📚 Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Hardbound Sketchbook Review: 9"x6", 150gsm Heavyweight White Paper – Best Medium Grain Surface for Artists Review

I love this sketchbook and am getting used to using it. I use Sakura Micron black pens, pencil and watercolor. Watercolors take a little longer to get used to than other sketchbooks I've used in the past. The paper seems to absorb water almost immediately. I know it's meant for thin shading like other general purpose scrapbook paper, but you have to work really, really fast here. I think the beta version would be the best choice for me.

The S&B Alpha series (and sometimes the Beta series) has become my gold standard for sketchbooks. MUCH better paper than any other brand including Moleskine, Canson etc. They (S&B) also provide excellent customer support. Are you talking about sketchbook support? Yes. They go out of their way to sell their papers as whole sheets, various profiles (like the stunning landscape series you see here), sample sheets, etc. As a professional artist you can't go wrong with S&B.

S&B is a good magazine. This is a good quality book and there are so many varieties out there that trying them out to see what works best would be a huge hit. This is ideal for pencil and ballpoint pen. I mainly use fountain pens and watercolors. although you can do light watercolor washes in this one - it flexes and is not suitable for watercolor. I would love to try one of their real watercolor magazines next time. The only problem is that it will be difficult for them to compete in price…

album from Stillman and Byrne's Alpha landscape series is always good. I use it for notes, sketches and watercolors for my online skool skool classes. The ideal number of pages for this too. I also like the Beta series sketchbook with a square spiral. Heavier paper, and on that I do full-fledged watercolors, though not exactly on watercolor paper, for plein air painting with pen and ink. More like hot pressed watercolor paper. I wish they would come out with a textured sketchbook for drawing on

I became aware of this sketchbook because it is a landscape hardcover, but I find the 150gsm paper too thin to use watercolors like I would like. Even with light washes, the paper does not take any type of watercolor well enough, often clumps and dries slowly. It's also unfortunate that S&B doesn't make higher density hardcover paper. I have about 20 pages in this album and am very dissatisfied with using it. will most likely refuse. I know S&B makes paperback sketchbooks, but I would prefer…