Teoh Yi Chie Oh, I totally have! I keep seeing your name pop up. I'm reading Gabriel Campanario's handbook on architecture and cityscapes at the moment (just turned the page and saw one of your sketches!). I love the different perspectives that everyone brings to the table. Studying urban sketching is making a huge difference in my travels. My family moves every 3 to 6 months. Lots of opportunity to document. :)
I think you are very disciplined Teoh using all these sketchbooks that are not your favourites!. I have several sketchbooks that are 10 , 20 or even 5% full and I have dumped them onto my shelf because I haven't liked them. You have inspired me to haul them out and actually finish sketching in them. I always buy Boesner watercolour sketchbooks which I love but I'm not sure if they are available anywhere except in Germany. They accept line and wash beautifully.
Durability and longevity are important to me when I buy a sketchbook, so I think it's great that you like to wait til you've finished using a book to review it. Your sketches are great! Good luck filling out your books for 2017 :)
I second the comment about Stillman& Birn their Zeta and Epsilon books are my favourites. if you want something quite cheap that comes in a lot of different sizes though, I'd recommend Seawhite of Brighton's black cloth sketchbooks. the paper is not that thick, 140gsm all media cartridge paper, but it can handle pretty much anything. it's not super smooth like bristol paper (or indeed Stillman&Birn Zeta or Epsilon paper), but it handles dip pens very well, as well as watercolour washes. the paper is very consistent, and the prices are quite low. I love using their medium square sketchbooks for life drawing sessions.
I've just started drawing again after ten years--I have done some pencil and ink already. So excited to start watercolours soon. I think I'll get a Strathmore watercolour landscape sketchbook to start. I just got the Above Ground (in-house brand, here in Toronto) to draw in and I like it so far. I haven't tried it for watercolours but it takes ink pretty well. Thanks for these reviews!
Such great videos! Was thinking of getting the clairefortaine but now definitely not with the inconsistency! Thanks! I love the sounds of the exotic birds in the background. Sounds so natural and nice 😊
I did wanted to try the Strathmore mixed media but I haven't see any review, so I was afraid. I know that you have the book now, I trust your review better ;)
The paper quality is very good. However, I don't like how watercolor works on it. I feel like the paper does not allow the watercolour to move much. However, I've recently received an email from another artist saying that he/she loves the 500 series sketchbook for watercolour. So I guess it comes down to personal preference. ;-)
I stocked up on supplies during my trip to Montreal, including a Strathmore, a very textured Moleskin in landscape format, and a spiral-bound Canion (?) mix-media book. I have no idea how much of any of them I'll fill. I'd like to experiment more with your style of watercolour and ink, plus more concept-sketching with tonal markers.
Hey Teoh, Just wanted to report back that I finally got my Kunst and Papier sketch book -- it was actually quite difficult to track down here in the United States, but found their distributor here. Anyway, I really love working with this book and I wouldn't have known about it without your video. Love the bright white paper and the weight and the general heft and dimensions of the book. Thanks again!!
Thanks for your review! You make a number of good points and I was wondering about that Strathmore. I especially like your comments about the psychology behind coping with sketchbooks we don't like. It's so hard to face them sometimes and we've all bought books that we fell out of love with after using them for a few sketches. Taking the approach of purposefully challenging ourselves may be the only way to fill those up! Another great post, Teoh!
Hi Teoh, Thanks you for the sketch book review. It's always fun to see what you are using and what you think of things. I have 3 sketch books currently.... Stillman & Birn Soft cover Alpha, Pentalic Aqua Journal and a spiral bound Bee Paper Company Super Deluxe. These are my favorite journals. I like to do pencil sketching, watercolor and watersoluble ink and waterbrush... All 3 journals handle these types of mark making well. Just depends upon my mood and what I am sketching as to which journal I grab, and what medium I use. I am still learning my way...it is a lot of fun, and I am enjoying the journey!
this is super inspiring! i think this year i am going to choose one or two watercolor sketchbooks and one lighter paper weight sketchbooks to work in throughout the year!
I myself recently bought a Leuchttrum 1917 sketchbook (perhaps I spelled it wrong, don't know german!) thinking it might be my "all in one" type of sketchbook, where any type of media would at least look decent. Also, seeing people using watercolor in this book, I got thrilled to buy it. Unfortunately, watercolors don't do so well on this paper. It sucks water up really quickly, but I'm still going to use it, other media work completely fine, paper is smooth, sketchbook lays flat and is quite durable. Single washes of watercolor are no harm to this paper, if i don't overdo it, it's fine. Liked this sketchbook so far. I overall really like the feeling of using this sketchbook, definitely going to be one of my mine books for 2017! It's always exciting to start a new sketchbook in the new year! Hope you'll enjoy your art journey this year!
