Stillman and Birn Beta sketchbook with Derwent Inktense and Derwent Studio pencils: woods in autumn sketch

Autumn Woods: Derwent Inktense pencils and Studio pencils in a Stillman & Birn Beta sketchbook

I'd heard about S&B sketchbooks from American friends but they haven't been available in this country - and shipping costs made them out of the question.   They will soon be available here and I've got some to try out.  :>)   This is one of the Beta Series.   Heavy natural white paper with a rough surface.

Curled up in the armchair, (it has been very cold here :>(   following a week of summer temperatures and sunshine) I decided to see how they behaved with my Derwent Intense pencils, with Studio pencils used over the intial washes and marks.   The answer was ...  so far, love this book!  The paper was delicious to work on, heavy and with a nice texture that didn't dominate the image but held marks.

I was using a waterbrush from Derwent so the washes weren't very wet but there was a fair amount of water sloshing about.   I like these for situations like this - I would have managed to tip a water container over or splash staining watercolour over the cream chair without a doubt, but the waterbrush kept mess to a minimum,

 detail

The binding looks secure and strong - I've got a couple of old A3 sketchbooks with this type of large ring binding from Fabriano, and it constantly unravels and I have to bend it back and re-thread the pages.   A lovely book but beccause of this I wouldn't buy another.   This feels stronger - time will tell.   Folding back on itself means it's possible to sketch in a limited space, where the hardbound books I have (and love) would be a nuisance.

You can see other work with Inktense here and work with the Studio pencils alone here.

I'll be showing work in this and the other books in the range - and more of the Derwent range too.

Comments

Laura Frankstone said…
Wonderful, Vivien! Love seeing you Vivienesque marks again. I'm betting Michael at S&B sent you some books. He is such a nice person.
As you may know, I've been using S&B sketchbooks for over a year and really love them.
Hope it warms up for you soon.
11:05 am
vivien said…
He did :>) and I agree - he's lovely!

Yes, it was seeing people like you enjoyoing the books so much that made me really want to try them.
6:05 pm
Robyn Sinclair said…
You do play beautiful harmony with those Inktense pencils, Vivien.
I'm really trying to resist the desire for S&B sketchbooks because there are already more than enough desirable art supplies I can buy here in Italy.
7:34 am
vivien said…
thanks Robyn :>) I know - the wish list is endless!
12:37 pm
Ellejay said…
It's great to hear that S&B sketchbooks will be available here in the UK. Do you have any idea who will be stocking them please?
5:39 pm
vivien said…
I don't know yet I'm afraid Ellejay - but hopefully later this year and I'm sure there will be a big advertising drive in the art magazines
6:01 pm
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