I like how you don't dwell so long on each page like some you-tubers.

@crystaltanart

Ай бұрын

Haha thank u! Glad it was appreciated :)

thanks for sharing, enjoyed all the paintings

@crystaltanart

9 ай бұрын

My pleasure 😊

I enjoy your flip-throughs, they brighten my smile and inspire me.

@crystaltanart

9 ай бұрын

Thank you so much Donna!!!! X You're too kind.

Yay! I’ve been wanting a tour of your paintings and I’m glad you did it! Your paintings are so beautiful even the ones from 2020-2021

@crystaltanart

9 ай бұрын

Aw thank u! I think I was afraid to do a proper sketchbook tour because I was maybe a bit embarrassed to show my older paintings. So I did it disguised as a sketchbook review! hahaha.

@ivi122

9 ай бұрын

@@crystaltanart haha I get it. However, don’t be embarrassed because even your older ones are GORGEOUS. Seriously beautiful

@whosaidcate4034

9 ай бұрын

Yes 🙌🏼 Loved this content-very helpful and inspiring ❕ Great art work. I really enjoyed the gorgeous flowers.

@crystaltanart

9 ай бұрын

@@ivi122 So kind xx

Thank you for this review, it's so nice to hear someone talk about supplies from Melbourne 😄

@crystaltanart

9 ай бұрын

Yay cool! I know, it's nice to hear local info once in a while in this youtube world! :)

Thanks for the video, I loved it 😁

@crystaltanart

9 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

Love going down the memory lane with you today, so fun to look back, I just finished a sketchbook, maybe I will film a similar one myself. X

@crystaltanart

9 ай бұрын

Oh nice! I didnt know you paint on sketchbooks! Coz you always post your paintings as mock ups on frames!

This is such a great video, Crystal ! Thank you for sharing your art journey in your sketch books and the art work /practice pieces and all sorts. Please be assured…..they are all really, really lovely !!!! I have also been trying out the different papers and sketch books / single sheets, etc. etc……so your review here is very helpful indeed, especially to hear your honest feedback about these particular brands. Thank you once again and all the very best for your future success ! Hope you soon feel better from that cold….I hear from my son who lives in Australia, that there are lots of colds and viruses going around at the moment .

@crystaltanart

9 ай бұрын

Thank you SO MUCH. I don't feel confident or brave enough to do a video that is focused on tour of my early work, so I think I am testing waters by making a 'sketchbook review' video. HAHAHA. Thank you so much. I am recovering well now! That cough had me for about 2 weeks! XXX

Thanks for the review always love seeing your art it’s so beautiful!! I’ve been loving the Strathmore 400 Series Watercolor. For my next sketchbook I really want to get a handmade one from Etsy I’ve seen several sellers that bind Arches paper into a book and I am so curious to try it!

@crystaltanart

9 ай бұрын

I have seen those! And would love to try one of those Etsy ones. I will search out the Strathmore ones. I think ive seen it at my art shop, but thought it was pretty pricey.

Super fun to see! I love how you used sketchbooks! I didn't realise u were a sketchbook painter cos I always see ur paintings in loosesheets! Anyway I love it. I recommend the hahnmuehle that I am using. I quite like it!

@crystaltanart

9 ай бұрын

I ONLY RECENTLY started on sketchbooks again. I took a long long break because I think I was impatient to wait for it to dry. So I think when I met you, I didn't really paint on sketchbooks since then till now again! I must try the Hahnemule one a lot of people have said. Did you get the 100% cotton one ?

Interesting. Thank you. I like the Canson too-for the price it functions well.

@crystaltanart

9 ай бұрын

Cranston!? Havent heard of that. Will check out. Thanks!!!

I’ve recently found the Pentalic sketchbook and I love it!

@crystaltanart

9 ай бұрын

Cool ! I search online now for it.

@donnahenry3772

9 ай бұрын

That's the one I am using right now. I really like it, too!

I found this video so helpful, I don't use sketchbooks but I will start using them after this video

@crystaltanart

6 ай бұрын

Have fun! Sketchbooks are a fun thing to just do with absolutely no pressure. :)

I enjoyed this review and it was lovely to see you early work.

