My Thoughts | Stillman & Birn

[@RebekkaHay]

Hi, the Strathmore you showed first is not a sketchbook. It is a watercolour paper pad, you are meant to take the paper out. The paper is only glued this way so you can remove the sheets easily. ;-) Hope this helps.

[@soliferi]

isn't the first one just a pad? seems neat to have it in a book sleeve for keeping it together.

[@TheJemimabean]

I just purchased this sketchbook after months of trying to find "THE SKETCHBOOK". I adore it. the paper is perfect, the binding is perfect, the cover is beautiful. The only thing I would add is an elastic and maybe a ribbon marker, but I can live without those for all the positives! You've probably already realized this by now, but this series is named for the Greek alphabet. Zeta is pronounced "z-ay-tuh". :) Beautiful watercolors!

[@DocumentedJourney]

+Quality Time Blog it is a wonderful sketchbook. And yes "z-ay-tuh" too bad you can't go back and change some audio! Haha

[@emmapuryear6011]

Lovely informative video and beautiful art! Thank you so much. I love stillman & birn, I have the alpha series and since I primarily use pen and ink it works well. Can't wait to try the other series as well as the softcover! Does the softcover lay flat as effectively as the hardcover does? I also love doing double page spreads :-) cheers

[@DocumentedJourney]

+Emma Puryear so glad you enjoyed the video. And I am glad we also share a love for Stillman & Birn. I think they lay just as flat, I actually enjoy the soft cover more than the hard cover. 💚

[@deejcarter2003]

Thanks for sharing. There is so much trial and error when it comes to sketchbooks. It truly is individual based. I too love doing double page spreads. I tried the Beta in spiral bound and the paper buckled more then I liked. I do want to try the hard bound to see if it fairs better. I would love to see a video on how you hound your journal.

[@DocumentedJourney]

+Dionne C so much trial and error!!! Im sorry to hear about the buckling. I know that I don't use heavy washes so I haven't noticed a lot of buckling in my hard cover. To bind my journal I did a Coptic stitch, I have had some requests for a video I'm just hesitate because I don't know if I would be able to film it properly. I'll work on it!

[@MyLittleJournal]

Great review Brie!! TFS it was very helpful. Love ya girl ❤

[@DocumentedJourney]

+My Little Journal thanks Heba. Love ya too!!!

[@Blissfulthings]

Oh and I forgot to say I have the beta sketch book in soft cover,I also got a alfa one it works great for light washs I'm using the alfa as a test swatch and doing tonal layouts, works good so far,it's good to have one as a watercolour "recipe " bòok 😆

[@Blissfulthings]

Did you know you can buy the stillman paper on its own,I seen it in my art store sold in large sheets ,I make my own books as well but I think I'll make some inserts for my midori travelers note book

[@DocumentedJourney]

+Blissfulthings yes I saw that a couple months ago!!! I am excited about it. Thanks so much for your comment and if you are willing to share photos of your hand bound books I would love to see them.

[@Joliada87]

hi I love your videos! I've been looking at the beta and wasn't sure how I'd like it. I'm definitely going to give it a try now, thanks! Have you thought of doing a how to video on making your own sketchbook? I think it would be cool to see how you make yours 😊

[@DocumentedJourney]

+Joliada Creations hope you like the beta! I haven't thought about recording my process on the binding. Maybe I should!!

[@jimcordle3085]

Very professional and objective . Nice quality video. Good job. Thank you!

[@DocumentedJourney]

+Jim Cordle thank you!

[@bluelagoon4]

Very nice video, but the first item (Strathmore) is NOT a sketchbook but a watercolour pad, so you're supposed to take off a sheet in order to work on it.

[@nicholeb2746]

I will have to give them another try after watching this. I purchased the mixed media paper one and HATE it the paper is thin and crinkles with watercolor. I cant remember what color one I got but its sitting here with like 3 pages done in it and I couldn't stand it anymore. I think it was the purple one? I will have to try the watercolor paper because you give such high remarks!!

