Review: Stillman & Birn Softcover Sketchbooks

Here's how the softcover sketchbooks compared to the hardcover ones from Stillman & Birn.
Text reviews of all Stillman & Birn sketchbooks:
www.parkablogs....
Zeta sketchbook review:
• Stillman & Birn Zeta S...
Delta sketchbook review:
• Stillman & Birn Delta ...
Alpha sketchbook review:
• Stillman & Birn Alpha ...
Epsilon sketchbook review:
• Stillman & Birn Epsilo...
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[@sandihester]

These soft covers are my all time favorite sketchbooks. I've mentioned them and shown them in many of my videos. LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!

[@astrog8tr]

Looks great for traveling-- when you really want to lighten up your load. Also I like they seem a lot less precious than the hardcover, like it is okay to have a bad sketch.

[@bluelagoon4]

My favourite brand so far, especially for watercolour. I personally use Alpha (red) for sketches, light wash and inking (large portrait format, 150gms, medium grain surface, white), and Beta (blue) for watercolour (landscape format, 270 gms, cold-pressed surface, White), both are softcover sketchbooks without spirals (but hardcover with/without spirals are also available). Some online shops also offer free S&B paper samples packs.

[@yayoatmeal]

Blue Lagoon could you link to one of those samples?

[@bluelagoon4]

@@yayoatmeal As far as I know, you can buy the samples pack from Jackson's art supplies shop, it's based in the UK and has an online shopping platform with great international shipping rates: www.jacksonsart.com/stillman-birn-sample-pack-of-6-sheets-10-x-15cm-1-per-customer

[@jacksonlaframboise6257]

Worked at an art store and we just have these in laying around. We are having a tough time getting em back in though so, I’ve basically got like 4 of em to hold me over till the dark ages are over. So far, I like the gamma Nd epsilon ones the best. Thought the epsilon would be bad for pencil because it’s smooth. But, I got the last one out of curiosity and somehow it defies all logic and layers graphite like a boss. Especially since I mainly do pencil and than blend it using a tombow marker blender, somehow it feels like cheating.

[@LeaGalTan]

Thanks! I prefer the soft cover and I have not tried Stillman and Burn yet. I almost always grab one of my soft-cover sketch books; my only hardbound book is almost empty:-)

[@LeaGalTan]

I feel less pressure when I sketch in one of my soft cover books and the softcover is a better fit for my purse. No logical reason:-)

[@judasjules]

Thank you great video. Never heard of this brand, now i have to check them out!

[@EstrafaDC]

Unfortunately Stilman and Birn doesn't offer that small size in the Epsilon series. The covers are black for the larger sizes of the Epsilon series.

[@arlenealennox3136]

Estrafalario I have a small softcover in the Epsilon series. I bought a set of those in all six different papers to try them out.

[@jennw6809]

I'm curious, have you ever tried the Beta series? Some people say that one has the best paper for watercolor.

[@jennw6809]

Oh! I just discovered the difference. It seems like Beta and Delta are the same except Beta has white paper and the Delta is ivory.

[@aricyl]

can you please review the softcover beta sketchbook? I love your reviews!!

[@floere]

"Hot cover" 😀🔥

[@rehanaraje4061]

I'm wanting to create a flipbook using one of these small landscape sketchbooks. I'm struggling to decide which is the right book for me to use, as i need the pages to be thin and flexible for me to be able to flip through. Also i need the right type of paper to draw the sketches in, either with watercolour or with pencil crayons. Can you help me decide which is the best type of book to use?

[@teohyc]

Perhaps the Alpha series sketchbook.

[@rehanaraje4061]

Thank you

[@o8rufus]

Great review,thank you.

[@brucedavidson5400]

Is there a B5 size???

[@emila732]

I don't know why but I like softcover sketchbooks but it is not so easy to find . I also prefer to read books in soft covers that are already mostly used.

[@MishaMerino]

Is Stillman & Birn exclusively online to purchase?

[@teohyc]

You can buy at art stores too if they stock them.

[@reb5824]

@Misha.. I just bought mine at Jerrys Artarama.. At their store..

[@lasali4960]

Hi! I have a question and I'd be very grateful if I get an answer. Do these sketchbooks contain animal products/byproducts? I often email certain brands and often times they don't respond. I haven't contacted Stillman and Birn yet. I thought maybe somebody would be kind enough to help in case the company doesn't write back.

[@teohyc]

+Lass Jalal I am not sure. You really have to ask Stillman and Birn directly

[@RosarioDiRubbo]

Love your works!!!

[@teohyc]

+Rosario Di Rubbo Thanks 😁

[@jinmunsuen]

I love these thick softcover sketchbooks, I wish they were sold somewhere in the UK. But I think we must have our own brand version somewhere, or it's just not in demand. I'm in need of a new one after finishing my Derwent Journal.

[@teohyc]

Jackson's Art sells them.

[@jinmunsuen]

So they do! Thank you! I never tried Jackson's art :)

[@toastietime1573]

Yes they're amazing, just ordered 8 x 10in zeta softcover sketchbook. I'm also from the Uk 👌🎵

[@bubanner]

udaman dude

[@firecloud6503]

The sketchbooks look great, but I think I would prefer the hardcover sketchbooks.

[@moonlight__h3676]

Does anyone know for the premium sketchbook with the same brand can handle acrylic paint?

[@teohyc]

I'm sure there's one sketchbook from Stillman & Birn that can handle acrylic. You can choose the 270gsm thick paper.

[@patpeacock8861]

I have the Beta Stillman & Birn. It’s heavy enough to handle Daler Rowney System 3 or Golden acrylics. I’m going to use mine for plein air. (There’s a video on priming the Beta for oil at www.stillmanandbirn.com/blog/?p=2716 .)

[@WarheartWarJournal]

why did you make your lenovo video in your playlist private? I was just about to watch it to see what my options were, and the video turned up private.

[@teohyc]

+Tenrosu I'm updating the video. There are some factual errors. I'll replace it very soon.

[@WarheartWarJournal]

Teoh Yi Chie Ah, alright! I've been subbed for awhile as I enjoy your opinion on drawing tablets. I'm on the verge of making a decision, though part of me is waiting to see what the new surface may look like. However, I've seen some pretty good tablets as of late. I'm looking forward to seeing your take on the Lenovo!

[@teohyc]

The updated video is now up at kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2GbZJSPirx1pMk

[@sakshamgupta5726]

how many gsm?

[@lesley1204]

The gsm varies depending on the series that you choose.

[@samanthaschubert154]

Is the tooth the same on both sides of the paper?

[@teohyc]

Oh, I just checked. For the thinner paper, they are usually the same texture on both sides. But for the thicker paper, sometimes the texture on both sides may not be the same. You can see it being mentioned in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/boLYm2Obr61_opI

[@amdza]

Samantha Schubert I have the Beta and there's different texture on both sides. However, they pair them off so that when you open it flat both sides have the same texture. It's convenient if you do sketches across both pages because there won't be a sudden change in texture.

[@samanthaschubert154]

LadyCupid190 thank you

[@samanthaschubert154]

Teoh Yi Chie thank you for the link going to go view it now.