Stillman & BirnBeta Sketchbook : 5.5 x 8.5in Hardbound 270gsm : Natural White : Cold Pressed/Rough

I love the hard cover on this and the pages are great for sketching and light watercolor washes too! I use mine for a nature sketchbook. Very happy with this purchase. Received on time!

I use this book for watercolour pieces. The paper is smooth and does not suck up the water which is great for wet on wet painting techniques as it gives you more time to work the paint before applying more water. The pages do not curl much which is also great. Be careful when painting close to the binding as paint can run into the corners of other pages. Pages are also really white which is great for showing paints. Based on how the book is sewn together, for some pages you have to press the pages down for a bit in order for it to lie flat open.

I wanted a sketchbook that could handle water pretty well so I can actually paint on both sides of the paper without immense warping and this sketchbook allows me to do that. It has very bright white and thick paper that has some tooth to it. I think my only complaint is that I personally like ivory paper (because I used a different brand with ivory for so long got used to it) so I should have bought the ivory version but nonetheless, this sketchbook is still great. Would highly recommend it.

Sketchbook is well made. The paper accepts heavy watercolour washes, acrylic paints and inks, stamping, and collage. Is fun to work in for most of my artistic experiments. Only reason I gave 4 stars was because I would prefer a bit more tooth in the paper. This paper is very smooth. Also I personally prefer a square format with rounded edges and requested the same to Stillman & Birn.

Disappointed in the paper as it allows for little lifting . Found out I like some kind of spiral bound instead of book bound. This book keeps open fairly well but not handy in plein air painting. The paper does well, however, in little warping. It is handsomely hard bound.

I am very pleased with the quality of the paper. The watercolor paint glides on it like butter and the paper is not damaged by multiple re-wetting & glazing. Pencils & micron pens don't jump on the paper surface allowing smooth control. Despite the amount of wet color I dumped on the page, it doesn't seep through the other side of the page. I am most definitely pleased with that :) To top it off, with just a little coaxing & training by opening the book wide, the page opens flat. I most highly recommend this Beta hardbound sketchbook. For sure, I intend to buy more of it in the future.

Thanks--the books arrived quickly and I love them--the beta series is so pleasant to paint on. They're a good sturdy page and take the watercolors beautifully for a sketchbook.

I'm pleased all around. The paper is nice and thick and holds watercolors enough for sketching (though nothing serious!). Binding and cover is all sturdy and it's holding up very well.

Arrived on time. Nice thick paper, lies flat. Would get again.

El sketchbook es para técnicas mixtas. No está mal, ay que por el precio hay mejores opciones. No tiene cinta de sujeción y los borres no son redondeados.

Ich Male viel mit Bleistift, Aquarell und Tusche. Mit diesem Skizzenbuch kann ich alles nutzen und mit allem malen. Ja das Papier wellt sich etwas. Aber ich brauche auch viel Wasser beim Malen. Sehr gute Bindung. Das Papier ist schön dich und hat eine leichte Struktur.

I bought this to start experimenting with watercolour and I was very happy with the results. It's able to take enough layers of washes as I need/try wet on wet techniques. If you overdo it, the paper gets overworked, but for a beginner, I think it holds up great as you can still use both sides of the paper.My only criticism (very minor) is that I find it hard to get it to lay flat once you get to about the middle of the book onwards as the pages kind of crinkle/bend. However, if you use some clips to hold the paper, you can get it flat enough (I haven't tired using a full spread tho). Overall, very happy :)

Very good