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Disclosure: This complimentary box was sent for review purposes. As always, all opinions are my own and no compensation was received.
Smart Art Box
Cost:$49.95/month.
Ships To: United States.
Coupon Code: N/A
Smart Art provides artists with diverse high quality materials that inspire and nourish creativity. Each month subscribers receive a new box featuring a different artist that highlights their time period, 8-11 trial/full sized art supplies, a suggested project and a detailed pamphlet introducing a new art medium.
Smart Art ships via USPS and ships on or around the 1st of the month. If you sign up on or before the 28th of the month you will get the box that will be released on the 1st of the following month! All orders processed after the 28th will ship the month after following month. For example, a purchase made on January 28th will be shipped February 1st. A purchase made on January 29th will be shipped March 1st.
Smart Art sends all sorts of different art supplies and project ideas out, so you never quite know what you will receive.
The January 2016 Smart Art Box focused on Colored Pencils and included a little history about them, as well as, some techniques (layering and burnishing) they are used for.
The following supplies were included:
~Derwent Coloursoft Pencil Set (12pcs) ($19.94): These colored pencils retail for around $25 and are available on Amazon right now for $19.94. They are much softer (as you probably expected by the name) than “regular” colored pencils which makes them great for mixing and blending. One thing I love about Smart Art is that they sent very high quality materials. These will take you through the suggested project for this box and beyond.
~Maruman Artist Paper Series Book ($18.38): Amazon is the only place I could find this exact book for sale so I used that price. This spiral notebook has 20 acid-free natural white sheets and the 72lb paper has a surfaced texture that allows you to create lovely gradations. I love the tie closure on the side and think it’s a great notebook to travel with so you can always have materials with you.
~Kum Long Point Pencil Sharpener ($6.94): This pencil sharpener is designed to provide the longest, sharpest pencil point with the least chance of breakage. This is perfect! It also includes two standard replacement blades. Regardless of if I am coloring, writing, drawing (I admit that doesn’t happen much), I like the sharpest point possible!
~Finetec Blending Pencil ($19.68): I completely missed this at first. I was just about to note that I didn’t receive it in my box, but decided to give the box one more sweep and there it was. I was this close to tossing a $20 pencil. Eeek! It’s completely colorless and is designed to help you blend colors without lightening them. It works as promised – it’s kind of like magic actually.
~The Project: This month’s suggested project was to create a Hyperrealistic Peacock. I haven’t started mine yet, but I am certain it won’t look anything like Step 6 on here. That’s okay though because it’s part of the fun.
All totaled I came up with a value of $64.94 for the January 2016 Smart Art box. I was impressed by the value and would this if you want to try different types of art projects and need some guidance along the way!
What do you think of Smart Art? If you are interested in subscribing or want to learn more you can check them out here.
