The Stillman & Birn 5.5” x 3.5” Sketchbook
Everyone raves about Stillman & Birn sketchbooks. I have tentatively settled on the Moleskine Art Watercolour Sketchbook as my go-to to use for my drawings and paintings, but I was curious about the Stillman & Birn line. I do not need another 5” x 8” (or close to that) sketchbook, but I’ve also been curious as to whether I would ever really use a 5 1/2” x 3 1/2” sketchbook.
The 5 1/2” x 3 1/2” sketchbook opened on my drawing board. Tiny!
I’ve read several people’s’ blog posts where they always have such a sketchbook with them so I figured I could satisfy two of my curiosities with the purchase of the Stillman & Birn Beta Series Softcover Sketchbook in that small size. The company has several “series” of sketchbook that vary in paper characteristics. The Beta series paper is 280g/m² with a cold press (textured) surface. The company refers to the paper as “extra heavyweight” and, I must say, it is.
Compared to a Strathmore 8” x 5 1/2” watercolor sketchbook.
It is a small sketchbook! It will definitely be easy to carry with me always and, together with either a fountain pen or a Micron fine tip pen, let me draw wherever I am! It has 26 pages. This little book is tiny! And that may turn out to be problematic. Can I really draw and paint decently in such a small sketchbook? Well, we will soon see.
