I got the Stillman and Birn, the Beta and the Zeta, they are both great. One is white and the other is a little off white. I love the sizes and you can take them anywhere and the watercolor dries faster so you can move on to the next page. But, the paper seems better than other non-cotton papers. Great review. :) thank you! 🙏
Thank you it is very helpful and answered some of my questions about some of these sketchbooks 🥰 I like khadi papers for practices, I about their a3 10 sheets I think for 8 pounds and made a sketchbook out of them to practice florals and minimum strokes as many artists mentioned the paper can't handle many washes.
Aw thank u! I think I was afraid to do a proper sketchbook tour because I was maybe a bit embarrassed to show my older paintings. So I did it disguised as a sketchbook review! hahaha.
The handbook company make lovely sketchbooks and the fabriano Venezia (I think that’s how’s it’s spelt🥴). I’m in Australia too so nice to hear another artist talk about art materials that we can get here. I didn’t like the moleskine either, way over priced for the quality. If you are looking for cheap and cheerful (but not bad) there is Millini and derivan. Happy painting 😊
Hi Crystal! Thank you for the nice review! I am a huge sketchbook fan as it is the best way for me to keep my paintings not flying around the house. :) Because you talked a lot about the vibrancy of colours, I can recommend the german brand Hahnemuehle. Its a paper company :) and they have all kinds of sketchbooks. For water colour they have Cellulsose and 100% Cotton paper. I started with the cheaper Cellulose 200 gsm (A5 about 33 AUD for 60 pages/ 30 sheets) and the vibrancy of the colours is just perfect. For bleeding however the 100% Cotton is much better.
Thanks! I know many artists who love Hahnemuehle and will certainly be on the list for me to try! Yes retaining vibrancy is so important. Is that your fav brand?
Join me for a 5 week LIVE course with Penn Art Studio this September 2024 - Recreating Vintage Florals with Watercolour - www.crystaltanart.com/onlinecourses
Your paintings are lovely. Got a bit distracted looking at them instead of listening your comments about the papers 🙂Although I did notice that you talked about the Visual Journal that I really like but I'm not at your level to notice the differences in brightness. I am still skittish using any paper bigger than A5. I even tend to use very small sketchbooks. Any ideas how to get bold and waste a whole big page of paper? 😅
I hear you. As you saw, I started at A5 as well. I suggest just slowly working your way up. And as you increase your paper size, increase the brush size too. So with A4 paper, you can start using a size 8/10 brush. Then as you go up to 9x12, use an even bigger brush. I totally understand your inertia and hesitance. I am trying to convince myself to start a series that's on half a full size watercolour sheet - 22 x 15. I have the paper and big brushes and everything on standby! But I just can't get started! The advise is... Just do it.
I am a total stillman and birn convert now. I need to try the Beta. Its white but cold press right? And yes so many people have recommended hahnemuhle!
I'm currently forcing myself to finish my "perfect sketchbook" from Etchr and personally I think the paper is way too rough. It has a heavy texture and it doesn't feel very pleasant to point on compared to smoother paper. It is a good sketchbook but not worth that heavy price point. My favorite ones are from Hahnemühle so far! I'm thinking about making a similar video since I've used lots of sketchbooks over the years 😁
I need to try the hahnemule one cos alot of people love it. Do u use the 100% cotton one? Yup the etchr everyday one is not as great. But Im just trying to use it up like u! And I trash it with lots of mix media so it doesnt feel wasted.
I still haven't found one I like. Stillman & Birn has been very disappointing so far for me. I am looking forward to trying my Strathmore 400 and Etchr sketchbooks. Everyone has different needs and preferences so it's nice to get others opinions as well. Thanks for your reviews.
Good luck in your search! Its very disappointing to buy one, then use the first page and realise you hate it. Coz then, you know you'll HAVE to use the rest of it to not waste it and it may be 40 more disappointing paintings you'll make haha.
I wanted to try Strathmore’s Mixed Media Visual Journal because of the cotton content too. Hearing your opinion on it, I’m fine with not having it haha. Canson XL watercolor paper does not do it for me, however their thinner mixed media sketchbooks do. I like the middle option best, it’s thin but not too thin: it’s the Canson XL Mixed Media Rough sketchbook. The regular mixed media is thinner and frustrates me. I think the paper weight for the “rough” mixed media is 185 gsm. It handles watercolor just the way I like it and I don’t need to worry about wasting good paper. I made my own A5-ish cotton sketchbooks from full sheets and while it’s cheaper than buying the premade sketchbooks, I guess the high quality paper makes me nervous to paint on them.
This is such a great video, Crystal ! Thank you for sharing your art journey in your sketch books and the art work /practice pieces and all sorts. Please be assured…..they are all really, really lovely !!!! I have also been trying out the different papers and sketch books / single sheets, etc. etc……so your review here is very helpful indeed, especially to hear your honest feedback about these particular brands. Thank you once again and all the very best for your future success ! Hope you soon feel better from that cold….I hear from my son who lives in Australia, that there are lots of colds and viruses going around at the moment .
Thank you SO MUCH. I don't feel confident or brave enough to do a video that is focused on tour of my early work, so I think I am testing waters by making a 'sketchbook review' video. HAHAHA. Thank you so much. I am recovering well now! That cough had me for about 2 weeks! XXX
I have the etchr hot pressed sketchbooks and find they have wonderfully sharp edges and textures. I think it maybe the texture on the cold press that's causing the difference in edge quality. Maybe try the hot pressed versions if you are interested in sharper edges while retaining the benefits of bright colours and a lovely flow.
