This year I once again pre-ordered the Artsnacks Ink Collection box to use this October for an ink drawing every day! If you don't know, Inktober is a popular drawing challenge that was started by Jake Parker to practice his ink drawing every day during the month of October. This has evolved into something that many people participate in, with many different adaptations such as the Artsnacks Ink Challenge. There is a prompt to inspire your drawing for each day during the month of October and I bought the ink collection box because there is an added challenge of using only the supplies provided in the box for all of your drawings. So let's take a look at what supplies I'll be using during this year's challenge.
First, a shoutout to Mel Stringer for designing the stickers and cover for the sketchbook provided in this year's box. Go check them out! The sketchpad is the Bienfang Paper Pad and is an 8"x8" square pad with 32 160gsm pages. This is an Artsnacks exclusive and retails for $38.99. This paper is nice and thick, perfect for an ink challenge. I swatched all the other items on the paper and none of them bled through onto the back side of the paper.
Next was a set of Sakura Pigma Micron Pens in 08, 10, and 12. These are a waterproof ink once dry and retail for $10.02. I was disappointed to see these because they are personally my least favorite fine liners. The ink is great, I just find the nibs can break easily if you use too much pressure. However, these are thicker than the ones I have had in the passed. So fingers crossed that I have better luck with these.
We also received another common art supply, a set of Sakura Gelly Roll Gel Pens in classic white. There were also 3 of these, a 05, 08, and 10. These retail for $4.98. Again, a bit disappointed to see something so common provided as a supply. It does note on the card that it is a customer favorite, but to me that fells like something most of your customers already own and shouldn't be provided in a box like this. I would have rather seen a paint pen in white or even a less well known brand of gel pen. But these do work really well and I like the variety of sizes that were provided. Can't really go wrong with a classic.
There were two different ink brush pens provided as well. One is the Copic Gassenfude brush pen, this one has a pretty large brush and can cover larger areas while also allowing for a variety of line weights. I'm pretty sure one of these was in a previous year's box as well. This one retails for $7.50. The other brush pen is the Uni Pin Extra Fine Brush Pen that has a much smaller brush. The ink in this one is waterproof once dry and it retails for $6.50.. Both of these brush pens swatched nicely.
Lastly there was a Marabu Aqua Ink and a Trekell Progege Synthetic Kolinsky Artist Brush to use with it. The ink is a watercolor ink and I received the color magenta. This ink says it is transparent and that is very true. Even swatched straight out of the bottle without any water added, you can definitely see through it. The ink retails for $3.42 and the brush retails for $9.24. I did like the brush, but I am definitely not an expert when it comes to fine art brushes. This one is the # 4 round and I think it will be great for coloring in areas or for some finer details.
And that is everything. Overall, I'm a little disappointed in the lack of variety and seeing so many repeat items from previous years in the box. I like to get new and interesting products to try, so just a bit of a let down to see so many common supplies. However, I'm still looking forward to making a drawing every day using these supplies!
If you'd like to watch me unbox and swatch the items in this box, I have a video on my youtube channel!
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