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 October 2020 Review
Shall we peek inside?
A very cute ArtSnacks sticker arrived. I always love these little pretzel pencil stickers!
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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Plumchester Paint Marker in 'Purple' - Retail Value $8.99
FYI: You might receive a different color.
I don't reach for paint markers all that often, but whenever I play with them I have a good time! I hope to make them more of a regular occurrence in my studio, and this purple is totally winning me over. The pigment level here is awesome, the marker is smooth, and this pen is just really fun to doodle with.
A good purple, indeed!
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Sennelier Ink Brush in 'Sennelier Yellow' - Retail Value $7.95
FYI: You might receive a different color.
I absolutely adore watercolors but they can be a pain to use on the go or outside if you don't have a nice surface to stretch out on. These totally portable ink brush pens are a great solution. You can use them as-is for a bright and impressive painting experience (thanks to that brush tip!) or lay your color down with this pen and then return with a wet brush for more of a sheer and unpredictable watercolor look.
So warm!
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Winsor & Newton Fineliner 0.3 in 'Cool Grey' - Retail Value $2.99
FYI: You might receive a different size or color.
This dainty little pen feels so nice to hold! It has a great weight and writes very smoothly. I was pleased to discover that the ink color was a beautiful grey color instead of black. The small 0.3 tip is perfect for adding in little details and I think this specific shade of grey is going to be a stunner for crosshatch shadows.
I feel like this is a super chic alternative to black.
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Royal Talens Indian Ink, 11 mL - Retail Value $4.95
Big fan of India ink here. It's so expressive with a brush and the black ink feels super dramatic. This ink was included this month with a calligraphy nib (more on that below) but since I am pretty dreadful with lettering and nibs in general, I see this being more likely used with some of my favorite brushes for line work and expressive sketching.
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Speedball Standard Penholder - Retail Value $1.70
Speedball Standard Point Pen Nib, #512 Bowl Pointed - Retail Value $1.70
Here are our nib and pen holder! Not going to lie, I find these to feel so scratchy on paper and there is certainly a learning curve to use them.
Here is a peek at the India ink and the quill pen in use.
FYI: Items below will arrive in the PLUS box.
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Plumchester Paint Marker in 'Black' - Retail Value $8.99
Plumchester Paint Marker in 'White' - Retail Value $8.99
In addition to our pretty purple, we also received a black and white Plumchester paint marker. These performed great, just like the purple! The black one is bold and great for really eye-catching lines and the white is ideal for using on colored paper or adding in highlights to your work.
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Bienfang Smooth Surface Bristol Paper Pad, 9"x12" - Retail Value $6.23
I have a lot of paper in my studio. Like, A LOT. But the majority of it is watercolor. I feel like I must have forgotten how much I love a smooth finish because it feels so nice to use markers on and if you plan on transferring your work to a digital program, a smooth finish is more ideal since the paper just fades into nothingness. While this paper might not be heavy enough for wetter mediums, it's great for markers, ink, colored pencils, and pens.
1 of 8 | I first drew an outline with the grey fineliner.
Here is a look at the final sketch. I think I will probably pop in later and do some ink wash for the background. I am thinking maybe a red-violet or bold blue!
Verdict: ArtSnacks delivered a lot of fun this month, though at first, I found the colors challenging! I don't work with a lot of purples but I liked the contrast between the purple and yellow. I always find the included items a challenge to create something with, but sometimes limiting your materials is a great exercise. Art Snacks is a fantastic creativity booster as well as being a delightful way to build up your stash of supplies and explore items you might have never picked up at the art supply store.
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 November box if you subscribe.
Value Breakdown: This box costs $39 with free shipping, meaning each of the 8 items has an average cost of $4.88.
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 October ArtSnacks items?
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