That shelf full of sketchbooks gives me life

I must say: I love your drawings but your shelves of sketchbooks... They are the best source of inspiration I know! They all represent so much time and commitment that it's a beautiful thing to see.

@LizSteelArt

7 жыл бұрын

oh! thanks Priscilla. It is easy to think that the ease with which I sketch just happens... but that bookcase is proof that it took me 10 years to get here. But at the same time now have this wonderful collection of memories!

"I finished the book early" - I love your way of putting it, and am so stealing it :-)

I appreciate your honesty...that you don't complete some sketchbooks. Often I feel guilty that I had not finished a sketchbook for various reasons. Again a great eye-opening video!

Hi Liz, thanks for posting this! I found it incredibly helpful since you're reviewing books that you've actually used (imagine that). It makes me laugh when people on youtube post reviews of sketchbooks that they've just unboxed... and spend 15 minutes raving about how beautiful it is but haven't ever worked on the paper. We appreciate you taking the time to help with honest reviews. Right now my favorite book is the Stillman and Birn Alpha hardcover 9X6 landscape, but as you say, that will probably change over time.

@LizSteelArt

7 жыл бұрын

thanks Steve. I have to fill at least 10 pages before I get a feel for the book and the paper. Sometimes i have to adjust the way I work and see if that makes a difference. Love your choice of a fav sketchbook :-)

@Kaylasdaintydesk

6 жыл бұрын

I think the same thing. Then they do an updated review and say the paper can’t handle more then one layer lol. Right now I really love the softcover Strathmore Mixed Media journals. Since I use Sennelier I can get quite a few layers in with no trouble. I’d like to try the Stillman next

I hope I have that many sketchbooks one day ❤

I have Recommendation too! My favorite is “talens art creation sketch book spiral 80 sheets 110gr”. It comes in different sizes. It’s cheap ( bought 15x15 cm for 7 usd and big one 42x29 for 25 usd on sale). I bought a lot of sketchbooks but I have this fear to use good ones (like Fabriano for example - “too good for my dog-sh*t art”) and also it is painful to use very cheap ones (like albums for kids) because I want to use watercolor with an ability to add up to 2/3 layers. Those “talens 110 gr” is just enough for liner+watercolor sketch, sheets are buckling a little but ok. Also cover is really hard and super handy to use aweigh. Hope it could help for someone who is searching for cheap but useable sketchbook.

I love Stillman and Brin sketchbooks. So glad they now have a soft cover version. Great video... it was a big help.. thanks Liz.

Hi Liz, I am always amazed at how many sketches you manage to do on your travels, thanks for sharing them with us 😃

Any sketch that shows a sewing machine wins my heart!

My goodness 😍 everything is inspiring! The Fabriano, the 2014 sketchbook colors, so much beauty and creativity.

hands down i praise you! amazing... HANDS DOWN amazing, inspirational, you have fueled my fire even more for learning more ,on landscapes and still life, i bow down to you my dear.

Thank you for your tips. I appreciate your time in doing these. They are very helpful.

Thank you Liz, your information is so helpful! It can be very confusing to understand the different papers. There are so many choices, seeing your sketchbooks will make it easier to figure out. I make my own sketchbooks because Stillman and Birn is not available where I live, but I hope to splurge and order one soon.

omg, you have become a master for me with a bookshelf filled with lots of sketchbooks!!!!

I'm in love with the Stillman and Birn Gamma, the one with the ivory paper....wish I had the time and the energy to sketch more, though.

So thankful for people like you! Super helpful video! Thank you!!!

It's so rare to see Aussie artists on KZread let alone ones from Sydney. Great to see!

Mind blown to see that shelf Liz :D Thanks for opening my point of view. Wish I could see those sketchbooks in person.