@crystaltanart

9 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! I may be braver one day and do a proper walk down memory lane video of all early paintings. SO many are so cringey to me now, it's hard to speak about them. But I need to get over that.

@azzuparis

9 ай бұрын

@@crystaltanart I totally understand about early work. When I look at my old paintings I do cringe too but it makes me see how I grow in my journey. At the same time, I don't know if I could show them to someone 😅

@crystaltanart

9 ай бұрын

@@azzuparis Haha mostly I think - I can't believe I thought this was SO GOOD! hahaha.

@azzuparis

9 ай бұрын

@@crystaltanart ahahaha same here

Love this review because I've found the kind of paper they use in the sketchbook REALLY MATTERS... thx for sharing...

@crystaltanart

9 ай бұрын

yes it matters so much! Glad you liked the video!

I like the Stillman & Birn Beta for watercolor, and Hahnemuehle's 100% Cotton sketchbooks. Thanks for the review.

@crystaltanart

9 ай бұрын

I am a total stillman and birn convert now. I need to try the Beta. Its white but cold press right? And yes so many people have recommended hahnemuhle!

@meldixon1918

9 ай бұрын

Beta series is on my list to try!

Thank you it is very helpful and answered some of my questions about some of these sketchbooks 🥰 I like khadi papers for practices, I about their a3 10 sheets I think for 8 pounds and made a sketchbook out of them to practice florals and minimum strokes as many artists mentioned the paper can't handle many washes.

@crystaltanart

9 ай бұрын

Thanks!!! Maybe one day I will get into Khadi. But for now, I feel my paintings look quite rubbish on them :PPP

I really love Paul Reuben hot press 100% cotton. About to order the cold pressed to see if I like it.

@crystaltanart

9 ай бұрын

Few people said that too already! I must try then!

Great video🥰 the only thing is you missed the Menorah sketchbook I guess😄 It' really good I mean the paper quality is top notch no ghosting would go with Menorah anytime

@crystaltanart

29 күн бұрын

I have never heard of it! Will google it now.

Hi Crystal! Thank you for the nice review! I am a huge sketchbook fan as it is the best way for me to keep my paintings not flying around the house. :) Because you talked a lot about the vibrancy of colours, I can recommend the german brand Hahnemuehle. Its a paper company :) and they have all kinds of sketchbooks. For water colour they have Cellulsose and 100% Cotton paper. I started with the cheaper Cellulose 200 gsm (A5 about 33 AUD for 60 pages/ 30 sheets) and the vibrancy of the colours is just perfect. For bleeding however the 100% Cotton is much better.

@crystaltanart

9 ай бұрын

Thanks! I know many artists who love Hahnemuehle and will certainly be on the list for me to try! Yes retaining vibrancy is so important. Is that your fav brand?

@juliart5

9 ай бұрын

@@crystaltanart I only tryed Canson, Moleskine, Rembrandt and Hahnemühle, but out of these 4, Hahnemuehle is defenetly my fav. :)

Thank you for a wonderful KZread channel and for an interesting review. I use the Arches Travel Journal and love it but would also like to try Etchr if possible but it is expensive to order one to Sweden.

@crystaltanart

9 ай бұрын

I have never seen Arches journal before. Etchr is free delivery worldwide actually if you order directly from their website!

I have the etchr hot pressed sketchbooks and find they have wonderfully sharp edges and textures. I think it maybe the texture on the cold press that's causing the difference in edge quality. Maybe try the hot pressed versions if you are interested in sharper edges while retaining the benefits of bright colours and a lovely flow.

@crystaltanart

9 ай бұрын

That makes so much sense. Good idea. I am enjoying the hot pressed stillman and burn. So why not try the HP etchr!

I totally agree with you about the Etchr sketchbooks. There's just something about them that make me like the paintings a little less than I feel like I should. My favorite watercolor sketchbook is the 100% cotton watercolor sketchbooks by Hahnemuhle. The vibrancy does absorb into them a little bit... but theres something dreamy about the way it does it!

@crystaltanart

9 ай бұрын

So many people have recommended Hahnemuhle (so hard to spell!). And I need to try!!!!! I hope they have portrait though, coz I dont like landscape!