[@DocumentedJourney]

+Nichole Bruno I really like the watercolor one. I could see how using watercolor on the 150gsm paper would make it buckle. I have seen people use light washes on that paper or even distress stains. I'm sorry you had a bad experience. Did you like the structure of the book at all? If you did then you should try either the beta, delta or zeta. Those are the three that are 270gsm.

[@debsmith7050]

I am only a beginner but I do know that I like smooth paper & a book that lays flat. I really appreciate your review. I will be looking into the Stillman and Birn Zeta. Thanks :)

[@TimeCodeMechanics]

Strathmore 500 mixed media journal is probably best for you. And it’s 100% cotton paper.

[@giespel68]

I really love the zeta for ink drawings

[@DocumentedJourney]

Me too

[@Que14kt]

Great video!!! I was not really anticipating getting a technical education when I watched your video...but, thanks for a job well done! FYI--you actually answered several questions I had relative to travel notebooks, inserts and covers. Also, your assessment of what type of painting you like to do was interesting in that you like to use both sides of a page in lieu of just one side. So, thanks for your thoughts,//Chuck

[@DocumentedJourney]

Thank you.

[@bangnapi2786]

great video, i'm from Indonesia and i already used 3 sketchbooks from the Hkie sketchbooks (they are from Indonesia).. they are awesome and come with lots variations of sizes & papers.

[@buubuufigs]

Is the zeta completely smooth? I don't know if you've ever had strathmore smooth bristol or the pentalic traveler pocket journal. I was looking for maybe something similar to those in smoothness.

[@DocumentedJourney]

+Squishy Buttocks yes I have used both of those and yes the zeta is that smooth for sure. I don't know what type of media you are going to use but I don't think it takes watercolor as well as the Pentalic pocket journal. More like the Bristol board from Strathmore. I personally enjoy Strathmore mixed media vellum surface the best for watercolor illustrations. Good luck and let me know what you think of you do purchase it.

[@buubuufigs]

Documented Journey Awesome, thanks for the answer! I mostly work with ink and markers.

[@juliannphillips8695]

Hi Brie! I am enjoying watching some of your older videos and your journey. Lots of good information here

[@DocumentedJourney]

And you can also see the change in my style!

[@JoAnneMOwens]

Watching this review and reading the comments have helped me decide about the sketchbook I want to try now, thx!

[@DocumentedJourney]

+Jo Anne Owens you won't be disappointed!

[@moppys.7108]

Hi, Brie. Love your vids. I have a couple of the sketchbooks that you reviewed. But as to the Pentalic, I have had major issues with the binding, specifically the glue portion. The issues started since page one (I have been trying to keep the pages together with tape). I've been muddling through it because the paper quality is so good. I am now halfway through the book. However, recently the back cover has completely become unglued from all the signatures. It's such a shame because, again, the quality of the paper is very good. I will glue it back together and finish it, but won't repurchase. I am eager to try the Stillman & Birn series, however. I hear nothing but great things regarding this brand. Thank you so much for your review.

[@DocumentedJourney]

+Maria B. Thanks Maria!! Just curious but when you pulled back the first page did you pull it all the way back to the crease ripping the two pages apart? I did this with my first one and realized that you should only fold it back to the glued area which is about a half an inch in from the middle crease. When I would ripping it then my book would fall apart. Yes the paper is wonderful but I think you will be very happy with the S&B.

[@moppys.7108]

Hey, Brie. Thank you for your response. Unfortunately, I didn't do much before the pages started to become unglued. I manipulated them just enough to get them to lay flat but that was about it. No worries, though. The paper is worth the hassle...lol.

[@DocumentedJourney]

+Maria B. Bummer! I have found some glue issues but not what you are experiencing. Good to know though. I haven't bought a pentalic since I tried the S&B! Let me know if you do try one and if you enjoy it or not. I would love to hear your thoughts.

[@chelle7611]

This was such a helpful video!!! Thank you!

[@DocumentedJourney]

+chelle7611 you're welcome!!

