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.
ACTIVE DEAL: Save $5 off your first box!
CODE: SKETCH5
How in the world is it already January?! I was recently telling a friend that while I love December, it had me feeling as if I was white-water rafting down a rough and rushing river. With the holidays behind us, January has offered a bit of a reprieve, and I am ready to create! The January SketchBox arrived during the week and we were able to leisurely try out all of the contents. Read below to see what we discovered!
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
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SketchBox runs an ongoing contest to put a subscriber's artwork on the lid of their box. This month the artwork featured a portrait created by @pamelaschmaltz. Included in the box is information regarding how to enter the monthly contest on the info card. Check it out if you are interested!
What's Inside the Box
Content Card
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Each month we receive a content list of all this month's featured products, along with a short summary of each item and listed retail prices. Also included is a QR code for the SketchBox school where you can learn how to use the materials, try different techniques, and even create your own piece of artwork.
Artist Card
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This month's artist card was created by Lana Gloschat. With a master's degree in secondary education, she loves exploring new mediums, and is deeply inspired by nature. I absolutely love this butterfly piece and found her Instagram (@lanagloschatart) extremely beautiful and inspirational!
Sticker
This month's sticker features the Inktense Pan of watercolor, along with the SketchBox logo. Cute!
Derwent Inktense Pencil 6 Set - Retail Value $17.68
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I have mentioned many times that watercolor is my favorite medium, but I don't have a ton of experience with water color pencils. This set of 6 water-soluble pencils is amazing, and the vibrance they produce is astonishing. When paired with a bit of water and a brush, these pencils create some fantastic results. Receiving Golden Yellow, Amber, Peacock Blue, Light Olive, Red Violet, and Hot Red, the possibilities are endless, and have become mine (and my kids') new favorite supply!
Derwent Inktense Pan 6 Set - Retail Value $12.50
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Pairing perfectly with this month's water color pencils, we also received a set of 6 inktense pans. These pigments are a little different than watercolors, as they don't lift once they are dry. Blending well, there are opportunities to create a variety of hues and the colors were just as vibrant as the colored pencils. Unique and fun, we enjoyed playing around with these pans, and love how portable these little guys are!
Princeton 1/2 inch Lunar Blender - Retail Value $5.39
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I am always down for another brush and this Princeton version was one I was happy to receive. With a 1/2" blending tip, it brushes through the inktense pan beautifully and creates some very nice washes. While a little large to hone in on those finer details, it is great for a variety of other uses and is a great addition to my collection.
Hahnemuhle Agave Paper - Retail Value $6.95
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Typical of SketchBox, we also received a pad of custom made paper. With 10 sheets of 4" x 6" hot press, 135lb paper, we were able to create 10 masterpieces. With a slight texture, it worked well with an impressive amount of water and didn't curl on the edges.
Testing
Would you just look at those magnificent hues?! I am loving the rainbow of colors we received this month!
SketchBox January Projects
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Over Christmas break, I found myself scrolling through Pinterest pinning all sorts of craft projects that I just didn't have enough fire to create during the hustle and bustle. Now that I'm circling back, I just had to try out the snow globe I saved. Simple in design and quick to sketch out, we received the perfect colors to create this little guy.
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Utilizing all of this month's supplies, I sat at the dining room table and played around with some quick and fun designs.
Hank wanted to get in on this month's action, so he did some NBA logo's using the pans and pencils. He too was impressed with the supplies and couldn't believe how well the pencils blended in with just a little bit of water!
The Verdict
SketchBox is such a fun subscription and I always look forward to receiving it. Because I tend to get overwhelmed by all of the choices in a brick and mortar store, I love the fact I can receive high quality supplies that coordinate and work well together, right at my doorstep. Watercolor is obviously my fave, so this box was right on par for me with it's curation. I can't wait to see what I discover next month!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
Value Breakdown:
Because most of this month’s products were custom sizes or custom made for SketchBox, it was hard to determine an accurate retail value. BUT, now you can purchase some individual products from the Sketch Shop, making it easier to buy more of the items you love! The included contents card had a $54.60 value, which is over $10 over the cost of the box. Being that I loved every product and this month's theme, I felt it was a very good value, and a neat way to try items I may not 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 January box was December 21st, but you can still subscribe to get next month's box.
ACTIVE DEAL: Save $5 off your first box!
CODE: SKETCH5
What do you think of SketchBox?
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