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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 the following month. For example, a purchase made on or before September 28th will be shipped October 1st. A purchase made on September 29th will be shipped November 1st.
Smart Art sends all sorts of different art supplies and project ideas out, so you never quite know what you will receive. I had no idea what this one was at first glance.
The August 2016 Smart Art focused on Sgraffito Painting. The information booklet includes history on the technique and gives some details on the materials used in the technique. Also included are some tips on how to complete the project, a list of included tools and set-by-step directions.
Materials
The box included:
~Art Alternatives Oil Pastel 24 Piece Set
~Ampersand Claybord (8×8 2PCS, 5×5 1PC)
~Higgins Black Magic Waterproof India Ink (1oz)
~Royal Brush Engraving Tool Set
~Pro Stroke Premium White Bristle Brush (Round 6)
Instructions & Project
I didn’t follow this project exactly. I opted not to sketch out my subject on a piece of paper first. I decided to just do the project and then figure out what my design would be.
I cannot even tell you how excited I was about this project. I used to LOVE making these when I was a kid. Except instead of oil pastels and India Ink, I would just use crayons and then scratch out my design with the end of a paper clip (it worked I swear). I felt like this was the grown-up version of that!
I used my oil pastels to create a random pattern on my board. As I was doing it, I brushed the extra little clumps off, so they didn’t blend into another color.
I did two coats of the India Ink and let it dry for about 20 minutes before stratching my pattern.
As I mentioned, I didn’t sketch a design out first and transfer it to my board like the instructions said. I decided just to wing it and have fun with it. I love how it came out and had such a good time with this one.
What do you think of Smart Art? If you are interested in subscribing or want to learn more, you can check them out here.