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An artistic subscription box is one of the best gifts you can give to yourself or a creative friend. Typically delivered monthly, these kits come with specially selected supplies, whether paints, inks, or paper, to surprise and inspire you. Because everyone’s preferences are different, you probably won’t fall in love with every product you receive every month. Still, subscription boxes are a fun way to try out products that you may not have used before, or have not even known. If you’ve ever been overwhelmed with all the choices at a typical art store, these boxes are also a handy way to whet your taste so you can be better informed the next time you’re shopping in person. Below are five of our favorite art subscription services that have the best deals for American artists. (If you’re based elsewhere, we recommend that you consider the cost of international shipping, as it can really drive up the price.)

ARTNEWS RECOMMENDS
Pallet packs
This subscription service is one of the most consistent in terms of quality and value. The products are almost always exciting, and you often feel like you’re getting a good deal. It’s also one of the most carefully curated options we’ve come across – packs often focus on a particular medium or product, and colors and materials are complementary so you can use everything in the same artwork. For example, a box sent in the past included a set of Sakura Koi brush pens, along with a Sakura micron pen, Pigma brush pen, Pentel Pointliner pens, and other goodies. walnut oil, a palette knife and a premium Robert Simmons white sable brush. You always get a paper surface and the products are almost always artist quality. You can subscribe to one of three types of boxes: Petite packs, Paletteful packs, which contain more items, and Young Artist packs, and each box comes with a basic description of the tools as well as individual retail prices. Month-to-month subscription, three-month prepayment, and six-month prepayment options are available; you can also buy previous boxes and unique packs individually.

WE LIKE TOO
SketchBox
Created in 2015 by artists, SketchBox is an option that relies heavily on drawing and illustration tools. This is a good option for artists who like to experiment with markers, pens and pencils and want to check out some lesser-known brands, although popular manufacturers such as Caran d’Ache, Krink and Van Gogh are certainly represented. Each month, you will receive between four and nine supplies grouped freely according to a theme. Previous boxes contained illustration markers, acrylic inks, technical sketches, traditional sumi ink, and water-soluble tinted graphites. From time to time, SketchBox also includes special products made in conjunction with various brands; for example, he worked with Copic to produce proprietary markers. You can choose between a basic box or a premium box with better quality materials. As well as providing a descriptive breakdown, with retail prices, of each product included, SketchBox has also cultivated huge success on social media, so you can see what other creatives have been up to with their monthly materials.

ANOTHER GOOD CHOICE
The craftsman’s box
If you want to learn a new crafting technique every month and don’t mind spending a hefty price tag, consider this subscription option. Designed for artists ages 18 and up, The Crafter’s Box sends you kits with everything you need to learn skills like locker hanging, paper quilling, manual cement pouring and crafting. cold soap. In addition to high-quality tools from handcrafted suppliers, you have access to a digital workshop run by an expert manufacturer so you can learn with confidence. Individual workshops are also available starting at $ 75.00.

CHOICE OF STUDENTS
Smart art boxes
Smart Art Boxes are another relatively expensive option, but you get a generous amount of supplies that are well worth it. Each kit is centered on a specific art form; previous boxes featured marbling, Chinese brush painting, scratch art, gouache, hand lettering, etc. The brands presented are diverse and often interesting: you may be working with Sennelier inks, Marabu paint or Hahnemühle paper. This is a great option for people who want a fair amount of technical advice, as each box comes with a leaflet that not only provides an explanation of each tool, but also tips on their use and a history of the materials. included. There are also project ideas and challenges to encourage you to push your skills. One, three and six month plans are available; In addition, the company offers individual boxes designed as an introduction to various mediums including hand lettering and colored pencil.

ALSO CONSIDER
ArtSnacks
ArtSnacks is similar to SketchBox in that it focuses on drawing and illustration tools, but we find that it can be hit and miss. Product groupings tend to be quite random in terms of color and media choices; you’ll get a lot of pens and markers, but you don’t necessarily want to use them all for the same piece of art. For example, one box included a Sakura Pigma graphic pen, Daniel Smith watercolors, a general’s pencil, and a Princeton Kolinsky sand brush. Another featured a Marabu Blue Art Pencil, Sennelier 3D Abstract Acrylic Liner, Tombow Mono Pencil, and Kingart Artist Brush. If you have a fairly adventurous approach to art, this can be a good way to build your toolkit; The cool thing about ArtSnacks is that they sometimes have limited edition or exclusive supplies, like a painting collaboration with Golden Acrylics. You can choose to receive four or five art products each month, or pay a little more and get five to six products plus an appropriate surface for your work. Previous boxes and a full line of art supplies are also available for purchase.