Stillman & Birn Epsilon Series Hardbound Sketchbook, A4 (8.25" x 11.75"), 150 GSM (Heavyweight), White Paper, Smooth Surface

This sketchbook is bound so well. I’ve taken it with me everywhere and it stands the test of time. The pages are so smooth and bright white, and it truly does lay flat. And stickers stay well on the cover, so it is easy to decorate. I will be coming back to purchase another one once I fill this one. I’ve used pencil, pen, colored pencil, and acrylic gouache and the paper has worked well with all of them.

Tested with a Tachikawa G nib and India ink (the feathery small marks are made with a defective glass pen, not the paper’s fault).The paper is warm white and a bit transparent; heavy marks will show on the other side.The binding is very secure, which prevents the sketchbook from laying truly flat (2-page spreads probability won’t be possible).Overall, I think this sketchbook is very high quality and worth the price.

This sketchbook paper is smooth for all of them, most illustration fine points just glide and lines remain sharp. Also with colored pencils is surprisingly great, I use both colored pencils and alcohol markers, Copics and Blicks, and they blend really well. Markers will bleed but only with super wet applications. The paper is not flimsy, if you sketch and apply one layered light watercolor washes it also performs well. If you add a second layer definitely let the first one dry but don't fuss or brush too much. The watercolor will kind of sit on the surface. The amount of water the water brushes dispense without squeezing hard is about right. I love it because it is a nice true white color, whiter than Arches natural white paper for example, so the colors really show up. Favorite!

Enough said.But, for those of you who want specifics:The hardcover is great.The pages feel wonderful - I don't prefer this for a drawinf I'll be erasing a lot (more for an idea sketch book, or a final rendering book).The binding is going to do what all bound sketch books are going to do, but I don't notice a difficulty laying it flat.Final answer: If you want it, get it, you'll love it.

Was delivered fast, no damages to it.

I have found that the descriptions that S&B uses for their products are accurate and not a lot of advertising hype. This is smooth and durable paper, rather stiff. It is designed for ink but any medium will work. I like sketching and light water color. However, I do not like a paper with a lot of tooth since I sketch on a small scale with fine lead. This paper works well. Read the descriptions that S&B have for their papers and pick the one that seems best. This is high quality stuff.

If I had to pick one brand of sketchbook for the rest of my life it would be Stillman & Birn! These sketchbooks are well made, and offer an excellent range of sizes, and paper. They’re worth every penny! the Epsilon Series is excellent for pen and ink drawings.

After reading tons of review on sketchbooks I decided to get this one. The only real sketchbooks I'd used prior to this were Moleskine sketch books. I wanted something with white pages. One of the biggest flaws with this book is it won't stay open on it's own and the pages won't lay flat. I feel like I constantly have to hold the book open with my other hand.The paper is ok. It doesn't take pencil that well. it's almost too smooth as the pencil smudges a lot. I'm primarily using 2H so it's not like I'm using soft lead. Copic Markers do ok in it but they bleed through the pages like they do with most paper. I think what this is really designed for is ink. Gel pen and Copic Multiliners do great on this paper.I guess it's ok as far as sketchbooks go but I won't buy another and my search for the perfect sketchbook continues...

Las hojas son blancas y lisas, no tan estilo cartulina o moleskine, si tienen una ligerísima textura, pero eso permite que el lápiz o color agarre mejor, no tanto como el alpha. Muy gruesa la hoja, resistente bastante a entintado con plumones y tinta china, algunos como el sharpie y copic traspasan la hoja. Un poco mas delgado que el alpha pero igual de hojas. Cubierta dura y resistente con excelente costura, se ve resistente al uso rudo. Mi sketchbook favorito, muy recomendable.

Stillman and Birn is a huge name! I feel privileged to own this. I bought this book to replace my US made Canson Croquis (smooth texture). The pages are 150gsm whereas Canson had 96gsm. It was perfectly packaged. It arrived within 1 day even though the order said 7 days, Credit to Hakimi Stationers! Some key points-pages are beautiful extra white and sufficiently thick-graphite does not show through to the other side-hardcover feels amazing and pleasant to touch-need to commit to your shading, else the graphite smudges just a tiny bit But only if you rub harder than usual.-try getting Alpha version if you want vellum texture (if you do mostly pencil work)-you also get a slightly smaller than A4 version I think it is 10inch and something, if that's what you prefer. All other specs are the same.-I would not mind a pile of these sketchbooks in my house. I'd buy it again.Thanks :)

Stabiles Buch und schönes Papier, das Tusche und Füller abkann und dennoch nicht durchschlägt. Colorieren mit Aquarellfarben ist auch kein Problem. Das ideale Skizzenbuch...