tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857427025159398186.post8377172020436233699..comments2024-02-24T02:17:28.293-08:00Comments on WATERCOLOURS BY POLLY BIRCHALL: STILLMAN & BIRN EXPERIMENTSPolly Birchallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18071252070928856360noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857427025159398186.post-88878363756579984582013-08-16T20:22:09.639-07:002013-08-16T20:22:09.639-07:00Love these paintings! You work beautifully in ink ...Love these paintings! You work beautifully in ink and wash and watercolor.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18355326977935582850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857427025159398186.post-50088465929883324462013-07-28T04:29:15.038-07:002013-07-28T04:29:15.038-07:00Moleskine watercolour notebooks are widely availab...Moleskine watercolour notebooks are widely available in the UK - look for the pink paper band - they are landscape in format, not portrait as are the sketchbooks.<br /><br />If you run a business, you can set-up a Google Alert for a specific term which notifies you when that search term is entered. So, I presume Stillman & Birn are using this to monitor feedback of their product. It can be a great way to provide good customer service...<br /><br />Love your sketches Polly, my stepdaughter lives in Liverpool, so maybe we could meet up for a sketch next time I am visiting her :)Gill Mhttp://www.journalcraft.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857427025159398186.post-1250400401449644902013-07-26T12:26:08.769-07:002013-07-26T12:26:08.769-07:00Renate, you are so good keep visiting me. I have ...Renate, you are so good keep visiting me. I have decided to draw more, so a try and take a sketch book with me when I remember. Thanks you. Have a wonderful weekend xxPolly Birchallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18071252070928856360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857427025159398186.post-14156122068228482262013-07-25T07:34:49.778-07:002013-07-25T07:34:49.778-07:00Hello Polly:) You are such a great sketcher! I pre...Hello Polly:) You are such a great sketcher! I prefer the first one. You would never think brown and black are a good combination but they really are! Wonderful Polly!xxrenatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18077172950772463081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857427025159398186.post-46469226948722777272013-07-23T08:35:28.733-07:002013-07-23T08:35:28.733-07:00You're very kind, Pat. Sometimes things don&#...You're very kind, Pat. Sometimes things don't feel right, but I will try again.Polly Birchallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18071252070928856360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857427025159398186.post-57722051296827390072013-07-23T01:08:51.325-07:002013-07-23T01:08:51.325-07:00I love the experimentals - and the first two look ...I love the experimentals - and the first two look so at home on that paper. The watercolour is still fab, but reading I can see you're not happy with how it reacted.For me though, they all are great! Pathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01344072012837774958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857427025159398186.post-1850326896952264432013-07-21T23:31:20.553-07:002013-07-21T23:31:20.553-07:00Thanks Celeste. I had fun trying out different th...Thanks Celeste. I had fun trying out different things and who am I to get such a reaction from the company! Only being a little old hobby artist! Don't leave your book in the drawer otherwise you are wasting your money! Have fun trying it out, that would be priceless. Have a lovely week.Polly Birchallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18071252070928856360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857427025159398186.post-41515978653966438822013-07-21T23:28:12.426-07:002013-07-21T23:28:12.426-07:00Thank you for your comments on Stillman & Birn...Thank you for your comments on Stillman & Birn. I have contact them by email and already have had a reply. How prompt is that! I am very impressed with the company, I must say. They have explained how they trace opinions on line. My comments were just my first thoughts on the first time I used watercolour, and I will try again. But I am quite happy just to use the water soluble pens, the lovely paper is superb for that.Polly Birchallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18071252070928856360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857427025159398186.post-37210470794117174192013-07-21T19:00:32.299-07:002013-07-21T19:00:32.299-07:00fun post---I love all three 'experiments'....fun post---I love all three 'experiments'. I love the moleskine sketchbooks--I do have a watercolor version of one--but I've been afraid to use it! I will have to bite the bullet and paint something (in watercolor) in it one day. Despite your problems (globs?) your painting looks great to me! Celeste Berginhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06791708298070342301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857427025159398186.post-17515944915290702932013-07-21T17:27:49.384-07:002013-07-21T17:27:49.384-07:00Stillman & Birn are very, very interested in t...Stillman & Birn are very, very interested in the opinions of their customers. They probably have a way of being notified when their books are mentioned on the internet. I think a lot of companies have that. I know S&B sent out a lot of books to artists to try and always took our comments seriously. They have done additional books to satisfy some of the requests.<br /><br />Cathy says she likes Moleskine books. I've used them but I find that the Stillman & Birn books take ink much better than the Moleskine watercolor journals that I've used. Joan Tavolotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11290923567339587417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857427025159398186.post-53511783509248479062013-07-21T11:05:55.453-07:002013-07-21T11:05:55.453-07:00It's a bit creepy if you ask me, the way we ar...It's a bit creepy if you ask me, the way we are spied on!!! Never come across Moleskine w/c sketchbooks, wonder if they are on sale in uk, must check that out. Thanks for your Sunday visit. Have a lovely week.Polly Birchallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18071252070928856360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857427025159398186.post-86383724125672663242013-07-21T09:33:20.208-07:002013-07-21T09:33:20.208-07:00Interesting post Polly and your sketches are great...Interesting post Polly and your sketches are great. I like the effect of the elegant writer pen, I'll check them out and I'm impressed with Stillman & Birn getting in touch with you, there