This helped me so much!!!! Thank you! I’ve been scouring the different descriptions because I normally have access to a more well stocked art store but haven’t where I am right now. So this helps tremendously. I love the work you showed, too. And your voice and demeanor. Thanks, again!
@travellingsweetpea2 ай бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
@Kolchek4life4 жыл бұрын
Personally I love working with watercolor in the Zeta one,, i find it really cool the fact that it doesn't dry that quickly bc I can go back and fix some mistake:) It's such a good sketchbook
@travellingsweetpea4 жыл бұрын
I love that they have an option for everyone, such a versatile selection of sketchbooks!
@josephinegibbs39024 жыл бұрын
Exactly the info I was looking for! My journaling process is mostly writing at this point, but I'm trying to add watercolor and need paper than can handle both.
@travellingsweetpea4 жыл бұрын
Glad this could help!
@davidmolloy1263 жыл бұрын
The reason that the Alpha is described as medium grain as apposed to cold press is because it's classed as a heavier grade Cartridge paper, not an all out watercolour paper. A great video, thanks very much from England.x
@travellingsweetpea3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for that info!
@ThingOfSome4 жыл бұрын
The absorbency of paper has nothing to do with the texture of the paper: it has to do with the sizing of the paper. Also, unless you are painting with a really wet brush that leaves puddles, hot-pressed paper should dry much more quickly than cold-pressed. Cold-press paper, with its texture, allows for a drop of water to more-readily spread across (not into -- again, that is controlled by the sizing) the paper, by itself with gravity. On hot-pressed, because of the lack of texture, a drop of water tends to bead up with it is placed, without spreading. Correspondingly, the the dry time for a drop of water is shorter for cold-pressed than for hot-pressed. However, with a typical stroke of the brush, hot-pressed dries more quickly (though also more unevenly) than cold-pressed, as a thinner layer of water is left on the page: on cold-pressed, the water falls into the small divots of the texture of the paper, making several, slightly-deeper pockets of water. Of course, sizing affects dry-time, too, but in general, that is how the differently-pressed papers behave with water.
@travellingsweetpea4 жыл бұрын
ThingOfSome thanks so much for the comment! I’m definitely lacking my paper knowledge 😆 this video is all about my love/experience with these particular sketchbooks and my experience with only a couple watercolour paper brands so it’s good to hear from someone who knows their stuff. What would be some brands you would recommend to people searching for the right paper?
@ThingOfSome4 жыл бұрын
@@travellingsweetpea No problem. Paper choice depends on the person, since people paint in different ways. So the best is to just try out several. Arches, Hahnemühle, and Lana make some nice papers, but not everyone likes all of their papers.
@artbybilyana4 жыл бұрын
New sub here. Thanks for the info. I was always interested in Stillman & Birn and just got the Nova Series with tan paper. The only annoying part is the fact that it doesn’t have a rubber band to keep it closed.
@travellingsweetpea4 жыл бұрын
Thanks! I agree with that, but I use a binder clip while I'm sketching to keep the pages open so I just end up using that to keep it closed in my bag as well. Not quite as nice as having something included with the sketchbook but it does end up being a bit more versatile.
@joni13 жыл бұрын
I love looking at your lovely sketchbooks
@travellingsweetpea3 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much!
@ladyhollman95347 ай бұрын
Different letters are for different mediums it seems. Smooth paper, like Zeta, I’d use for just ink or colored pencils, Neocolor I and maybe Pitt pens, oil pastels, and such that shine on a smooth surface. Beta, I’d use for watercolor. Thanks for the descriptions because it’s a task figuring out which is good for what.
@travellingsweetpea5 ай бұрын
So hard! Especially because they are usually wrapped up in store so you can't even feel the paper before purchase
@pastichehaus Жыл бұрын
I just recently got into line and wash. I’ve been sketching and painting random everyday things. These look great. ❤ Thank you for the reviews. 🙏🏻
@travellingsweetpea Жыл бұрын
Thank you!