Ohh my gashhh! Looove your sketches! Thanks for the great inspiration! Hope to someday draw like that!💯

Hope to see a detailed video of all your 'sketch goodies' you take with you on your outings. Love your channel! Just subbed. 🤗

all that work is just wonderful.... feels so good after seeing all it.... time taking indeed. ... u like drawing coffee cups a lot.. na ..so pretty. ..

Thanks for a brilliant and v informative post, as I've just made the move from sheets of my favourite Bockingford paper to sketchbooks. I'm trialling the Strathmore 400 soft cover as it's 140lb but also know exactly what you mean by 'worrying about the paper being too precious' so not wanting to mess up a sketch !! I also find the 8x10 size the best - gives a feeling of space to play around with images and words, so I think I'll give the Alpha softcover a try too ! It's v helpful to have your reviews as I don't have any stockists nearby and buying untried things online can be a bit of a lottery.

That was super helpful, thank you 👍😊

I love your drawings!😻

very helpful. I have it in the square- love it!

I'm a stillman & Birn girl too, working in a Delta 10 x 8 hard cover at the moment but think my next one will be an A5 soft cover 😊

Hollo Liz. I got you Five Minute Sketching book for Christmas. I love it. My wife and I live in southern Spain. There is some great Moorish and Renascence Architecture here. I like to share people's stories and sketching helps me think minimalist and communicate the message in as little time as possible. Thank you for your thoughts on sketch books. I find that the small Moleskine or larger formats are easier for me to work with. I find that the medium size 13mm x 21mm harder to work with. My favorite is a Global Arts hand made watercolor paper journal. It was expensive but the paints look great in it and I love how the washes go on easily. I am rambling, but. I love your book. Make more videos!

I think I really like the first sketch book (Fabriano Artistico) that you shared with us. The paper quality is excellent in sheets. I haven't yet tried the book versions but I will try one to see. Thanks for sharing. 😊

This was so helpful! Thank you SO much!

Wow, you're talented!

Hello. I've recently purchased a stillmans art book and by far the most acceptable comfortable art book I've ever owned. I've got the master art book for when I wanna sketch more then once on a page

I LOVE YOUR SHELF

Hi Liz! I'm a totally noob on watercolors (well... not totally because many years ago I studied art but watercolors never liked me xD) I got the Cotman waterbrush palette and the Kuretake Fils watercolor (both on a deal 10€ each). I started using both but I noticed I enjoyed most using the Kuretake one... I feel the colors are more vibrant (I'm a sucker for bright colors). But I'm still unable to get some colors I see on flowers, on the paper they're always duller =(. I ordered a Viviva colorsheet because it look super portable and the colors seem very very vibrant. Most of the watercolor artists I like I realized that use Daniel Smith or White Nights. I've been also investigating about paper and I'm gonna get one Alpha and one Beta to try a good paper because I don't like grain on the paper but I guess a bit is the best to learn watercolors. So am I on the right way? Should I get some Daniel Smith/White Nights? Or wait to try the Viviva and then see? Thank you so much for everything ^^ By the way... that shelf is insane!!! I hope one day I got one like that full of my past sketchbooks

The never ending dilemma. Good timing in finding this video. I'm about to go search out my next sketchbook. Thank you for sharing! There are so many ideas.

Great info! I'm just at an awkward point between books. I'd been usuing readily, cheaply had (-AU$20) hannemuhle A5 landscape...papers ok, 140gsm so plenty of pages/not so sharp, bit creamy, usually takes watercolour ok as well. I do get a bit sick of it by the end and the bindings not fantastic/I have to repair them after a couple of months or a very wet session( I'm looking at you Uluru!) So I'm throwing together some handmade versions with 130gsm cartridge paper until I can decide what next...make more of my own with favourite paper/but then don't want to create something beautiful and get too precious....or splurge on a stillman birn($$)/softie maybe... but I could have same issue with book being slightly narrower/I've struggled with moleskin in landscape format for same reason. Learning how to make a decent/robust sketchbook would be a start/have to do a bit more research tho'/check what Larry et al have got first...

