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.
February has come and gone, and now we’re diving into one of the biggest months of my year—March! This month is packed with excitement, from my son's 10th birthday and my husband's 40th, to the state basketball tournament, a week-long work conference, and spring break! Life is definitely crazy this time of year, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Even with the chaos, I managed to carve out some craft time, all thanks to SketchBox! My 2025 resolution is still going strong, and I had a blast with this month's creative challenge. Check out below to see what I came up with!
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
SketchBox used to have an ongoing contest where a subscriber's artwork was featured on the lid of their box. For the past few months, they’ve been sending out repeat boxes—likely to use up inventory—but they mentioned that new artwork would return in the new year. However, we've still been receiving repeat boxes up until now. But here’s a twist—there’s no artwork on the box at all this time! It looks like they’ve decided to continue showcasing the winning artwork on the back of the pamphlet instead, which you’ll see below.
What's Inside the Box
Content Pamphlet
Instead of the traditional postcard, SketchBox has now transitioned to a full pamphlet featuring the box’s contents, a QR code for SketchBox School where you can learn how to use the materials, additional tips, and even details on how to enter a giveaway! Here, you can also see the winner of the monthly contest, which is usually featured on the shipping box. This month’s winning artwork, created by @deadleft86, is a really neat depiction of a fish chowing down on a snack, showcased in a fantastic color palette.
Artist Card
This month's artist card was created by Sarah Mason and showcases a happy woman relaxing in a cup of black coffee. Extremely creative and unique, this artwork seriously makes me crave a cup of joe! Check out this fabulous artist's Instagram, @sketchbooksarah, for more of her amazing work—she's incredibly talented!
Rockwell Coffee Watercolor - Retail Value $20.98
I didn’t start drinking coffee until my 30s, but now I’m absolutely addicted. There’s nothing better than waking up and sitting down with a steaming hot cup of coffee to start the morning right. I love the smell, the taste, and the energy it gives me.
That being said, I was beyond excited to receive these unique watercolor tubes! Made from genuine coffee, they produce deep, rich colors and literally smell like a freshly brewed cup of joe. They also have exceptional light resistance and clarity, and the overall quality is amazing. I was so happy to add them to my watercolor collection!
SketchBox Signature Quill Brush - Retail Value $14.00
Brushes are definitely one of my favorite things to receive in this subscription, and this month’s pick was awesome! We’ve gotten a variety of sizes in the past, but this size 2 brush is larger than what we usually get. It’s soft and fluffy with a nice point, holds a ton of watercolor, and creates beautiful, delicate washes with some really cool effects. I had so much fun painting with it and was thrilled to add a larger brush to my collection!
Bear Claw Pencil - Retail Value $1.99
Next up, we got a triangular 4B pencil! It has a nice dark tip and a cool blue eraser. The ergonomic design makes it super comfortable to hold, and the eraser works really well—perfect for sketching. You can never have too many pencils, so I was definitely happy to add this one to my collection!
SketchBox Signature Alcohol Marker - Retail Value $5.75
Also included this month was a signature alcohol marker. I love the texture that alcohol ink creates on paper and was excited to see this neutral hue in the box. With two different tips, it allows for a variety of line weights and details. The creamy caramel color fits perfectly with the coffee theme and complements the other included colors beautifully.
Pigment Real Brush - Retail Value $6.99
Acrylic paint is always fun, but when it comes in a brush pen form, I love it even more! The almond hue is another perfect addition to the coffee theme, and its opaque color adds a nice, subtle depth to toned paper. The ink flows smoothly from the bristles, making it super easy to use while creating striking highlights.
Derwent Drawing Pencil - Retail Value $3.69
Also included in this month's box was a wheat-colored drawing pencil. This high-quality colored pencil was great for creating highlights. Its round design fit comfortably in my hand, and I really appreciated receiving it!
Paint on Pad - Retail Value $7.95
The last item I received was a pad of 15 sheets of paper. This 4" x 6" mixed media paper holds watercolor well. While not as thick as some other types, it has a lovely natural tone that pairs perfectly with the coffee-themed supplies and works great for postcards!
Testing
Aren’t this month’s shades gorgeous? This color palette not only coordinates perfectly with a cup of my favorite coffee and creamer, but it also smells like it! This month’s curation was so much fun!
SketchBox March Project
As I mentioned above, this month is super busy for me. My baby, Charlie, is turning ten, and he decided on a "Bigfoot" theme for his party. While I sent out digital invites, I make him send hand-written thank you cards, so for this month’s art project, I decided to create a Bigfoot design. Using all of this month’s coffee-themed supplies, I made a Sasquatch marching through some pine trees. It’s not perfect, but Charlie loved it and is excited to write on the back. Also pictured is one of the centerpieces Charlie helped me create. We love craft time!
The Verdict
SketchBox is a really great subscription that sends high quality supplies in all sorts of different mediums. This month's "Premium Coffee Watercolor" theme featured a new twist on my favorite medium. I appreciated the palette of colors and the fun variety of pens, markers, and brushes. With enough product to create at least 15 different pieces, I was happy with the curation, and plan on making more notes for Charlie to write his thank you notes on. Overall, I had a lot of fun! I can't wait to see what we will discover in April. Any ideas?
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Value Breakdown
Because some 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 $61.35 value, which is close to the cost of the box, but 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 March box was February 21st, but you can still subscribe to get next month's box.
What do you think of SketchBox?
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