olivermoss: (Default)
Oliver Moss ([personal profile] olivermoss) wrote in [community profile] drawesome2018-02-16 12:46 am

My final Sketchbox review!

The most recent box I got made me decide to renew my subscription. I may review individual products, but I feel that 3 box reviews are plenty :) Or, who knows, maybe I'll become a YouTuber who does those slo-mo unboxing videos.

The box had a few items, but the star was a tin of 12 Derwent Inktense pencils. I've tried watercolor pencils a few times and they've always made me feel inept. These 'ink pencils' work how I always wished 'watercolor pencils' would.





Some samples. I applied the water 2 different ways in the top right drawing, I painted the water side to side on the top half of the robot, which is why there is a bit of a line effect. In the bottom half you can see more careful water application.


The box also came with 3 brush pens, and a small Strathmore Toned Mixed Media pad labeled 'sample only, not for sale'. I used the pad in my mushroom drawing. It'll be fun to use, but I am amused that it's 4x6 inch, 10 sheet sample.

The first pen is a Sakura Pigma Brush Pen in black. It's waterproof and I used it in the robot drawing. I put down color and drew over it, like in their demo video for this month.

The second is a Prismacolor Premier Brush Pen. Mine is blue. They sent out random colors.

The third pen is a Ecoline Liquid Watercolor Brush Pen. It's also a random color one. I got a meh sort of a yellow.


For completeness, here blue and yellow pen marks:





My overall review of Sketchbox is this:

The boxes seem to contain a few awesome things and a few things to pad out the box. Using their products has solved a ton of things holding me back. I was impressed by them providing translations for the packaging on Japanese pens in a previous box. The product demo videos they've started doing are also a nice touch.

I've checked prices for the box items on Amazon. The boxes are a chunk of change, but they do give good value and the items are very well chosen. A lot of the money I've spent on art supplies before was pretty much wasted. On a ROI basis, this has been money very well spent.
amberdreams: (Default)

[personal profile] amberdreams 2018-02-16 08:55 am (UTC)(link)
I'm glad you feel you got your money's worth! - I'm still not sure I would (espeically given the amount of art supplies I've got already and am not using!). I got some Inktense pencils a while back and they are beautiful to use, I love them!
ruuger: My hand with the nails painted red and black resting on the keyboard of my laptop (Default)

[personal profile] ruuger 2018-02-16 09:14 am (UTC)(link)
I have the Inktense pencils, and they're really interesting. I actually bought them because you can also use them to paint on canvas - after the colors have been wetted, they become permanent once they've dried and can be even handwashed.
goss: Messy paint hands (Messy paint hands)

[personal profile] goss 2018-02-16 10:24 am (UTC)(link)
I didn't even know there were ink pencils. Cool! Thanks for posting some pics showing their use. Also, good to know that you feel these products have improved your output. And I also like that they come with demo videos. :)
mekare: Flower patterned Japanese paper (Default)

[personal profile] mekare 2018-02-16 11:13 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks for that third review! It is cool that they provide translations, I bought a Sakura pen and just went wi5 the pictograms....
adafrog: (Default)

[personal profile] adafrog 2018-02-18 12:26 am (UTC)(link)
That's great that it's working out so well for you.
dhampyresa: (Default)

[personal profile] dhampyresa 2018-02-18 10:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you for the reviews.
mekare: Flower patterned Japanese paper (Default)

[personal profile] mekare 2018-02-24 08:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Definitely. And be sure to rec individul products you keep getting that work out well.