Your video was very helpful. Love your drawings in your sketchbooks! I’ll have to try the Alpha series as Beta is all I have ever used in the Stillman & Birn sketchbooks.

Very helpful and inspiring!

Thank you so much for this wonderful video! It helped me so much :)

I love the way you say 'book', just like my mum used to. Made my day :)

Thanks for introducing me to Stillman and Birn. I love their system of categorizing their sketchbooks. It makes it really easy to find the one that you need. Do you use fountain pens for sketching? I do and I was thinking that the Epsilon and Zeta series would be more fountain pen appropriate?

enjoyed this a lot!

I must subscribe to an artist (an extremely talented artist) with a bookshelf of sketch books like that.😍😍😍

Interesting and informative as always Liz, I wondered if you've tried Arches paper ?....lots of water-colour people rave about it although to my knowledge it's not available in sketchbook format (unless DIY sketchbook). I'm currently using Holcroft sketch and draw diary from Riot Art and also Clairefontatine books (does buckle a bit but I can live with it). Agree totally that "favourite" paper and book size evolves with the artist over time....so long as there's paper available when the urge to sketch strikes then anything can happen!

@LizSteelArt

7 жыл бұрын

I need to re-visit Arches paper, but it doesn't suit the way I like to work. I have a Holcroft to try out and loved using a Clairefontaine book when in Tasmania a few years ago. Ah! its all fun isn't it?

My favorite sketchbook is actually the moleskine sketchbooks, I just really love the size!

Thanks so much for this video. I feel like I'm having a hard time figuring out what I like. I've used a Moleskine, Stillman & Birn and have a handbook still to work in. I've also made two sketchbooks, one with Arches paper and one with Fabriano Artistico paper. I think I'm having a hard time because I'm fairly new to watercolors, but the one thing I've narrowed down was no spiral.

Great videos! I discovered your New Zealand setchbook tour and I love your sketchy style! Just out of curiosity though, what notes do you write on the pages and what do the letter + number represent?

I totally understand the dilemma, I would like a book that's versatile , smooth, not too precious that I can doodle whatever and, when i need to get serious, it also takes heavy washes and layers 😊 . I have the stillman and birn beta , it's so white colors come out nice but I found it hard to get dark values. The fabriano 25 cotton is too rough. For now I prefer hahnemuhle esp the new cotton one . Still testing new options .

Liz! Great video. Thank you. Come to Portland, Oregon so I can take a workshop. Please. How do you put the day and date on your pages?

Hi Liz, I just your found your video a few days ago for the first time. If you could tell me/us how or where could I make the day/date stamp you always have in all your page? It's neat and simple yet clear. Please let me know. Thank you so much!!!!

This is a useful video and I love your sketches. I am wondering what pen you used in the beginning part, and if it is fully waterproof. And one more thing, what do you do with your lovely sketches?

Hello! Just here to say that I LOVE THAT SHELF FULL OF SKETCHBOOKS! *I aspire to do that before i die*also,love your artwork...

Loved this video so much I subscribed. When sketching on a trip would you sketch and color at the same time or add color after.

wonderful video

Love your sketchbook videos. Your pages always manage to strike that delicate balance between loose and well composed. I had a question, though-- the paperclips that you removed from the cover of your Stillman and Birn sketchbook, are those bookmarks? Or do you have those there for some other reason?

Wow love it ❤❤🙌🙌🙌

Why, I reckon those sketchbook shelves are some kinda national treasure!!!!! Ya oughta put 'em in fireproof strongboxes...

I have more than 8 books that I use ..I don't feel like I have to finish every book.. They have different paper so it depends on my mood..thanks for this video, very informative and helpful. I was going to try an alpha Stillman and Birn.. Have you tried the Pentalic books ? they are out of Oregan, USA, might be high shipping, but cheap Joe's has them..cheers, Eileen

Thanks your video really helps me to chose a skechbook (sorry if i have mistakes in my grammar , i'm latina un process to learn English)

👏I really like the casual and self-confident style.. I wish to get there too... Do you use a stamp for the date or some kind of stencil?