Leuchttrum books are for note taking and dry medium. It's not meant for painting. The paper is not treated so it will absorb water and that will soak the page, unlike watercolour paper where water will just stay on the surface. Have fun sketching with whatever sketchbook you'll be using :-)
I have WAY TOO MANY sketchbooks going. I use them super fast. I like more than one so a painting can dry while I work in another. I. Trying Stillman & Birn and not liking it for watercolor at all. It buckles. It works for pencil work because the pages feel more like Bristol Smooth. Bee 100% cotton paper sketchbooks work for me. They have very few pages. Comes in lots of sizes and shapes.
I also admire your self-discipline and determination to finish up books you are not fond of 👍:) I have 2 books I'm struggling to finish. First, the same large Strathmore portrait mixed media. It's great paper but I found it too cumbersome, and finally chopped it in half, to make 2 smaller landscapes. I also started a Stillman and Brin Alfa landscape 6x9 a few years ago. It's great, but has lot of pages & quite heavy, so I usually leave it home. You've inspired me to try to finish it in 2017.
I don't think I'll be able to finish the Clairefontaine book this year. The Strathmore is easy since it has only 64 pages. The Kunst & Papier 120 pages... lol... I hope I can fill it but I doubt so.
Awesome video!!! I love your watercolor art, makes me want to try that. Where did you get the hard bound sketchbook? I had one before in grade eight but I don't know the brand or where I can find one.
I tried the Leuchtturm1917 sketchbook A5 and I loved it! I used it with markers (yes... it bleeds) for a travel to Japan and they look great. I love the size (more than Moleskine), the whiteness of the paper and the super smooth texture. I recommend it if you like those kind of sketchbooks! 😊 do you know any other like this? Your reviews are great👌👌
hi there, I have a huge question for you, i have difficulties keeping one sketchbook at a time, so i always jump around from one sketchbook to another, so every sketchbook is pretty much half finished or not at all, do you have any tips to stay painting with one sketchbook till it filled up completely? Great video as always!
Azalia P I know this is a year old but I thought I'd give u a bit of advice. If you feel like abandoning a sketchbook don't. If you're stuck on what to draw just do gestures or things you see around you. It will help you fill pages and improve your art! Draw even if you don't feel like it and improve if you don't finish that's fine, you can always go back to it on a later date. Hope you see this and it helps. It did for me :)
hi teoh, i have just started a sketchbook from pink pig (ameleie). it has 270g paper in a5 and is quite smooth. it is ring bound in a portrait format but i would have prefered to have it in landscape, which is also available but this one was cheaper;) i will try to pick up one of the kunst & papier sketchbooks with 160g to try out, i live in germany so it shouldn't be too hard to find. at the moment im trying to put my own sketchbook together with various different paper weights and surfaces for flexibility, i'll see how it goes. thanks for all your reviews and sketching videos, they are much appreciated. neil
Hi Teoh, I remember once you said the Strathmore 400 doesn't work well with Noodler's ink, how about the the Strathmore 500? I have bought a Strathmore 400 series but never used it until now. BTW where did you buy the Kunst and Papier?
9:37 that sketch book would make a fantastic bujo journal book...wow...i love that size I am always looking for a sketch book that can take sharpie pen (medium) and highlighters , without bleeding through..any suggestions ? I like 200 or more pages in each book also....5x8 is my standard size I like. How many pages in that Note on a book constantina sketch book ? what is the paper weight /gsm ?? i wanna order that book
That blue sketchbook is too thick to bring around. Best used at home. It's also very intimidating with so many pages. Probably over 300 pages. I bought it at a local store. Not sure where you can find it online though.
Another terrific video, Teoh, thank you! I recently picked up a 200 series Strathmore 30 page book 300gms/6x9/cold press for about $5 USD which I'm really enjoying. It's rough, but it's great for practicing and testing. I also just picked up a set of Derwent Watercolor pencils (36 ct), which I'm excited to try, too. What I am looking for is a good HOT press watercolor sketchbook, which is really a challenge to find where I live. I thought you reviewed one, but I couldn't find it. Any suggestions? Great to see your wonderful work! Cheers! :)
Hi M.D. Take a look at the Stillman & Birn Beta and Zeta Series sketchbooks. They are available in hard and soft covers, are mixed media journals, so will handle dry and wet, and have portrait and landscape sizes. Both Beta and Zeta are 270 gsm and smooth. Hope this info helps!