@helencryer Жыл бұрын
This was so helpful, thank you! I think your sketches are lovely!
@travellingsweetpea Жыл бұрын
Thank you so much!
@saddestchickennugget4 жыл бұрын
thank you for making this video, this is helping me to decided a lot! :)
@travellingsweetpea4 жыл бұрын
Glad it help you out :)
@martinalvarez13594 ай бұрын
This is suuuch an awesome review! I just discovered the little Zeta one and felt like I had just found the holy grail I had been searching for my whole life lol. But I just ordered a Beta one to compare them since they're your two favorites. I generally prefer smoother/hot pressed paper, but you said the Beta one is what is comparable to hot pressed in other books, so I'll see which I prefer. Anyway, thanks for the super in-depth review!
@travellingsweetpea4 ай бұрын
Glad I could help! And have fun testing it out 😊
@sxmplyblossom80488 ай бұрын
Thank you so much! I think i'll go with the beta one, I really wish there was more texture though :)
@G.G.-nt2mi4 ай бұрын
My favorite to use is the smooth Zeta, But, I wish it came in Ivory like the Delta...my #2 fav
@travellingsweetpea4 ай бұрын
Not the ideal solution, but maybe a base wash to get the ivory?
@emmamariamakes5 ай бұрын
Great overview, thanks a bunch! I replaced the zeta for the beta in my cart :)
@travellingsweetpea5 ай бұрын
glad it was helpful! Have fun sketching!
@sachinprabhusachinprabhu0074 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for the review. :) It's really helpful :)
@travellingsweetpea4 жыл бұрын
Thanks! I'm glad it helped :)
@jadeklassen20022 жыл бұрын
This video was so helpful! I just ordered two sketchbooks from This brand because of your video ☺️Thanks!! I like how you decorate your sketch books! ☺️
@travellingsweetpea2 жыл бұрын
I'm so happy it helped you decide! Happy sketching :D
@Ceares Жыл бұрын
I prefer hot press and was drawn to the Zeta but based on this, I'll try the Beta, thanks!
@travellingsweetpea Жыл бұрын
me too! I was so suprised when I liked the cold pressed better lol
@kimberlyanne80553 ай бұрын
very very helpful!!!!
@marissariley7319 Жыл бұрын
Thank you! I’ve almost finished my first Zeta and I love it except for the pilling/breaking down. Off to get a Beta now
@travellingsweetpea Жыл бұрын
Yeah, mine do that occasionally too, so weird because I usually can't predict when it will be super bad.
@tune_smith2 жыл бұрын
Great tip about the Alpha. I was just about to order it for Inktober until I saw you mention the part about the erasing showing through. I ordered the Zeta instead. I’m in love with my Beta for watercolors, but I’ve never ventured past that series. Thanks for the informative review.
@travellingsweetpea2 жыл бұрын
Amazing! Do you have a place you publicly post your art? I’d love to see what you come up with for inktober ☺️
@naturesketches1264 жыл бұрын
I just found your channel recently, subscribed, of course! Your videos are amazing and super helpful. Thank you for taking the time to make them.
@travellingsweetpea4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment! Much appreciated :)
@lospapelesdemama2 жыл бұрын
Excellent excellent comparison!
@travellingsweetpea2 жыл бұрын
Thanks!
@lilredpen Жыл бұрын
Helpful video, thanks!