[@marafdez]

I really like the Pentalic, however its happened to me that sometimes the paper has like "wax spots" in the sheets so you get like blotchy or spotty washes. It's not every page, maybe 3-4 per sketchbook but its rather annoying when it happens. The S&B sketchbooks are just awesome! I like strong paper so I love their heavyweight paper!!

[@DocumentedJourney]

+Mara Fernandez yeah I get that too with the Pentalic and I am not sure if its because I apply lotion to my hands and it's rubbing off or not. But yes S&B are amazing books.

[@marafdez]

Documented Journey definetly not you, it happened to me all throughout using mine! It's a shame because I really like the hardbound books and I'm sad that S&B only makes that 5x8 landscape in a softcover. Does it feel too flimsy ?

[@DocumentedJourney]

+Mara Fernandez I don't think it's flimsy, actually I enjoy it more than the hard cover. I however like the portrait better than the landscape. Also, because of the clue binding issue I have been enjoying making my own books! I just can't stand that glue issue because I love working across the page.

[@marafdez]

Documented Journey lol I I get the glue stuff. I work on both portrait and landscape so that's why I'd like that. I give the soft cover a chance then and see what happens. The Moleskines tend to have that glue problem, I just got one of their larger ones (8x10) and was immediately disappointed upon opening it.

[@DocumentedJourney]

+Mara Fernandez I haven't found one sketchbook company that doesn't have that problem. Some more than others obviously!

[@SueHole]

Great thorough reviews, thank you very much, very helpful!

[@DocumentedJourney]

You’re welcome!

[@francinetjones1814]

Where do you buy Hkie sketchbooks? Thoroughly enjoyed this video. Cleared up a number of questions I had on the Stillman and Birn books. Thanks so much.

[@DocumentedJourney]

Thank you!

[@chainsawkitten3766]

I like the Stillman paper, but the Zeta is too smooth for my taste for WC. The Beta has some texture, but still not what I like. The Alpha paper is beautiful, I love it for graphite and ink.

[@michaelhead8668]

I know that painting! That's upper north lot at redrocks!

[@DocumentedJourney]

yes it is!

[@lorajo1972]

I've used several Stillman and Burns. I just got one at Hobby Lobby for $3! I've ised 2 of the grey toned. I need to try the heavier paper book though.

[@DocumentedJourney]

nice price! Ive never used the grey toned one...

[@Stephamajig]

Have you tried the Strathmore 400 watercolor series? It has 300gsm paper which is stitch bound and soft covered, I would be curious to know how it compares to the others in this review.

[@DocumentedJourney]

+Stephanie Dawn Mueller I have not tried it. It seems like it would be something to try though!

[@gillyslikejillysart7458]

Great info thanks!

[@DocumentedJourney]

+Gillian Speelman you're welcome!

[@thinthle]

Have you tested out if you like the beta or zeta more ?

[@DocumentedJourney]

+thinthle I like the beta more than the zeta. It just seems to not absorb the watercolor as quickly as the zeta. But that is being really picky!

[@bubanner]

very helpful...thx

[@DocumentedJourney]

+bubanner you're welcome.

[@Blissfulthings]

I have great news for you ,I as well make sketch books and you can get the Stillman & Birn paper on its own! I didn't hear clearly about you travellers note book could you find a link for that I really want one in the size you have please? thanks Heather

[@DocumentedJourney]

+Blissfulthings the travelers notebook I have is a b6 speckled fawn huggable leather, sage color. I didn't see it on her site but you could always message her. Here is the link: www.etsy.com/shop/SpeckledFawns I'm going to look I to getting their paper. Thank you I didn't k ow they sold it sperate!!

[@kristinahansson4688]

If the books are sewn there is no glue used to bind them together...

[@DocumentedJourney]

If that is the case then what is the substance that is on the pages in the crack of the book? When you watercolor on it, it creates a resist. I assumed it was PVC glue.

[@kristinahansson4688]

it should be only glue between the first and last pages and the cover, maybe you can contact the manufacturer and point this out.

[@DocumentedJourney]

+Kristina Hansson maybe but it seems to happen to a lot of different books.

[@santiagoyoutube621]

direct links?

[@DocumentedJourney]

please check the description box!