Description

The Stillman & Birn Sketchbook System

Stillman & Birn’s sketchbook system gives artists the unique choice of paper weight, shade, and surfacebest suited to their specific techniques. With both internal and surface sizing, our papers have exceptional wet strength. Similarly, just as the paper’s sizing slows down water absorption, pigment stays on the surface of the sheet. The result: remarkably glowing color!

The Stillman & Birn hardbound bindings – stiff when new – are designed to be broken in. The spines get eased in and then lay completely flat, accommodating both two-page drawing layouts and flatbed scanning. The wirebound bindings allow for your book to lay and remain flat and easy removal of pages to archive or share. The softbound covers are sewn-bound, providing flexibility while remaining 100% durable. Rounded corners prevent frayed edges and gives each book an elegant finish.

Beta Series
The Beta Series is an extra heavyweight (270 gsm) mixed media paper with a cold press finish. The combination of Beta’s heavy weight and its double sizing makes this a remarkably strong surface. Beta can support all types of dry and wet media from blending layers of colored pencil with a touch of turpinoid to advanced wet media techniques not usually possible to achieve in a sketchbook.

• Extra Heavyweight: 270 gsm.
• Shade: White.
• Surface: Cold Press.
• Media: Dry Media, Wet Media, Ink.
• Binding Options: Hardcover, Softcover.

Delta Series
The Delta Series is the ivory equivalent of the Beta Series. Delta provides a warm background for mixed media artwork requiring an extra heavyweight surface. Delta’s ivory shade adds a dramatic mid-tone background that augments the intensity of the artist’s pigments. Like Beta, the Delta Series will support a wide range of both dry and wet media techniques.

• Extra Heavyweight: 270 gsm.
• Shade: Ivory.
• Surface: Cold Press.
• Media: Dry Media, Wet Media, Ink.
• Binding Options: Hardcover, Softcover.

Zeta Series
The Zeta Series is a unique surface. It has the feel of a dense Bristol paper but is in fact an extra heavyweight (270 gsm) mixed media paper with an ultra-smooth finish. Loved by illustrators, calligraphers, as well as watercolorists, the the Zeta Series is perfect for a wide range of media, from colored pencils, wet media, markers, fountain pens, and more.

• Extra Heavyweight: 270 gsm.
• Shade: White.
• Surface: Smooth.
• Media: Dry & Wet Media, Watercolor, Ink.
• Binding Options: Hardcover, Softcover.

Nova Toned Paper Series
The Nova Series offers artists toned papers that support mixed media techniques. Nova Series papers are available in three shades: beige, grey and black. Like all Stilman & Birn papers, these papers are double-sized to allow for a wide range of both dry and media media. The toned shades of these papers are particularly suitable for opaque mediums, such as gouache and water-based markers. Nova papers also provide a exciting background for iridescent mediums, such as Finetec® watercolors.

• Heavyweight: 150 gsm.
• Three Shades: Black, Grey, Beige.
• Surface: Medium Grain.
• Media: Dry Media, Light Wash, Ink.
• Binding Options: Softcover
  • Nova Trio Sketchbook (All three shades in a single sketchbook).

Bound in the United States, the Stillman & Birn sketchbook system offers artists a choice of three paper surfaces:
– Medium Grain (Nova) – multi-purpose surface, suitable for all dry media, light wash and ink.
– Cold Press (Beta, Delta) – Lightly textured surface, the heavy weight of provides enhanced wet and tear strength, suitable for advanced mixed media artwork.
– Smooth (Zeta) – Suitable for pen & ink, colored pencils, water-based markers and other wet media.