May 2017 Premium Sketchbox

Every month, I receive a Sketchbox. This month, I have the premium box for $35 plus $5 shipping. The basic box is $25 plus $5 shipping. When you look at all the products inside, they all retail for around this. Now there are things that come every month, this includes; Sketchbox Sticker, Artist of the month box, Artist of the month tile, and a product description card. I will go through each of these items in detail below so that you can see what you get for the price. Now I did the unboxing on YouTube, you can find that here.  Even though I did a visual unboxing, I am going to go through everything that was in the box.

In every box you get a special inspiration piece from the featured artist of the month. The artist creates something from everything that is offered in the box each month. You can read more about the Artists of the month by clicking here. This month we received this gem:

Ok, let’s get started on everything you get in the box and I will have pictures to give you a good look at each product. First off, let’s take a look at everything you get.

May 2017 Premium Sketchbox

Derwent Watercolor Pencils 12pc Set – $25.99

Caran D’Ache Fiber Tipped Water Brush – $9.85

Zig CNKC 2200 Double Ended Marker – $3.46

YUPO Mini Pads (Bonus Items)

Total Retail: $39.30 + Bonus Items

Derwent Watercolor Pencils 12pc Set – $25.99

“These professional-quality, water-soluble pencils offer the freedom to switch from drawing to painting in an instant, with no change in tools. Use them to shade on dry paper, then quickly wash over with brush and water to get a blending effect. Create a dry pencil palette and use the included fiber tipped water brush to lift color.” – Product description card

I am very excited about these watercolor pencils. I have heard great things about them and have watched many YouTube videos about different ways to use  them.  When I write my art supply review, I will update this page to link to it so you can see exactly what can be done with them.

Caran D’Ache Fiber Tipped Water Brush – $9.85

“The fiber tip on this water brush makes it truly unique. It’s perfectly suited to handle the dry watercolor pencil medium. Use it to blend across colors, or add color directly to the tip with a watercolor pencil. This high quality water brush uses a push button systems to bring water to the tip in a very precise manner” – Product description card

This water brush is essential for watercolor in general, I can’t imagine how it will help with watercolor pencils. I can’t wait to do an art review on this brush as well. The one thing I will tell you is that the feel of this pen is very nice. I enjoy the fact that there is a push button to deliver the amount of water that you need. It also has a syringe type canister that allows for easier filling.

Zig CNKC 2200 Double Ended Marker – $3.46

“We included this double ended marker to allow you to fill in parts of your completed piece with the brush end or add line work and detail with the bullet end. Use it to add a polished look to your piece.” – Product description card.

I don’t know too much about this marker. I have actually never even heard of the brand. I have a few tests that I like to complete when I do an art supply review. I think until I can complete this I shouldn’t make any assumptions. However, It looks like it does specifically mention manga, which I have no knowledge of.

YUPO Mini Pads (Bonus Items)

“What sets sketchbox apart is the ability to compare an entire range of a brand’s offering – not just one item. This month we included the full range from Legion’s unique multi-media paper. Painting or drawing on the ultra-smooth surface of YUPO is different from regular watercolor or drawing paper, and will require some adjustments by the artist. YUPO is a synthetic (polypropylene) substrate with a non-porous surface that repels water so you can create, re-create, wipe clean, and start again if you’d like. It’s a truly unique take on watercolor paper and perfect for this month.” – Product description card.

The one thing that I will note with this is that a full pad of YUPO paper is well over $50 each. I haven’t ever heard of this paper but I do want to note that this paper brand is “tree-free”, as is mentioned on the front of each of the notepads there. This is a huge bonus because you can’t find these mini pads anywhere. I love that we are able to receive exclusivity on some art supplies. I will do my best to do some research on these paper types and try to do a quality review for them. When I complete it, I will update this post.

If you would like to get your hands on this sketchbook, or any in the future, please use this link so that I can get a credit to use towards next month’s box.