@reneechelsawatercolors

9 ай бұрын

@@crystaltanart they do have portrait! I also like the simple black cover, easy to put stickers on.

@crystaltanart

9 ай бұрын

@@reneechelsawatercolors Ok must try!

@a.humphries8678

4 ай бұрын

I've just discovered hem too, but they're so expensive.

@reneechelsawatercolors

4 ай бұрын

@@a.humphries8678they are 😞 I have managed to grab a couple on sale though!

Thank you

@crystaltanart

4 ай бұрын

Welcome!

I haven’t been painting watercolour for very long. When I first started, I ordered Paul Rubens paints and paper. I had no idea really, about paper quality, etc. Since then I’ve tried other paints and paper….but Paul Rubens is still my favourite.

@crystaltanart

5 ай бұрын

Paul Rubens is great!

The handbook company make lovely sketchbooks and the fabriano Venezia (I think that’s how’s it’s spelt🥴). I’m in Australia too so nice to hear another artist talk about art materials that we can get here. I didn’t like the moleskine either, way over priced for the quality. If you are looking for cheap and cheerful (but not bad) there is Millini and derivan. Happy painting 😊

@crystaltanart

9 ай бұрын

Thanks for the recommendations! WIl look out for them!!!

I wanted to try Strathmore’s Mixed Media Visual Journal because of the cotton content too. Hearing your opinion on it, I’m fine with not having it haha. Canson XL watercolor paper does not do it for me, however their thinner mixed media sketchbooks do. I like the middle option best, it’s thin but not too thin: it’s the Canson XL Mixed Media Rough sketchbook. The regular mixed media is thinner and frustrates me. I think the paper weight for the “rough” mixed media is 185 gsm. It handles watercolor just the way I like it and I don’t need to worry about wasting good paper. I made my own A5-ish cotton sketchbooks from full sheets and while it’s cheaper than buying the premade sketchbooks, I guess the high quality paper makes me nervous to paint on them.

@crystaltanart

9 ай бұрын

Thanks for the recommendation! Canson XL Rough Mixed media was it? I will look out for it!

I still haven't found one I like. Stillman & Birn has been very disappointing so far for me. I am looking forward to trying my Strathmore 400 and Etchr sketchbooks. Everyone has different needs and preferences so it's nice to get others opinions as well. Thanks for your reviews.

@crystaltanart

9 ай бұрын

Good luck in your search! Its very disappointing to buy one, then use the first page and realise you hate it. Coz then, you know you'll HAVE to use the rest of it to not waste it and it may be 40 more disappointing paintings you'll make haha.

Splashed out on the Perfect sketchbook and even with a slight discount it was expensive as you say!! However it is far superior to the one you tried. Can’t get on with the white ones and as one viewer said, I always think I should like it more than I do 🤣. Great video with helpful comments. Thanks so much 👍.

@crystaltanart

6 ай бұрын

Good to know I'm not the only one who feels that about the everyday sketchbook (the white one), Maybe one day I will splurge on the Perfect Sketchbook!

I thank you for the video! I’ve had the same experience with Khadi sketchbooks as well as their A5/A6 size paper. I tried the 600 gsm I’ve had problems with mould. Maybe it was something I did?… not sure 😮. But yeah, I also found the colours to be dull and I thought it was my fault until I tried another brand 😊

@crystaltanart

9 ай бұрын

I know right, that feeling when you think its your fault that a painting looks bad. When its not you, but the supplies you use!

I'm currently forcing myself to finish my "perfect sketchbook" from Etchr and personally I think the paper is way too rough. It has a heavy texture and it doesn't feel very pleasant to point on compared to smoother paper. It is a good sketchbook but not worth that heavy price point. My favorite ones are from Hahnemühle so far! I'm thinking about making a similar video since I've used lots of sketchbooks over the years 😁

@crystaltanart

Ай бұрын

I need to try the hahnemule one cos alot of people love it. Do u use the 100% cotton one? Yup the etchr everyday one is not as great. But Im just trying to use it up like u! And I trash it with lots of mix media so it doesnt feel wasted.