Hello, Liz. I'm wondering if you ever use a camera to record street scenes when you are running short of time, so that you can make sketches later in your hotel room or even after returning home. Many years ago, I read a comment by a historical researcher about how important a camera was to him in his research travels. He stated that, even in one's own home town, if you were to take a photo of the main street that you THOUGHT you knew, you could sit down and study the picture later and begin to pick out things that you never noticed before. Things that were always there, but, for some reason or other, you never really paid attention to. His comment has stuck with me all these years because I found it to be exactly right. Seems that an urban artist could use that idea to search for unique details they miss "in person" and use them to add just one more thing to "flesh out" their drawing. You may not be interested in that much detail, but the idea is still a little intriguing. :-) Oh, and if you get back to California, USA, try to visit some of the old Spanish missions there that are strung out from about Santa Barbara on south. They are the original structures constructed by Spanish explorers who came up from Mexico; establishing a string of missions about every 20 miles or so. The architecture of those missions are truly magnificent in their own way.

I just did an art journaling class in A4 and decided I really like the size, even though it can be a little challenging to fill the page. I did a handmade journal from watercolor paper and looks very artsy, lol. I think I'll try what you recommend. Hope you start these videos back up.

@LizSteelArt

Жыл бұрын

I'm doing live Sketchbook Tours this year - so please check out the Live tab for recently completed sketchbooks

Beautiful

@LizSteelArt

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Great video Liz. I was struck by how many simlarities in view we share. My favorite sketchbook has become the S&B 8x10, though I'm using the BETA series books. You're right that they do fill frighteningly quick but for location sketching I like the stiffer nature of the thicker paper. Aside from small-format books (4x6 or less) I've used more 6x9 hardcovers than any other. Early on these seemed fine but eventually I wanted to work a bit larger/wider so I switched to S&B 10x7 Alpha spiral-bound. I'm not a fan of working across the fold so this format worked for me. I find that spiral is ideal for location sketchhing because you can fold it back. It's also the worst for storage :-) When the softcovers came out I jumped on the 5.5x8.5 Alpha, just "knowing" that it would be ideal. Like you, I found it a bit small, particularly in height as I like to draw buildings and felt constrained. I've filled one and have almost filled another but it has floundered as my emphasis moved to the 8x10 books. Like you, I find the wide pages to be less than optimal in the softcover, giving a somewhat floppy feel, particularly at the beginning and end of the book. Hope you're enjoying summer. It's cold here, though not as cold as normal for which I'm grateful.

apart from your amazing sketches, I adore your handwriting! Thanks a lot Liz for sharing!

😍😍😍😍 Wow!

Hello there what the writing in the sketch book? Is it just thought's?

Whoa! How many sketchbooks do you own? That like decades of sketchbooks. 😲😲😲

Is moleskin + art PAPERS thin or thick? And is a handbook journal 8.25 in x 5.5 PAPERS thin or thick?

But isn't it hard to draw/paint on the softcover S&B notebooks when you don't have a hard surface? I hear the stitching on the hardcover is very durable though it just looks...hefty!

@LizSteelArt

7 жыл бұрын

No- that was the surprising part. the first few pages are a bit too 'flexy' but after that its ok. yes, their hardcovers are very heavy.

Does the Fabriano sketchbook support alchohol markers too?

@LizSteelArt

2 жыл бұрын

I haven't used markers in that book but I guess they would bleed through like most paper!

@jellyblobbzyy7237

2 жыл бұрын

@@LizSteelArt I tried them out, they don't seem to bleed as much, but they still do bleed through in layering-

Oh wow. This is a LOT of sketchbooks

I have too many sketchbooks, l have promised myself to stop buying them, because l have to draw the line somewhere!