnacks is the brainchild of siblings Lee and Sarah Rubenstein, founders of eatsleepdraw.com, a user-submitted art site.
There are two subscription tiers for ArtSnacks: $24 or $39 for the Plus box.
This is a review of the $39 Plus box.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About ArtSnacks
The Subscription Box: ArtSnacks
The Cost: $24.00 a month, with savings on 6- and 12-month subscriptions OR buy the Plus box for $39.00 a month. International boxes cost $34 for the base box or $39 for the Plus.
The Products: 4-5 full-size premium art products in the base box OR 5-6 full-size premium supplies plus a full-size work surface in the Plus box.
Ships to: The U.S. and worldwide for free!
ArtSnacks Plus September 2020 Review
Shall we peek inside?
A very cute ArtSnacks sticker arrived. I always love these little pretzel pencils.
As well as our little snack!
Here is the menu for September. These are also the items that should arrive in the base box.
And here is the card showcasing what additional items arrived in our Plus box.
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Kuretake-ZIG Cambio Tambien Brush Pen in 'Yellow Ocre' - Retail Value $9.80
FYI: You might receive a different color.
Something about this big brush pen is speaking to me this month. I love the warm golden yellow and the ink is transparent and really fun to layer. You have to twist open the whole pen to remove a cap inside that is holding the ink, but soon after it flows onto the true-brush tip and you are ready to play!
Calling this 'Harvest Yellow' in my mind!
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Uni-POSCA PCF-350 Brush Tip Paint Marker in 'Green' - Retail Value $9.99
FYI: You might receive a different color.
This is very similar to our other brush pen, though this green shade is an opaque paint rather than a transparent ink. It is a very bold look! There is a cap on the end that you remove and pump a few times to get the ink flowing. Simply replace that cap after its ready to write to protect it from becoming too saturated with paint as time goes on.
A very pretty green.
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Faber-Castell Polychromos Colored Pencil in 'Cobalt Blue' - Retail Value $2.90
FYI: You might receive a different color.
I find the longer I am subscribed to this subscription, the more I like colored pencils. They were truly never my favorite growing up or in school because any change in pressure is super obvious. Now that I have embraced my own personal markings and sketching style, this feels like more of a plus. I also think that when you only get one pencil at a time, it allows you to really enjoy it for what it is alone, rather than as part of a set. This cobalt blue shade is beyond lovely and makes an excellent sky shade or blue flower petal color.
Highly pigmented and smooth!
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Sakura Pigma Micron Pen - Retail Value $2.99
I use micron pens all the time, and if one came in every box you wouldn't hear me complain. I love them because they are archival and waterproof, meaning I can paint on top of them. The precision points are also perfect for crosshatching or line work.
Hi!
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L'Aquarelle Canson Héritage Hot Press Watercolor Paper Pad - Retail Value $24.00
This is SUCH nice paper. Seriously, I was scared to use it because I didn't want to waste any. The majority of the watercolor paper you buy at a shop like Michaels is cold-pressed, which is toothier and has more of a texture. Hot pressed paper is smoother and the paint lays down smoother and dries a little faster. It is also really great if you are trying to achieve larger smoother washes in a painting. Neither is better than the other by any means, I just never really come across hot-pressed papers in my normal supply runs. And this pad is so pretty!
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Uni EMOTT Ever Fine Pens Set in 'Island' - Retail Value $13.99
FYI: You might receive a different set of colors.
I have the retro color set of these pens and I enjoy them very much. They are really fun and expressive for quick studies and sketches. These shades are inspired by island greens and blues. The super tiny tips are perfect for detail work.
Does anyone else out there get occasionally overwhelmed by great paper? Like, the pad this month was so dreamy I was really hesitant to even use it. I have been drawing and painting since I could hold a pencil, and this STILL happens! If I can give you any advice I won't take myself, just use the paper. You can always buy more. Otherwise, you end up drawing all over a box instead of creating something on a pepper you could easily hang on to:
I will admit that I enjoyed the lined texture that came through from the box when I used the colored pencil though.
Here are a few little ocean-inspired fronds and leaves I sketched out. I have been really enjoying taking real sketches and dropping them into a program like Procreate to digitize my work and effortlessly make repeat patterns. I snapped an iPhone picture of my sketches and uploaded them to my iPad.
Here is what I was working with when I cleaned them up and dropped them into Procreate as different layers.
Because they are different layers, you can layer them, history them, change the size, and more. I have always wanted to illustrate a children's book with this technique. It's really fun and allows you to keep that hand-drawn feel but still have the versatility of creating collages digitally.
You can also create repeat patterns for fabric or other surface designs.
Verdict: ArtSnacks, as usual, was a great time. The included supplies were top-notch and imaginative. Although the colors vary from box to box, I quite liked the very natural assortment that I ended up with. These were the perfect supplies to create sketches that I could then turn into digital work. I consistently look forward to this awesome box and if you are on the hunt for some supplies to play with at home (winter indoor time is fast approaching!) this is one that is worth your time and $$$. If you would have purchased these items outright, the total would have come to 63.67.
FYI, if you need help or inspiration, try the ArtSnacks online community. OR leave me a message and I will try to help or spark your imagination!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, you will receive the October box if you subscribe.
Value Breakdown: This box costs $39 with free shipping, meaning each of the 6 items has an average cost of $6.50.
Check out all of our ArtSnacks reviews and the best arts & crafts subscription boxes of 2020!
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What did you create with the September ArtSnacks items?
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