Top 3 Mixed Media Sketchbooks!

Art by Marcia Furman

17 Sept 201908:35

Summary

TLDRIn this video, the creator reviews their top three favorite sketchbooks ideal for mixed-media art, emphasizing value and versatility. Starting with the affordable Canson mixed-media sketchbook, they move on to the Stillman & Birn Zeta series, noting its thicker pages and smooth finish. Lastly, they highlight the Hannah Moore watercolor sketchbook for its high quality and suitability for watercolor enthusiasts, despite the higher price. The video provides insights into each book's performance with various art mediums and offers a helpful guide for artists looking to choose the right sketchbook.

Takeaways

📓 The video is a review of the speaker's top three favorite sketchbooks for mixed-media art.
💰 Canson mixed-media sketchbooks are praised for their great value and affordability, especially in the United States.
🛒 Canson sketchbooks are easily available at stores like Michael's and Walmart, and often ordered from Amazon for convenience.
🔄 The Canson sketchbook is appreciated for its spiral-bound format, versatility with various media, and ability to handle ink well.
🎨 Stillman & Birn Zeta series is the second favorite, noted for its thicker pages, smoothness, and ability to take watercolor and gouache without warping.
💸 The Stillman & Birn Zeta sketchbook is more expensive than the Canson but offers a higher quality feel and better watercolor absorption.
🌟 The Hannah Moore watercolor sketchbook is the current favorite for its high quality and excellent performance with watercolors.
📘 The Hannah Moore sketchbook features a hardcover with a fabric finish, and its pages have a bit more 'tooth' which is beneficial for watercolor work.
💡 All three sketchbooks are available on Amazon, and the video provides a comparison of their prices and features.
🛍 The video is not sponsored, and the speaker shares their personal experience and preference for these sketchbooks after using many others.
🎁 The speaker also mentions a Patreon-supported Sticker of the Month Club, hinting at additional creative offerings for subscribers.
❓ The speaker encourages viewers to ask questions about the sketchbooks in the comments for further discussion.

Q & A

What are the three sketchbooks discussed in the video?
-The three sketchbooks discussed are the Canson mixed-media, Stillman & Birn Zeta series, and the Hannah mule watercolor sketchbook.
Why does the speaker prefer the Canson mixed-media sketchbook?
-The speaker prefers the Canson mixed-media sketchbook for its great value, versatility with various media, and affordability, especially for beginners.
Where can the Canson mixed-media sketchbook be purchased?
-The Canson mixed-media sketchbook can be purchased at Michael's, Walmart, and Amazon.
What is the price of the Canson mixed-media sketchbook mentioned in the video?
-The Canson mixed-media sketchbook is priced at six dollars and 53 cents on Amazon.
What are the binding types of the sketchbooks discussed?
-The Canson mixed-media has a spiral-bound, while the Stillman & Birn Zeta series and Hannah mule watercolor sketchbooks have hard covers.
How does the Stillman & Birn Zeta series sketchbook compare to the Canson mixed-media in terms of paper thickness?
-The Stillman & Birn Zeta series has thicker pages than the Canson mixed-media sketchbook.
What is the price of the Stillman & Birn Zeta series sketchbook?
-The Stillman & Birn Zeta series sketchbook is priced at fifteen dollars and 19 cents on Amazon.
What makes the Hannah mule watercolor sketchbook stand out according to the video?
-The Hannah mule watercolor sketchbook stands out for its high-quality paper that takes watercolor exceptionally well, smoothness, and versatility with various media including ink and gouache.
What is the price of the Hannah mule watercolor sketchbook mentioned in the video?
-The Hannah mule watercolor sketchbook is priced at eighteen dollars and 85 cents on Amazon.
What is the speaker's opinion on the value of the sketchbooks in relation to their prices?
-The speaker believes that while all three sketchbooks offer good value, the Canson mixed-media provides the best value for its price, especially for beginners.
How does the speaker suggest supporting them after watching the video?
-The speaker suggests liking, subscribing, and supporting them on Patreon, where they offer a Sticker of the Month Club.

Outlines

00:00

📓 Affordable Mixed-Media Sketchbooks Review

The speaker introduces a review of their top three favorite sketchbooks, emphasizing value and versatility. The first sketchbook highlighted is the Canson mixed-media, praised for its affordability, availability, and suitability for various art mediums including pen, pencil, watercolor, and gouache. The sketchbook's spiral-bound feature is mentioned, along with its size and price. The paper quality is commended for handling mixed-media well, though it might not be ideal for heavy watercolor use. The review suggests this sketchbook as a guilt-free option for beginners due to its low cost.

