Exploring an Art Kit: Unboxing, Swatching, and Review
Introduction: As the Thanksgiving season approached, my aunt surprised me with an art kit, sparking my curiosity. Communicating primarily in Creole, she conveyed the offer through a picture, leaving me intrigued about the contents. In this blog post, I'll take you through the unboxing, swatching, and review of this unexpected gift.
Unboxing the Art Kit: The art kit came in a beautiful, sturdy box, instantly catching my eye. Reflecting on my past as a packaging designer, I could envision repurposing it with a different cover paper. Despite the absence of an inside picture, I eagerly opened the box at my mom's house, ready to explore the artistic treasures within.
Contents of the Kit: Inside the box, a quote by Pablo Picasso welcomed me, setting the artistic tone for what lay ahead. The kit boasted 24 acrylic colors, 12 paint brushes, a spatula, an acrylic palette, sponges, an instruction card for brush cleaning, and three canvas pads. Although I didn't put everything back as originally packaged, the spatula, sponges, and canvas panels were revealed.
Exploring the Tools: The metal spatula, size 3, impressed with its quality, and the sponges offered a new painting experience. The canvas panels, initially overlooked, added to the surprise element. The instruction card guided me to remove the protective film from the clear paint palette, emphasizing attention to detail.
Swatching and Testing: I delved into swatching the acrylic colors, uncovering their characteristics. The colors, while smooth and buttery, proved thin in pigment, requiring multiple layers for adequate coverage. The accompanying brushes felt smooth and decent, designed for acrylic, oil, or watercolor.
Painting Experience: In an attempt to test the kit thoroughly, I created a beach scene without any reference. The colors, particularly the yellows, appeared translucent, prompting me to add white for opacity. While the painting outcome was okay, the thinness of the paint was evident.
Reviewing on Amazon: To provide a comprehensive review, I checked the kit on Amazon, discovering it was no longer available. Despite positive reviews, some users mentioned the lack of coverage and disappointment in paint quality. The kit, possibly priced between $25 to $45, seemed more suitable for beginners than professionals.
Drying Characteristics: Upon concluding the review, I observed that the colors dried with a matte finish, adding another dimension to consider when purchasing paints.
Conclusion: In this journey of unboxing and exploring the art kit, I found it to be a suitable gift for beginners or young artists. While not ideal for professional use, it offers a chance for creative exploration, especially with its matte drying quality. If you're interested in more art supply reviews, share your thoughts in the comments below, and don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this post. Until the next creative adventure!