Stillman & Birn Beta Series Softcover Sketchbook, 7.5" x 7.5", 270 gsm (Extra Heavyweight), White Paper, Cold Press Surface

I was really surprised at some of the negative reviews for Stillman & Burn Beta series sketchbooks. I have been pleasantly surprised at the quality and versatility of these books. I decided to give this product a try after watching a view artists rave about them on youtube. I'm so glad that I did. I purchased the 7.5 x 7.5 size. Perfect for traveling. I love the rounded corners. Another feature I love is the stitched binding. This lays nice and flat when I use it. It handles watercolor layers well without much if any buckling. While it isn't heavily textured like traditional cold press paper, it still has just enough texture to show the granulation qualities characteristic of some watercolors. I have also used it with gouache paints, pencils, and ink. I have had no issues with bleed thru. I will definitely continue to purchase these in the future. This is a well madeand high quality product. Don't let some of the negative reviews scare you away.

I can always count on Stillman and Birn Beta to perform well. This 7.5” square format is perfect to take on vacation - I carry-on much of my painting materials so size matters. I was delighted to find this size - have never seen it in any art supply store. Funny, I have used an 8”x8” journal in another really good brand, and you wouldn’t think a half inch would float my boat so much, but I really like this size even more.

I love the size. I have used with wet media and the ink/paint does not bleed through the centre/spine. My quirk - it does not erase well - so you have to draw lightly. I am trying all the series - Alpha, Beta, Delta, Zeta etc

I originally got this sketchbook to use with watercolors, but found that the paper didn't agree with my style of painting. The pages are nice and heavy and a little less textured than cold-press paper in my opinion. I found that it worked best for sketching, ink, acrylic, and gouache. I've done some watercolor studies in it, but they were in preparation for bigger pieces. If you are looking for a sketchbook to use to experiment with mixed media then this is a great purchase.

What I really like about this line of watercolor books is the thickness and quality of the paper. Stillman & Birn consistently produces a quality product.

Love this book - takes all kinds of media beautifully!

Love the size and paper in these for pictorial journaling.

Stillman & Birn's does an excelletn job with all their sketchbooks & journals. Their paper quality is exceptional.