05:02

🎨 Comparison of Premium Mixed-Media Sketchbooks

The second paragraph delves into the Stillman & Birn Zeta series and the Hannah Moore watercolor sketchbook. The Stillman & Birn Zeta is appreciated for its thicker paper, smoothness, and ability to handle watercolor and gouache without warping, despite being more expensive than the Canson option. The Hannah Moore sketchbook is the current favorite of the reviewer, noted for its high quality, hardcover, and fabric finish. It is more expensive but recommended for those passionate about watercolor due to its superior color absorption and paper texture. The video concludes with the reviewer's personal preference and an invitation for viewers to support them on Patreon and ask questions in the comments.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡sketchbooks

Sketchbooks are books designed for artists to draw, sketch, or doodle, often with a variety of media. In the video, the main theme revolves around the reviewer's top three favorite sketchbooks, which are used for mixed-media art. The reviewer discusses their features, such as binding, paper quality, and versatility, in relation to different art forms like pen, pencil, watercolor, and gouache.

💡Canson mixed-media

Canson is a brand known for its art supplies, and in this context, 'mixed-media' refers to the ability of the sketchbook to handle various types of art materials. The reviewer praises the Canson mixed-media sketchbook for its affordability and versatility, highlighting that it can take pen, pencil, and watercolor without issue, making it a great value for the price.

💡spiral-bound

A 'spiral-bound' book has a binding in the form of a spiral of wire or plastic, allowing the book to lay flat when opened. The reviewer mentions going through a phase where they loved spiral-bound sketchbooks for this reason, but their preference has since changed. The Canson sketchbook is an example of a spiral-bound option discussed in the video.

💡value

In the context of the video, 'value' refers to the cost-effectiveness and quality of the sketchbooks. The reviewer emphasizes the great value of the Canson sketchbook, noting its low price and high paper quality, which makes it an ideal choice for beginners or those looking for an affordable all-purpose sketchbook.

💡Stillman & Birn Zeta series

Stillman & Birn is another brand of sketchbooks, and the 'Zeta series' is a specific line of their products. The reviewer's second favorite sketchbook is from this series, which is thicker than the Canson option, has no spiral binding, and offers a smooth surface that works well with watercolor and gouache, albeit at a higher price point.

💡gouache

Gouache is a type of watercolor paint that is known for its opacity and versatility. The reviewer tests the sketchbooks' ability to handle gouache, noting that both the Canson and Stillman & Birn Zeta series perform well with this medium, showcasing their mixed-media capabilities.

💡watercolor

Watercolor is a painting method that uses water-soluble pigments. The video focuses on how well the different sketchbooks can accommodate watercolor, with the reviewer providing examples of pages where they have used watercolor, and discussing the吸水性 and smoothness of the paper in relation to this art form.

💡Hahnemühle watercolor sketchbook

Hahnemühle is a high-end brand known for its fine art papers, and the reviewer's current favorite sketchbook is from this brand. The Hahnemühle watercolor sketchbook is praised for its high-quality paper that takes color exceptionally well, making it a top choice for those passionate about watercolor, despite its higher cost.

💡tooth

In paper terms, 'tooth' refers to the texture or roughness of the paper surface, which can affect how paint or ink is absorbed and spread. The reviewer mentions that the Hahnemühle sketchbook has a bit more tooth than the others, which is beneficial for watercolor as it provides better paint hold and texture.

💡ink

Ink is a liquid or paste that contains pigments or dyes and is used in writing, drawing, or printing. The video discusses the sketchbooks' ability to handle ink, with the reviewer noting that the Canson sketchbook, in particular, can take a lot of ink without issue, demonstrating its suitability for various art forms.

💡versatility

Versatility in the context of sketchbooks means the ability to accommodate different types of art media and techniques. The reviewer emphasizes the versatility of the top three sketchbooks, which is a key factor in their selection, as they all allow for a range of artistic expressions from watercolor to ink drawings.

Highlights

Introduction to the video about reviewing favorite sketchbooks.

Canson mixed-media sketchbook is affordable and versatile.

Canson sketchbooks are easy to find in the United States.

Canson sketchbook's price on Amazon and its dimensions.

Value of Canson sketchbook's paper quality for the price.

Spiral-bound preference and its benefits for sketching.

Canson sketchbook's ability to handle various mixed-media.

Stillman & Birn Zeta series sketchbook's price and size.

Thicker pages of Stillman & Birn Zeta compared to Canson.

Stillman & Birn Zeta's performance with gouache and watercolor.

Durability of Stillman & Birn Zeta sketchbook for on-the-go use.

Hahnemühle Watercolor Sketchbook's versatility with different media.

Price of Hahnemühle Watercolor Sketchbook on Amazon.

Hahnemühle's higher quality paper for watercolor artists.

Comparison between Hahnemühle and other sketchbooks on smoothness and watercolor absorption.

Hahnemühle's hardcover with a fabric finish and customization with stickers.

Recommendation of Hahnemühle for serious watercolor enthusiasts.

Availability of the top three sketchbooks on Amazon with provided links.

Disclosure of non-sponsorship and genuine use of the sketchbooks.

Invitation for viewers to support the creator on Patreon and mention of Sticker of the Month Club.

Encouragement for viewers to ask questions in the comments for further discussion.

Closing remarks and well-wishes for the viewers.