Join me for a 5 week LIVE course with Penn Art Studio this September 2024 - Recreating Vintage Florals with Watercolour - www.crystaltanart.com/onlinecourses

Your paintings are lovely. Got a bit distracted looking at them instead of listening your comments about the papers 🙂Although I did notice that you talked about the Visual Journal that I really like but I'm not at your level to notice the differences in brightness. I am still skittish using any paper bigger than A5. I even tend to use very small sketchbooks. Any ideas how to get bold and waste a whole big page of paper? 😅

@crystaltanart

9 ай бұрын

I hear you. As you saw, I started at A5 as well. I suggest just slowly working your way up. And as you increase your paper size, increase the brush size too. So with A4 paper, you can start using a size 8/10 brush. Then as you go up to 9x12, use an even bigger brush. I totally understand your inertia and hesitance. I am trying to convince myself to start a series that's on half a full size watercolour sheet - 22 x 15. I have the paper and big brushes and everything on standby! But I just can't get started! The advise is... Just do it.

Thank you, I found this very informative. Do any of your videos address watercolor and gouache?? I'm so confused!

@crystaltanart

4 ай бұрын

Not yet! I don’t know enough of gouache to really speak authoritatively about.

Have you tried making your own sketchbook ? That is lots of fun !

@crystaltanart

7 ай бұрын

Hey Ruth! Glad to chat with you over here! I haven't before actually, but have seen a few videos on book binding and it seems like a really lovely satisfying project. :)

I am finding it a challenge to get sketchbooks here in South Africa that have good paper and are a reasonable price. I ended up making my own. R50 as opposed to R600. Incomparable

@crystaltanart

9 ай бұрын

Totally understand! I love it when I see homemade sketchbooks! Double the creativity.

I have really enjoyed using the US Art Supply sketchbooks I purchased on Amazon. They are 230gsm, lightly textured, colors stay vibrant and blend well. They come in a two pack for less than $20US, and so are very inexpensive. They don’t specify what the paper is made of, so I assume it is cellulose. I also have used Canson, Strathmore and Arteza sketchbooks, and the US Art supply ones are by far my favorites.

@crystaltanart

8 ай бұрын

Thanks for the tip! But I am assuming that shipping to the US is going to be expensive so I don't think I can afford to try them!

@barbaraellingsen4997

8 ай бұрын

What is available in Australia is probably quite different from what is available in the US. Maybe some of your American subscribers will be able to use this information. Thanks for your very helpful and informative videos.

Hello!!! I’ve heard a lot of good comments about Paul Rubens watercolour SB. I saw it just in Amazon. 100% cotton hot press. Not cheap… And Moleskin… yes… don’t exited. Don’t know why. Maybe when you start to paint, the paper starts blinking and and it’s difficult to continue

@crystaltanart

9 ай бұрын

Good to know!

S&b never fails...but paying over $30 (even that is a bit much) for a sketchbook just sounds excessive and not at a reasonable thing to do as much as I love sketchbooks. Loose paper is always the best way to go for finished pieces if you want to sell your art someday, and sketchbooks only for play/practice.

@crystaltanart

8 ай бұрын

Totally agree!

Too much paper descriptions,good intentions,come on, your art is good,show it more!!!!!!!

@crystaltanart

10 күн бұрын

Hey Gabe! this video was meant to be a review of sketchbooks with a peak of my paintings. I have videos dedicated to the art in the sketchbooks! There's one coming out next week - a sketchbook tour of my recent paintings. thanks!!

Can you even paint landscapes, urban setup, people, animals, anything that is not a flower? I thought this will be a video of someone progressing in painting

@crystaltanart

4 ай бұрын

Unbelievably rude comment no? If you do not like my flower paintings, feel free to not watch them.

@gglydie4242

4 ай бұрын

An artist can progress by painting the same subject over and over. Monet's water lilies & Van Gogh's haystacks are two examples, and for Crystal it's her flowers. I think they are beautiful and it's her channel so she can paint and share whatever makes her happy.

@BushcraftEurope

4 ай бұрын

@@gglydie4242 da, da, da, da ..

@crystaltanart

3 ай бұрын

Thank u. @@gglydie4242