Stillman & BirnAlpha Series Softcover Sketchbook, 8" x 10", 150 gsm (Heavyweight), White Paper, Medium Grain Surface

Using A5 softcover - Paper is thin and plentiful enough to not be "precious" and you don't worry about wasting space.. But thick and sturdy enough to not bleed through the pages. This sketchbook can take a lot of abuse without issue.Receives pen, pencil, permanent marker, and watercolor/gouache paint well. Takes multiple wet and dry layers like a champ.Multiple wet paint layers will cause the page to wrinkle a little on the backside of the page but never bleeds through or causes a problem. (Though the book may appear a little bulkier by completion due to this)Paper is bound in six signatures, very well glued into place. Spine does not fall apart despite months and months of abuse.Primary use - watercolor paint (with lots of wet layers) - in travel paint kit, used anywhere outside the studio (indoors or out).Amazing value for the price - the high page count is great at preventing the "precious" mentality that bars artists from experimenting. And the sturdiness allows you to keep it forever, so you can get real work done with it too.Great for professional artists who just want some play space, or beginner artists just starting out. The book is slim, flexible, and sturdy. It's unbeatable in price and in durability. Cannot recommend it enough.

This paper is very nice for ink and watercolor sketches with a light wash. Just be careful not to use too much water or multiple coats of paint or it will start to deteriorate a little bit.

This book takes wet media as well as dry extremely well.Recommended.

I bought this as it was recommended for an online class. Using a lot of watercolor, markers, etc and I wasn't sure how I'd like it, but it's working great! Nice paper finish when I'm just writing with a pen, slight puckering when drowned with water but that's not a bother. Overall, I'm impressed!

I use the A6 or small portrait size alpha sketchbook it has lots of pages and the paper is heavy enough to handle ink and watercolor, I really like the white paper- colors are true on it. The small size is easy to carry and with a bulldog clip and ponytail band to either hold it open while painting or closed while in my purse it is incredibly convenient.

I love this brand and this particular type of sketchbook. I use it for light watercolor washes and quick sketches. It's lightweight and super travel friendly!

I really like this sketchbook. I’ve been using watercolor, ink and acrylic paints in it and it is holding up quite well. The pages curl a bit when you use wet media, but that doesn’t bother me. I wouldn’t saturate the page, but light washes are okay. I didn’t realize the cover was as thin as it is and if I would have known, I might have bought the hard cover. Overall, it’s a great sketchbook and the price is good.

Perfect for mixed media, water colors don't bleed through. Best art journal so far. Get this you will not regret it!

Lovely toothy, creamy coloured paper, but be aware this is not watercolour paper and watercolour blooms and pools on it. Fine for washes, but not great for layering or glazes, even gouache goes on a bit patchy. On the other hand, pens of all types flow nicely on this, so it’s a great paper stock if you want to write as well as paint and draw. Expensive though!

Just what I need. Very nice quality.

juste un peu cher à mon avis mais très bon sketchbook

For the whopping price, this is a rather tacky little sketchbook from the much touted Stillman and Birn. The book doesn’t even open out decently or evenly. The paper is average with some grain. So much for the brand yapping about their array of varieties which simply cause confusion. All that business of researching through their Alpha Beta Zeta stuff for this piddling average thing I got. Canson sketchbooks have far superior paper and an elegance to them so that you don’t mind the expense. Some local brands are far cheaper, open out flat, look good and have really decent paper for the price.

Really like the texture of the book, although it's bit pricey.