Upcrate

What's in the box: A surprise selection of art supplies, sometimes including Upcrate's own brand or custom items made with partner brands, along with a how-to video.

Upcrate is a German mystery box for people who draw and paint. Every second month, subscribers get a crate of art supplies they don't choose in advance, plus a how-to video. The archive on the site lists more than 75 numbered crates going back to September 2019. The naming shows the service switched from monthly to bimonthly releases at some point, which points to a long-running operation. Upcrate is more than resold retail stock. It says its crates include products from its own exclusive brand and customised items made with well-known art brands. The site shows a price of about 31.81 USD per box, which looks like a converted figure, and says you can cancel any time. Gift subscriptions are also available. The downside of a mystery format is that you can't pick the materials, so a crate built around a medium you never use may feel like a miss. The site also says little about exact contents or the value of each box. Reviews and community activity mostly happen on Instagram, including a recurring #upcratebattle challenge. That suits people who post their work online more than those who don't. For artists who want to try materials outside their usual habits, it's a solid, well-established choice.