Jun 30, 2019 my sketchbook that i used from october 2018 may 2019. With both internal and surface sizing, these papers have exceptional wet strength that support the application of multiple washes. The two beta and delta series are virtually identical except that the paper in the beta is white and the delta is ivory. May 09, 2020 a while ago a local art supply shop started stocking a wider variety of stillman and birn sketchbooks. Sep 23, 2016 a few weeks ago i received a package of the new stillman and birn softcover sketchbooks to test out. Whether you prefer to work with wet media, dry media or both, these premium durable sketchbooks can withstand multiple erasures and a wide variety of applications. Breaking in your stillman and birn alpha, gamma or epsilon. Read more about stillman and birn sketchbooks first impression. Heavy watercolor c light watercolor b fountain pen a dip pen a micron a. They are best for dry and wet media, watercolors, and ink. Epsilon sketchbook 9 x 12in wirebound 150gsm natural white smooth. A while ago a local art supply shop started stocking a wider variety of stillman and birn sketchbooks.
Suitable for use with a variety of wet and dry media, it inspires creativity by giving artists the freedom to experiment with new ideas and materials. In a sketchbook i expect the paper to especially be flat. Wet paint art staff helped develop these papers through realuse feedback. My sketchbook that i used from october 2018 may 2019.
Our art stores are located in richmond,essendon,sunbury,bendigo and now in nowra nsw. Beta series sketchbooks contain extra heavyweight 270 gsm white paper with a cold press surface. They are best for pen and ink, dry media, and light washes. I was talking on the phone last week with stillman and birn coowner michael kalman, and he told me that their hardbound books have been designed to open completely flat, and they have a flexible binding. While a nuisance for traffic, i do like the geometry of the cranes. I really liked my experience sketching on the beta paper, and i think i will indeed splurge on beta someday. I currently use the stillman and birn pocket alpha as my daily sketchbook, but i decided to give the pocket epsilon a try. The paper is made more for ink than watercolor, but light nottoojuicy washes work well on it. Since i own a zeta, you can see examples of zeta here, here, and here plus a lot of other places in my sketchbook. Archival quality sketchbooks that are bound in the us. Arthouse direct for all your art, craft,graphic,drawing,painting,printmaking and childrens art supplies. They contain multiple sheets of 100 lb 150 gsm, natural white paper with a plate surface. This 6 by 8 inch size sketchbook travels anywhere with you to capture those moments in pen and ink. When focused on a blank page it started to search around for something to focus on and settled on lens dust.
These come in a range of sizes, paper weights, paper colour and binding styles and are known as alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon and zeta. Alpha series, beta series, gamma series, delta series, epsilon series, zeta series. A few weeks ago i received a package of the new stillman and birn softcover sketchbooks to test out. This sits, open, on my desk and i use it to try new techniques, when i have a few minutes to doodle, or whatever. Its more expensive per page than an alpha, but it may well be worth it. The epsilon features smooth, white 150 gsm pages which should work for pen, ink. Allows artists to choose the paper weight, shade, and surface type best suited for their specific media. Available in sewn softbound, sewn hardbound, hard wirebound, or large single sheets in a variety of paper shades, weight and surfaces. How does the paper hold up to saturated color and lots of wet wa. Appropriate for studies rendered with dry media and ink, as well as mixed media artwork, the robust paper. Premium sketchbooks our mixed media sketchbook system offers artists a choice of paper shade, weight and surface most suitable. And taking the bus gives means seeing these downtown a lot. The epsilon features smooth, white 150 gsm pages which should work for.
Colored sakura micron pen drawing, in stillman and birn beta sketchbook, double page spread, 8. The surface texture is quite smooth, rather similar to copier paper. Softcover bindings are flexible and lightweight and open totally flat. This photo shows four sizes the largest size can be seen in a photo below with only the beta and alpha paper. Its smooth surface also assures exceptional line control for penandink and dry media. Others use them as art journals for finished work, utilizing a variety of dry and wet media. The 270gsm rough textured pages are coldpressed and are great for a range of media thanks to its substantial tooth with enhanced wet and tear strength.
Art and craft supplies melbourne or australia wide via our online art and craft materials store. Blick stocks the full range but id really recommend the epsilon as a great place to start. Update march 2012see additional comments about this product at the end of the original post. Softcover epsilon series sketchbooks stillman and birn. Ideal for line drawings with pen and ink, this paper is finely calendered and resists feathering. Epsilon series sketchbooks contain heavyweight 150 gsm white paper with a smooth surface. Some use their sketchbooks in foundation courses for recording ideas in the field. Looking back i can see that i really should draw more.
The beta softcover sketchbook is great for both wet and dry media, watercolour and inks. This photo shows four sizes the largest size can be seen in a photo below with only the beta and. The alpha series contains 100lb, natural white toothy surface paper. Here ill look at the sketchbooks am papers i have tried more recently from stillman and birn.