Hey Ruth! Glad to chat with you over here! I haven't before actually, but have seen a few videos on book binding and it seems like a really lovely satisfying project. :)
I am finding it a challenge to get sketchbooks here in South Africa that have good paper and are a reasonable price. I ended up making my own. R50 as opposed to R600. Incomparable
Thank you for your post Crystal - I am still looking for the perfect sketchbook myself, so this was helpful. I have some W&N and a Canson one of the way, so it will be interesting what I think! Not sure if you are aware, but Jackson Art have opened a store in Australia - in Adelaide - so you can buy products from them locally online. Also you mentioned about the colours not looking as sharp, I think in the Etcher - now, this is my first post of yours I have watched, so you probably already know this - but you may prefer working on hot press watercolour paper - it is great for botanical art and fine detail - and apparently the colours look brighter. I look forward to watching more of your posts. Happy painting!
Oh my thanks for the Jackson Art in Adelaide info! I had no idea :) And as for the Etchrlab - It hasn't even occured to me to try the hotpress. Because usually I like cold press. But I may give it a go! Thank u!
I thank you for the video! I’ve had the same experience with Khadi sketchbooks as well as their A5/A6 size paper. I tried the 600 gsm I’ve had problems with mould. Maybe it was something I did?… not sure 😮. But yeah, I also found the colours to be dull and I thought it was my fault until I tried another brand 😊
Great video🥰 the only thing is you missed the Menorah sketchbook I guess😄 It' really good I mean the paper quality is top notch no ghosting would go with Menorah anytime
S&b never fails...but paying over $30 (even that is a bit much) for a sketchbook just sounds excessive and not at a reasonable thing to do as much as I love sketchbooks. Loose paper is always the best way to go for finished pieces if you want to sell your art someday, and sketchbooks only for play/practice.
I haven’t been painting watercolour for very long. When I first started, I ordered Paul Rubens paints and paper. I had no idea really, about paper quality, etc. Since then I’ve tried other paints and paper….but Paul Rubens is still my favourite.
Splashed out on the Perfect sketchbook and even with a slight discount it was expensive as you say!! However it is far superior to the one you tried. Can’t get on with the white ones and as one viewer said, I always think I should like it more than I do 🤣. Great video with helpful comments. Thanks so much 👍.
Good to know I'm not the only one who feels that about the everyday sketchbook (the white one), Maybe one day I will splurge on the Perfect Sketchbook!
Super fun to see! I love how you used sketchbooks! I didn't realise u were a sketchbook painter cos I always see ur paintings in loosesheets! Anyway I love it. I recommend the hahnmuehle that I am using. I quite like it!
I ONLY RECENTLY started on sketchbooks again. I took a long long break because I think I was impatient to wait for it to dry. So I think when I met you, I didn't really paint on sketchbooks since then till now again! I must try the Hahnemule one a lot of people have said. Did you get the 100% cotton one ?
I totally agree with you about the Etchr sketchbooks. There's just something about them that make me like the paintings a little less than I feel like I should. My favorite watercolor sketchbook is the 100% cotton watercolor sketchbooks by Hahnemuhle. The vibrancy does absorb into them a little bit... but theres something dreamy about the way it does it!
Thank you for a wonderful RU-vid channel and for an interesting review. I use the Arches Travel Journal and love it but would also like to try Etchr if possible but it is expensive to order one to Sweden.
Thanks for the review always love seeing your art it’s so beautiful!! I’ve been loving the Strathmore 400 Series Watercolor. For my next sketchbook I really want to get a handmade one from Etsy I’ve seen several sellers that bind Arches paper into a book and I am so curious to try it!
I have seen those! And would love to try one of those Etsy ones. I will search out the Strathmore ones. I think ive seen it at my art shop, but thought it was pretty pricey.
Glad you enjoyed it! I may be braver one day and do a proper walk down memory lane video of all early paintings. SO many are so cringey to me now, it's hard to speak about them. But I need to get over that.
@@crystaltanart I totally understand about early work. When I look at my old paintings I do cringe too but it makes me see how I grow in my journey. At the same time, I don't know if I could show them to someone 😅
I have really enjoyed using the US Art Supply sketchbooks I purchased on Amazon. They are 230gsm, lightly textured, colors stay vibrant and blend well. They come in a two pack for less than $20US, and so are very inexpensive. They don’t specify what the paper is made of, so I assume it is cellulose. I also have used Canson, Strathmore and Arteza sketchbooks, and the US Art supply ones are by far my favorites.
What is available in Australia is probably quite different from what is available in the US. Maybe some of your American subscribers will be able to use this information. Thanks for your very helpful and informative videos.
Hello!!! I’ve heard a lot of good comments about Paul Rubens watercolour SB. I saw it just in Amazon. 100% cotton hot press. Not cheap… And Moleskin… yes… don’t exited. Don’t know why. Maybe when you start to paint, the paper starts blinking and and it’s difficult to continue
Hey Gabe! this video was meant to be a review of sketchbooks with a peak of my paintings. I have videos dedicated to the art in the sketchbooks! There's one coming out next week - a sketchbook tour of my recent paintings. thanks!!
Can you even paint landscapes, urban setup, people, animals, anything that is not a flower? I thought this will be a video of someone progressing in painting
An artist can progress by painting the same subject over and over. Monet's water lilies & Van Gogh's haystacks are two examples, and for Crystal it's her flowers. I think they are beautiful and it's her channel so she can paint and share whatever makes her happy.
