Do You get art subscription boxes? Do they pile up? How about duplicate supplies from one box to another or worse from the same brand box or supplies that don't work well together or you know you won't use because you just don't enjoy the medium? Do you sometimes get frustrated by your art subscription box? I would love to hear your thoughts...
I do scrawlrbox sometimes (it's really the only UK one, apart from Artful, which I find is vastly overpriced.) I tend to wait until the boxes are put on the website for general sale after they have been sent out before buying them. It is slightly more expensive that way, but I'm not wasting money on supplies I know that I won't use. I have quite a large collection of art supplies now so I'll only buy boxes of things that I really want to try. The paper is usually disappointing, though, especially if it's unbranded watercolour paper.
So I struggle so much with the art box thing. I start out with the best intentions and promise myself I will use the supplies immediately even if just to experiment. But eventually they pile up. I also love the element of surprise of opening them. But eventually I get overwhelmed by having too many options when it comes to creating, and I don’t know where to start. And then the guilt sets in because I’m not using them. It’s a vicious circle for me. Right now I don’t receive any, and I’m hoping FOMO doesn’t kick in and send me down that rabbit hole again!
I hear you, it’s like you have a pile of supplies judging you for being less than enthused to use them and the guilt of consuming and not using is real too. It is my hope that a curated collection can still provide a surprise when you see it unboxed but also allow you to only choose what most excites you and that by creating videos where you can use your supplies and create along not only will they get used, it will feel like getting together with art friends for some creative fun and make the whole experience more enjoyable. If you haven’t seen them yet check out my curated collections. I have just released my second one during a live stream yesterday. The replay is available to watch.
I can see the fun of art boxes, but I’ve already got too many art supplies that sit too long unused. Unless they’re just cheap or for fun, I’m trying to be more purposeful in my art supply purchases. One way I do that is to look to add to already existing but small sets, like Holbein gouache or Luminance color pencils or any number of other color sets that I can add to. But there are still so many temptations out there and sales come along…it’s hard not to cave.😮
Copic are my favourite liners, they dry fast and are the only ones I've found that are actually alcohol marker and waterproof like they claim. I just wish they weren't so expensive, they're like £5 each at the moment. I've never done subscription boxes because honestly they feel like a waste to me. I'd rather pick out supplies myself so I know I'm not getting duplicates or colours I won't use. If I want to try a new medium I'll just buy a few colours to test out. I do watch opening videos to see if there's something I might wanna research though.
sorry to say this, but most of us dont have money to waste on buying art boxes and the letting them build up. I wish i could afford them. But i did love your video on them though, so in that way I wish you all the best.
@@ClarkFineArt why not do what i do. I go back to the company web site and then look at the old boxes or other youtube unboxing videos to see whats in the box, then I/you can see if you like the content and then decide weather yoyu want to buy it. you will save a lot of money and can still make a video on it. And i really did love the review.
@@Taterniac I agree going back and looking at past boxes or even picking out just the items that interest you would be a great way to ensure you like the box and will use the contents. Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed the video.
I love my little notebook. I keep it in my purse and just sketch something when waiting. For example I was waiting on my son to walk out of school and I had about 15 min and I just quickly sketched the school and all the busses etc. these books tell a story by the end, ya know!?
I like getting one artbox a month, more seems like too much for me. So far I haven't had it pile up or gotten too many dupes. Also the "white" paintpen with the orange sticker from the upcrate is a neon orange.
Check with local schools. Art supplies are something art classes need. My local highschool had a fire that took out the band, choir, gym and cafeteria. Although the art rooms (separate building) were not involved in the fire in any shape or form, the cleaning crew threw away the entire schools supplies including paper, unused clay, tools and paint. We donated what we could.
I don’t think I would use them in anything but a sketchbook and I think that’s what they don’t interest me as much, I wouldn’t use them in regular art pieces.
Hey Angela! I haven't tried the Strathmore Mixed Media Boards that I recall, though I'm definitely intrigued! Lol. The ones that I have tried are the Canson Plein Air Mixed Media Artboards, and I love them!
@ClarkFineArt it would be interesting to see the difference! I think I still have some of the Canson ones left. Maybe we could work out some sort of trade! Lol
Someone who had four subscription: paletteful, scrawlrbox, Artsnacks and Sketchbox, I did go from 4 to just one..I actually think there's one I regret not keeping. However, I wouldn't be as negative as I found the comments here. I'm an artist who's been doing art for over 30 yrs (I went to a HS and college for art) I found these boxes helpful. Some artists get in a rut, some need to rediscover other mediums. I found as someone who mainly did photography I forgot how much I enjoyed using markers and watercolors. I also would've never used paint markers if it wasn't for subscription. You have to remember that it does save artists money. It saved me tons of money on quality paper especially watercolor paper. Having artist grade supplies can save money as well as finally giving ppl a chance to try something they been wanting to. For me it was the derwent inktense. I even finally got Japanese pens and mechanical pencils that I spent yrs hearing about but many are hard to find or expensive. I personally rarely found a box I didn't use. The one time was a scratch paper set..I gave it to another artist friend. It's really about finding the right box for you, passion for a particular medium or opened to trying other ones. I think ppl can waste money if they don't research on these.
I think you are correct finding the right box if you want to get a subscription is key! If you are just getting one box you also are less likely to receive multiple items of the same thing.
Would gladly accept the Neocolors II as a gift 😄😄 Been wanting to try them out for a long time now. Thank you for the haul! Can't get enough of these videos! Subscribed! 👌
I use to get art boxes every month but after awhile I started getting duplicates or items I knew I just would use. I have 12 grandchildren and they all love art supplies so I gift them the items I know that they will use and love. I am sure that those that receive the art supplies you gift them are grateful for them.
Yes definitely! I never felt it was going to waste, I just put together gifts for friends and family I buy for throughout the year anyway, that also love art supplies and creating, and they always enjoy getting the supplies. It saves me from spending more buying another gift. Win win!
The first item shown is a butcher tray, traditionally the butcher’s would use these to put meat on in their shops. They are metal and have a ceramic enamel on them, which makes them wonderful to put paint on them and mix using it as a palette.
@@ClarkFineArt oh ok! I mean that's what I would have used it for when I saw it, but I wasn't sure what you were using it for. I was thinking maybe it was for some other type of Art... Maybe inking woodcuts...idk! Thank you for the answer!
I did ArtSnacks for awhile, but once I started to figure out what supplies I liked and didn’t like, I canceled my subscription because I found that a lot of what they sent weren’t the types of supplies I prefer to work with. Especially when it comes to watercolor paper and brushes. So much hot pressed paper and so many tiny brushes!
@@ClarkFineArt I’ve actually looked in their shop and they don’t even stock anything bigger than a size 6. I love a smaller brush when I need one, but most of the time, I’m using size 8 and up. That’s a good point about the cost, though.