@chantalp.1463 жыл бұрын
Thank you 😊
@kr21122 ай бұрын
I am having trouble finding any the Stillman & Birn pocket sketchbooks. Even if I try Amazon, they charge more AND charge quite a bit for shipping. I went to a few Blick Stores and they didn’t have them. In fact they used to carry a much better selection of the brand and they’ve reduced it to almost nil. Any suggestions? I wanted to take them on a trip for which I’m leaving tomorrow. I’ve tried for many days now. I did order some 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 and will probably try at least one of them, but I’m not as happy with that proportion. I also ordered a 5.5 x 8 soft cover Strathmore mixed media which is only 90lb. I like the proportion better, but it doesn’t lie flat. :-(
@travellingsweetpea2 ай бұрын
Sorry you’re having a hard time finding them! I’m in Canada and there are a couple places here, but pricing and shipping would probably be similar to Amazon for you
@jadacreativewanderer90453 жыл бұрын
very helpful video :)
@travellingsweetpea3 жыл бұрын
I'm glad to hear it!
@daniellelaguna53104 жыл бұрын
Just found your channel! Loving the videos so far. They have been super helpful for me being a watercolor newbie. I was wondering...when you do your water color journaling, do you seal your pictures with anything or just leave them as is? Thank you!
@travellingsweetpea4 жыл бұрын
I usually just leave them as is. I'm not super precious or gentle with my sketchbooks so I don't worry about it. But if it is something that concerns you, you can try a krylon clear coat in matte. I've used this for my professional art practice and find it doesn't interact negatively with the watercolour.
@sweetvoilet3 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for the detailed review. it helped me zero in on the Zeta series which just now bought on Amazon. Quick question about the black and white lettered stickers you have on your journal where you are numbering the journals. How did you do that? It is a sticker? or a stamp?
@travellingsweetpea3 жыл бұрын
Awesome! Glad this could help, hopefully you enjoy the line as much as I do. The lettering as actually a label maker, it's just the DYMO express label maker which is pretty inexpensive from amazon or local office depot stores :)
@SilverSeaOT73 жыл бұрын
You mentioned that Beta is not very textured. Can you compare it to a few papers it may be similar to? I am using the gamma for practice sketches and drawing. However, when I ink the drawing it shows through (doesn’t bleed through) but it’s enough that I can’t use the page on the other side. So was thinking about getting one of the “extra heavyweights” to use as an all purpose sketchbook. Is Beta smooth enough to do a nice pencil drawing/colored pencil drawing or would it be too rough? Thanks for the reviews!
@travellingsweetpea3 жыл бұрын
It has a slight texture. Definitely not as much as cold press watercolour paper, but slightly more textured than a hot press. I've done some coloured pencil and graphite on it and I don't find the texture to be annoying.
@ZuleykaK4 жыл бұрын
I would to know which series will work best for acrylic paint? Everybody I see uses watercolor/gauche
@travellingsweetpea4 жыл бұрын
I would suggest one of the thicker paper ones (delta, zeta, or beta) just because you won't get as much of the warping, but in terms of colour and texture I'm not sure it matters. I think that just depends on preference if you plan on leaving any of the page unpainted.
@LinaHLopez3 жыл бұрын
Which one is suitable among the zeta and beta for gouache painting?
@travellingsweetpea3 жыл бұрын
I like the beta better for gouache because it has more texture for the paint to hold onto, similarly to watercolour as well. I feel like the place zeta would shine is with Copic markers because of how smooth it is. But everyone has different preferences so texture may not be what you are wanting.
@viviansanchez93773 жыл бұрын
I use ink & copic markers do copic markers bleed through these sketch books?
@travellingsweetpea3 жыл бұрын
I haven't tried copic specifically, but I've used other alcohol based markers with them and they didn't go through. Just the thicker versions tho, the thinner one wouldn't hold up I don't think.
@jcookie94483 жыл бұрын
From one friend to another, I really like the RENDR marketpaper from Crescent for copic markers. No bleed or shadowing at all, it's like magic but I don't think it would hold up very well for water/oil based mediums.
@themattyification4 жыл бұрын
Hi where do you buy this brand? I can’t find it where i am from in canada
@travellingsweetpea4 жыл бұрын
You can order is from Above Ground Art Supplies www.abovegroundartsupplies.com/ that's based in Toronto but I think ships across Canada, or on Amazon (but it's a bit more expensive).