Stillman & BirnAlpha Series Wirebound Sketchbook, 9" x 12", 150 gsm (Heavyweight), White Paper, Medium Grain Surface

I love all of the Stillman and Birn sketchbooks, but this is my favorite. The paper in the Alpha Series has a very slight texture - smooth enough for sketching in pencil or ink and just enough texture for watercolor. I also like the size 7 x 10 and prefer the wirebound so that I can flip the front cover over to the back of the sketchbook and have a nice solid surface to sketch on while holding the book..... i.e. if I'm sketching outdoors and don't have a table or anything to put the sketchbook on. I also have the same sketchbook in the 9 x 12 size when I want to work larger.... but the 7 x 10 is my daily sketchbook of choice....

If wet media is your medium, the paper in in this sketchbook is completlye unforgiving-- sufc e balls up with the second attempt to remove paint with water and dry brush. I wil be using this for exercises only.After buying this, my first higher-end sketchbook, and being so disappointed I bought the pair ofArteza sketchbooks-- AND I simply could not believe how amazing and tough their pages were.At least now I have found, for me, the perfect sketchbook!

There are some random black specks on some pages that look like accidents.

Nice paper surface for sketching and will stand up to a light watercolor wash. I like the ring bound book because it is easy to hold while sketching when the front cover opens all the way around to the back.

I use it for my micro pen sketches, it’s very nice. The ink didn’t go through other side of the page.

I love Stillman & Birns they are my go to journal. Next time I am getting the hardcover Zeta to try. You can not go wrong with Stillman & Birns

Have not used yet, but I have the sample sheets. There was no warping with watercolor, oil pencils or watercolor crayons. Love it. I highly recommend these wonderful sketchbooks! Plenty of pages and the price holds up to the quality of the whole book.

good quality, stands up to a light to medium wash but not a second wash

Lovely surface for pencil, pen and wash. Will buy again

The book advertised is portrait and the book I received is landscape.

Excellent experience using Alfa sketchbook. The paper is perfect for watercolour painting.

I've used several of the alpha series in different formats, including this one, and they're superb. The pages curl some when wet, but flatten out again quite nicely. The very white paper also holds up well to erasure and resists show through to the other side quite well too. I used to use Bateman sketchbooks, but no longer -- these are far superior. My use is mostly with pen and watercolour and also with watercolour pencil, but not with markers.