As in the recent past, I am reviewing more @getSketchBox monthly subscription boxes. Maybe you wonder why I’m so far behind? Well, the true story is that I started this subscription effective June 2023 when going through a fairly serious health issue. I felt these boxes would distract me from my silly self, and they did because I looked forward to each month, but I did NOTHING constructive with the boxes until this Summer. So now you readers get to suffer from my ramblings and so-called renderings that are a result from each month.
For the #SketchBoxJuly2024, the box included the following:
Custom Faber-Castell PolyChroma Pencil 8 Set (Cadmium Orange, Cobalt Green, Fuschia, Grass Green, Mauve, Naples Yellow, Ultramarine, Red-Violet), Finesse Colored Pencil Blender, Faber-Castell Creative Marker (White 1.5mm), SketchBox Signature Pencil Case, SketchBox Exclusive UglyBook Sketchbook
It’s usual, I thoroughly enjoyed this month’s box and had a good time with Summer fruit drawings. I know, I know…an apple is for Fall, but having grown up on an apple and peach orchard, I had to do an apple for memory’s sake.
I had way too much fun with these pencils, and the white highlighter. I had never used a colored pencil blender, and let me just say…it is the bomb! So colored pencil blenders will be in my future..along with purchasing a really good set of colored pencils. #SketchBox…y’all are a bad influence – ha! I will have to say, the paper is really nice, except that I had trouble tearing it off the pad. Eeeeeeek…
The pencil case will definitely come in handy when out and about!
For #SketchBoxAugust2024, the box was full of wonderful watercolors…
Windsor Newton Cotman Watercolour Sketchbox Packet Set, Finesse, Sketchbox Signature Dual Brush, Jacquard Masking Fluid (Drawing Gum), Watercolour Bookmark Pad (300 g/m, 140 lb).
Since watercolor is a little bit in my wheelhouse, I had a great time with this month’s box, and using bookmark-sized paper was a different way to paint. The prompt for this month was “travel”, so in my mind, I visited the leaning toward of Pizza.
And then I traveled to fantasy land, and did a tall skinny whimsical house.
This was a great box! The travel watercolor set of paints are so vivid and blend so well. The brush with the set is good, and the dual brush is great quality. And yes, I’m a believer in using mask to keep me within the lines, and provide some structure. Yay @getSketchBox…! Thanks so much!
And finally we have #SketchBoxSeptember2024. Let me just say that this month’s box was a real challenge for me, but in a positive way…just more things that I hadn’t ever used, and I definitely need to expand my small little art world.
Amsterdam Standard Acrylics (Pearl Green, Pearl, Pearl White, Pearl Violet, Pearl Red, Pearl Yellow, Pearl Blue, Oxide Black), Sketchbox Signature Dual Acrylic Brush (Chisel & detail ends), Stonehenge Aqua Color Press (Black Heavy)
The black paper is definitely something I had never used, along with the pearl acrylic tubes of paint. Took some getting used to, and will admit I threw one thing I did in the trash, but the further I went, the more comfortable I was with the paint. And at first, I used the wrong brush, and finally found the right one, and that made a huge difference. Funny at how that is!
You can probably tell the hummingbird was the first BIRD (this month’s prompt) I did. We have resident hummingbirds here every Summer, and they’re so much fun to watch, and love the vivid colors of their feathers. Then the blue jay was the third try – not showing you the second try…it went in the trash! Mr blue jay was fun, and great practice for me.
As usual, stay tuned for the final 3 months’ worth 2024 SketchBox goodies.
hailey-stout studio 