Hi LadyIdle93, Alpha and Beta Mixed Media Sketchbooks both have a slight tooth to them...I have used them both for pen and ink, and they do great. Beta is heavier weight then Alpha, but very similar in texture. Hope this helps. (Truly, I have not had a Stillman & Birn that I was unhappy with.)
Many different types of sketchbooks in this video. I assume you're not bothered by a bit of show through from a sketch on the opposite side of the page. I have to say show through annoys me, but I'm learning to deal with it lol.
The sketchbook with the random rouge or smooth pages. couldn t you just feel the pages and choose them for when you need a single one and just do them that way? and use the double pages that are put in the right way if you feel it is ok?
I just started using a sketchbook from Leda Art Supply. I work mostly in colored pencils and it does very well. On the back page I did "bleed through" tests of ink , watercolor, micron pens , brush pens, etc. 13 products in all and I didn't encounter any problems. Have you used this sketchbook yet?
Hey teo , thanks for producing these great videos . I've been really enjoying your quality content and your art is amazing . what kind of paint did you use to color those sketches you showed? for example the fire station ?
So, if you were to choose an all around sketchbook that handles ink and the watercolor as well as could be expected without it being actual watercolor paper.....what would you choose? Thanks!
Usually watercolour sketchbooks are the best for use with watercolour. Stillman & Birn do make some sketchbooks that don't use watercolour paper but can handle watercolour well (I think their paper are still treated to handle water though). Here's a link to some of my favourite sketchbooks www.parkablogs.com/content/best-watercolour-sketchbook-artists
hi, first of all i would like to say that your kind of urban sketching is exectly my favorite kind of sketching( so you can be sure you have good taste lol) I am thinking of starting skatching myself , exept fountain pens should I use water color or should I go with sharpies and stabilos? I have a little concurne with sharpies because they can bleed through but maybe in skatching notebooks they preforms better.
Hey! I know I asked about the strathmore 500 series mixed media before on another one of your videos but I'm still trying to understand a bit the issues you've had with it using watercolors. Would you say it's similar to the issues you found with the bee watercolor book that you did a review on where the sizing was weird so colors wouldn't travel, were difficult to blend and had hard edges?
The paper performs like non-watercolour paper. The paint would just sink in, get absorb, so they can't move much on the surface. That makes it difficult to create gradations, or have colours blend softly into one another. But otherwise, the paper quality is very good for all other media.
Those sketchbooks will be filled with beautiful art! :) Btw I have a question Ive been thinking about for sooo long, where did you get the name Parka? lol
Hi, interesting video as usual:-) Have you ever used the Fabriano Watercolour Book? It's my favorite. Mine is 14,8 x 21 cm, 200gsm , have 30 pages, hard cover and opens up flat. Would love to have your opinion on it!
So when you're looking for a sketchbook for ink and watercolor, what do you look for in particular? Just the weight of the paper? Also, do you mostly buy them online?
All sketchbooks that can be used with watercolour can be used for ink, but not the other way. I look for watercolour sketchbooks that are at least 200gsm. It must be hardcover so that there's backing to draw on, even when I have to draw while standing. Other features are not that important, like the material of the paper (e.g. cotton vs cellulose), pocket.
I am really interested on the Blue color sketchbook you have, I wonder where did you saw it. Because as you said on the video its really hard to search it in the internet, so I tried (^___^ ) and you're right.. that's why if you have more details about that Journal could you please let me know.. thank you in advance.
Hi I love your sketches.. I am just wondering if anybody could help me please... I am just starting out sketching well I have drawn for years but I am just starting to do it regularly now.. I'm not sure what sort off sketch book to get. I like quite thick paper. not sure we're to start really lol.. thank you in advance 😃
I suggest the cloth bound watercolour sketchbook (200gsm) from Global Art Materials or the 300gsm Pentalic Watercolour Journal. You can check out the comparison here www.parkablogs.com/content/best-watercolour-sketchbook-artists
I wonder, why won't you just give up on the mentioned Clairefontaine sketchbook that you don't like? It's not like you have no alternative. Punishing yourself for buying it with an insistence to fill it doesn't seem like a solution to me.
+dolphin animal lover I don't like spiral because the metal wire always rust for me, and that rust goes onto the pages at the holes. Normal sketchbooks are also easier to store for me.