My First Professional Alcohol Markers
August 2026 ~ SketchBox Unboxing
very SketchBox feels like opening a little box of creative possibilities. This month I stepped completely outside my comfort zone and discovered what it’s like to work with professional alcohol markers for the very first time.
One of the things I love most about being an artist is that there is always something new to learn.
I’ve spent years working primarily in watercolor, so opening this month’s SketchBox felt like stepping into unfamiliar territory. Inside was a collection of professional illustration supplies centered around alcohol markers—a medium I’d never seriously explored before.
Sometimes that’s exactly what creativity needs.
Not another paintbrush.
Not another tube of watercolor.
Just the courage to try something completely different.
What Our Treasure Box Contained
- SketchBox Signature Illustration Markers
- Copic Sketch Marker
- Sakura Pigma Brush Pen
- Faber-Castell Polychromos Colored Pencil
- Professional Marker Paper
Everything was carefully selected to work together, making it easy to jump right in without wondering where to start.
My First Impressions
I honestly wasn’t expecting professional alcohol markers to feel so different from the inexpensive markers I remembered using years ago.
The ink flowed beautifully.
The colors blended far more naturally than I expected.
Instead of feeling streaky or dry, every marker seemed to glide across the paper.
I found myself smiling almost immediately.
Learning a new medium can be intimidating, but this box made the experience feel approachable and genuinely fun.
The Finished Artwork
For this month’s SketchBox School lesson, I created a colorful Southwestern-inspired landscape featuring towering cacti, warm desert mountains, a glowing mosaic sun, and a vibrant evening sky.
It’s certainly different from anything I’ve painted with watercolor, and that’s exactly why I enjoyed it.
Every project teaches something new.
Sometimes it’s about technique.
Sometimes it’s about confidence.
This one reminded me that growth happens when we allow ourselves to be beginners again.
Come Create With Me
If you’d like to see everything that came inside this month’s SketchBox and watch my genuine first reactions to these supplies, I’d love to have you join me on YouTube.
There’s something special about opening a new box of art supplies and discovering where they might lead.
I hope you’ll come along for the adventure. 🎥 Watch the Video
This Adventure Was Made Possible By
SketchBox
Discover monthly collections of thoughtfully selected art supplies, creative projects, and lessons designed to encourage experimentation and artistic growth.
Thank you @getSketchBox for another wonderful month of creative inspiration.
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