tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post5657918092403262724..comments2024-03-04T04:14:25.797-06:00Comments on Artists' Journal Workshop: Experiencing Stillman and Birn Alpha Series SketchbookKate (Cathy Johnson)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03296053923338246127noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-12515081171409385772011-10-17T20:41:35.006-05:002011-10-17T20:41:35.006-05:00I've really enjoyed the S&B books. You can...I've really enjoyed the S&B books. You can see some of my zoo sketches in the Delta series here: http://hudsonvalleysketches.blogspot.com/search/label/Stillman%20and%20Birn%20Delta . I've thrown all sorts of stuff at that book --- acrylic, watercolor, inks, gouache, fountain pens and felt tips and rollerballs. It's handled everything so well.<br /><br />I also did several sketches and a review of the Beta book. The review is all the way at the bottom if you scroll through the posts. This book also has held up quite well for me. I've used it mostly for pen and ink wash work, but have done a few watercolors in it too (several not posted): http://hudsonvalleysketches.blogspot.com/search/label/Stillman%20and%20Birn%20Beta%207x10<br /><br />I was glad to hear such a great review of the Alpha, since that will likely be what I'll turn to once I finish the Fabriano Venezia journal that I'm currently working in. (I'm not a big fan of spiral books, and the Delta and Beta do not come in stitch-bound versions.)<br /><br />JamieJamie Williams Grossmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10769196454699941599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-74926261289624813532011-10-16T08:27:04.876-05:002011-10-16T08:27:04.876-05:00I tried the Epsilon, too, which is a thinner, very...I tried the Epsilon, too, which is a thinner, very smooth paper that's a delight to write on. No problems with wash and ink there either...but it is VERY dry here right now!Kate (Cathy Johnson)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03296053923338246127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-65488430892979827022011-10-15T22:32:02.428-05:002011-10-15T22:32:02.428-05:00aha - I am going to try delta books next probably ...aha - I am going to try delta books next probably - when they are available here %)<br />We've had rather humid October so fr - it might have contributed...Nina Khashchina aka Apple-Pinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04509455443525588628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-73576370726141815352011-10-15T08:20:09.920-05:002011-10-15T08:20:09.920-05:00I tried out some ink and watercolor tests in a Del...I tried out some ink and watercolor tests in a Delta book yesterday with no problem, Nina.(Hooray!) I don't know if that's because of different paper from the Alpha series, which I haven't tested yet, or different conditions.<br /><br />As I've mentioned before, I don't like most of Noodler's "bulletproof" inks because they take literally DAYS to dry, if ever, for me. Vicky, who lives only a few hundred miles from me, has no problem with them, on the same paper, both with Lamy Safari pens. So go figure! <br /><br />Can't wait to test the Alpha, now!Kate (Cathy Johnson)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03296053923338246127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-41189229249729532462011-10-14T23:00:17.306-05:002011-10-14T23:00:17.306-05:00thank you very much for reading my review and resp...thank you very much for reading my review and responding back! <br /><br />Kate - looking forward to your sketches in S&B book! <br /><br />Ruca - I scanned most of the pages using a wonderful feature of content-aware deletion in Photoshop for some private matters %)<br /><br />Tracey - USK was one of the recommendations :)<br /><br />Carol - I think this might have something to do with a coating of a paper - it just likes slower sketchers more :)Nina Khashchina aka Apple-Pinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04509455443525588628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-73725994129002089762011-10-14T21:58:15.628-05:002011-10-14T21:58:15.628-05:00I had that same issue with the S&B books - pen...I had that same issue with the S&B books - pen lines and watercolor take a very long time to dry. I like the books, but I've really had to adjust my speed (and watch that my hand doesn't smear things!).Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02595605916872672420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-85471831349758510032011-10-14T15:08:47.901-05:002011-10-14T15:08:47.901-05:00Stillman & Birn donated the gamma series w/vel...Stillman & Birn donated the gamma series w/vellum sketchbook to the USK Lisbon sketchers. It is very nice for watercolors.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-48232933712220309742011-10-14T09:01:29.598-05:002011-10-14T09:01:29.598-05:00Wow, Nina, what a treat. There are so many wonderf...Wow, Nina, what a treat. There are so many wonderful pages there that it's almost too much to digest! So much great stuff - the bugs and spiders, food, terrific posture studies of the karate kids, textures of bark... Thanks for letting us peek!Krista/Rucahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13036077085275566499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764822475195816427.post-10007609439265038542011-10-14T08:06:08.727-05:002011-10-14T08:06:08.727-05:00OOoh, lovely, Nina! What an incredible test drive...OOoh, lovely, Nina! What an incredible test drive! Beautiful, as well. Thank you for sharing!<br /><br />I've found Stillman & Birn very generous too, and am looking forward to experimenting as well! Just found them yesterday at my favorite brick-and-mortar store, too, so they are out there!Kate (Cathy Johnson)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03296053923338246127noreply@blogger.com