Sketchbox Review: April 2026

April 2026 box review: matte-ink on kraft paper

The Pentel Mattehop gel pens are ridiculously satisfying. The color is bold, super opaque, and lays down with that flat, velvety finish that makes every mark feel intentional. I used them for the cupcake frosting and loved how graphic and punchy they looked against the Legion Stonehenge kraft paper.

The Uni Signo Broad White gel pen absolutely stole the show for me. That thick white line over the toned surface? So good. It gave me those crisp highlights and scratchy little accents that make a sketch feel alive.

I also loved having the Vintage Camel Yellow Sarasa Clip pen in the mix. It’s subtle, warm, kind of nostalgic, and worked especially well for lighter accents and texture without shouting over everything else.

The Stonehenge Kraft paper tied it all together. I let a lot of the paper color show through in my drawing, and I really liked leaning into that. The toned surface did so much of the work for me, making the bright pens and white highlights pop without needing to fill every inch.

I’ve seen other artists use these kinds of pens by layering and layering, allowing the colors to mix, and it looks beautiful. I admire it. I support it. I cannot emotionally handle getting pink ink on the rollerball of my white gel pen. Here's a link so you can enjoy that as well: 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWeh7SYjsoo/

Overall: a really satisfying box with materials that played well together.

 

A Simple Way to Teach Art History (Without Starting from Scratch)

Teaching art history can feel like a lot to piece together: slide presentations, notes, artists, assessments, and trying to make it all feel connected for students.

I’ve been working on a set of 90-minute art history lessons that I use in my own classroom, and I recently packaged everything into one place. It covers 12 major movements from the Renaissance to Pop Art, and follows a consistent structure so students know what to expect each time.

Each lesson includes:

• Learning targets, essential questions, and vocabulary
• Guided notes + slide support
• A short video or EdPuzzle 
• A quick “Memory Builder” quiz
• Options for discussion and assessment

I have also added a comparison chart + student worksheet + review activity to help students see how everything connects across movements.

The goal was to make something that could work in a lot of different situations:

• Art history days
• Sub plans
• Integrated studio units
• Or even as a mini-course

If you’re looking for a way to make art history feel more structured (and a little less overwhelming), you can check it out here: Art History Curriculum on TPT

If you try it, I’d love to hear how you use it in your classroom.