Three Art Supplies Worth Finding: Sketchbook, White Brush Pen, and Alcohol Markers

Introduction

There is a strange thrill in letting a shopping algorithm pick your art supplies. That is exactly what happened here: a full order was placed based purely on whatever Instagram’s shopping feed suggested for paper, pencils, markers, and finishing pens, and everything was tested in real use. The result is a mixed but honest haul. Two items genuinely impressed, one landed somewhere in the middle, and the whole experiment proves that useful finds can hide in unexpected places.

This article focuses on the three items worth a closer look: a square sketchbook, a white brush pen, and a 24-set of alcohol-based markers. Everything shipped in about two weeks after ordering.

ArtSnacks Plumchester Square Sketchbook

ArtSnacks is best known for its monthly art supply subscription boxes, but the brand also sells supplies individually, and this sketchbook was the first suggestion that came up when searching for art paper. At around $18, the first impression is that it feels more premium than the price suggests. The cover has a faux vegan leather texture in purple, and the page count is far higher than expected, with large pages that comfortably fit a full spread of artwork.

The practical test that matters most with any marker-friendly sketchbook is bleed-through. Blending two alcohol markers directly on a page did bleed to the reverse side, but the ink did not soak into the next page, which is exactly what you want from thick paper like this. For a sketchbook bought sight unseen through a shopping feed, it delivers real value for the money.

Kuretake Zig Cartoonist White Brush Pen

Light-colored water-based inks are often transparent and weakly pigmented, which makes white inks especially hit or miss. This brush pen, priced at $8.65, defies that expectation. On black paper the ink comes out perfectly white, noticeably brighter and more opaque than a typical white gel pen laid down side by side.

The claim is that it shows up on pretty much any black paper, and in use it holds up. This is the kind of niche product that would be genuinely difficult to discover without a recommendation feed surfacing it, and it earns a strong recommendation in its own right for anyone doing highlights, line work, or lettering on dark paper.

Milo Alcohol-Based Markers (24-Set)

This 24-marker set was the centerpiece of the whole order, so expectations were high. Milo is a lesser-known brand with a quiet social media presence, which makes ordering a gamble. On the plus side, the packaging is strikingly minimal, the set was on sale from $30 down to $24.50 with free shipping, and all the markers use brush nibs, which is the tip style most artists generally prefer.

First impressions, however, were mixed. The markers are noticeably streakier than more familiar alcohol-based brands, so much so that the smell test was needed just to confirm they really are alcohol-based. Not every marker in the set is streaky; there are some good performers mixed in. The color selection is fairly standard, and the markers themselves feel smaller than typical marker bodies. As a budget entry point they are serviceable, but they are not the smoothest option available.

Fun Extras the Algorithm Also Suggested

Beyond the three main products, the order included a couple of curveballs: a tiny mechanical pencil for $7 that is genuinely miniature, thin enough that control while drawing is difficult and the clip notch kept catching on a hand, and a pack of cocktail weiner-shaped erasers that work like any basic eraser, decent but not remarkable. The true wildcard was a $7.50 tortilla pencil roll holder that folds shut exactly like the real thing and earns full marks for personality.

Putting It All Together in One Drawing

The final test was using every single item from the haul in one drawing, which is the best way to find out how the supplies behave together. The sketchbook handled the alcohol markers without bleeding through to the next page, the white brush pen added clean highlights on top, and the markers produced a workable but streakier result than ideal.

The overall takeaway: when buying art supplies through a social shopping feed, treat lesser-known brands cautiously, but do not dismiss them outright. The sketchbook and white brush pen were genuine wins, while the markers show why established names dominate this category.

Conclusion

Three products, three very different outcomes. The ArtSnacks Plumchester Square Sketchbook is the sleeper hit, feeling well above its price with thick, marker-friendly paper. The Kuretake Zig Cartoonist White Brush Pen is the most technically impressive find, delivering opaque white ink on black paper where most inks fail. The Milo markers are the compromise: affordable, brush-tipped, and on sale, but streakier than the competition. If the goal is to experiment with algorithm-picked supplies, this haul shows it can pay off as long as you accept a little risk along the way.