is a kind of alert system on google that tells you when anyone is talking about you. In fact they're probably watching us now :-0 <br />(Moleskine w/c sketchbooks are my favourites)Cathy Holtomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12510196597713178864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857427025159398186.post-325618553085148012013-07-21T07:05:07.891-07:002013-07-21T07:05:07.891-07:00Didn't get 3 comments off you. This is an int...Didn't get 3 comments off you. This is an interesting post, so thank you. Will try again. I didn't have handcream on BUT I was very hot so it could be sweat that caused the problem. That is something I hadn't considered. I will definitely try the Beta next time as it sounds more suitable and versatile from what you say, than the one I have. Thank you very much for taking the time to pass on your thoughts. I will look at your blog. I am going to ask Stillman & Birn how they got my information, but will also thank them for contacting me. They indeed seem a good company to deal with.Polly Birchallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18071252070928856360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857427025159398186.post-84646703687811611912013-07-21T06:57:53.518-07:002013-07-21T06:57:53.518-07:00Thank you Elizabeth. I dithered, shall I shan'...Thank you Elizabeth. I dithered, shall I shan't I try. just got on the bus with all my gear in hand, lucky I saw it coming. And isn't it odd how they picked it up, I am going to ask how this happened.Polly Birchallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18071252070928856360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857427025159398186.post-5231573793475146822013-07-21T06:20:36.144-07:002013-07-21T06:20:36.144-07:00i tried to leave a comment earlier and twice it di...i tried to leave a comment earlier and twice it disappeared into the void! so if you have 3 replies please ignore.<br /><br />I haven't ever had this problem with the Zeta at all, it took watercolour well, though to build glazes required a defter touch than with the other papers.<br /><br />I wonder if you had previously used hand cream? I have had this problem on many papers, with slight traces of grease working as a resist. It's been a happy accident for texture on frequent occasions!<br /><br />I think you would like the Beta - a lot. I used my second A4 Beta hardback on a recent holiday to Cornwall, with a wide range of media - watercolour, pen and wash, pencil. oil paint, oil pastel etc and it behaved beautifully with all. If you are interested you can see the work and write ups on my blog http://vivienb.blogspot.co.uk/<br /><br />Maybe worth trying some washes on a new clean page with newly washed hands with no cream on?<br /><br />They are indeed a very good company with good ethics and quality products.<br /><br />vivienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16820836660470146799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857427025159398186.post-12705307261167882162013-07-21T06:10:19.561-07:002013-07-21T06:10:19.561-07:00These are lovely sketches, Polly; like Judith, my ...These are lovely sketches, Polly; like Judith, my favourite is the second one and am impressed how quickly you managed to give such a lovely impression of this scene! Also, how amazing that Stillman and Birn picked up on your blog post!Elisabethhttps://www.facebook.com/ElisabethAtkinsonArt?ref=hlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857427025159398186.post-11964122358667348112013-07-21T00:32:16.195-07:002013-07-21T00:32:16.195-07:00It is amazing that Stillman and Birn picked up my ...It is amazing that Stillman and Birn picked up my little blog and I so appreciate their very prompt comments, for which I thank them. I think I just chose the wrong paper and because I like it so much for the ink, when this book is full I will certainly try the Beta, which sounds more suitable. I will certainly write to them and thank them for contacting me. How many companies would do that, I ask you? Thanks Stillman & Birn.Polly Birchallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18071252070928856360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857427025159398186.post-40003515554427002352013-07-21T00:27:11.271-07:002013-07-21T00:27:11.271-07:00Thanks Joan. It appears, perhaps, that I shouldn&...Thanks Joan. It appears, perhaps, that I shouldn't have gone with the smooth surface. I didn't expect it to be like watercolour paper but probably better than cartridge paper. I am very happy with the results of the pen though and in future if I need colour will take a w/c book along. Polly Birchallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18071252070928856360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857427025159398186.post-17704184208474209192013-07-20T20:50:05.088-07:002013-07-20T20:50:05.088-07:00We're sorry that you had an unsatisfactory exp...We're sorry that you had an unsatisfactory experience with your Zeta Series sketchbook. We haven't heard of similar reports before so is it possible that the hot (humid?) weather conditions you report could have had an effect? To answer your question about the difference between Beta and Zeta, Beta is a 270 gsm cold press surface, whereas Zeta is also 270 gsm but more of a hot press surface. As the fibers in a hot press paper are calendered, Zeta can be less absorbent then the cold press Beta equivalent. Please do feel free to write to us directly at info@stillmanandbirn.com.Stillman and Birnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11295325845979317050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857427025159398186.post-77233633670737877702013-07-20T15:39:05.361-07:002013-07-20T15:39:05.361-07:00I like your sketches, especially the ink ones.
So...I like your sketches, especially the ink ones.<br /><br />Sorry you were disappointed with the Stillman & Birn book.I have tried the Alpha Series and the Beta Series, but not the Zeta. The Beta has extra heavy paper which I think I like a little better than the Alpha which is lighter paper. The Beta is the closest to being like wc paper. I do think the paint sits on the surface more than regular wc paper on both, so you are right in that respect. The paper must have a different kind of sizing on it. I find it is often difficult to layer color without it disturbing the color underneath it because the paint sits on the surface. I haven't had a problem with the paint not drying. I guess the point to remember is that they are "sketchbooks" and won't work the same as watercolor paper. By now I've used it enough that I have adapted to it and don't expect it to do what it can't do. It does take ink so well! I still usually go out with my regular pieces of wc paper when I know I will be doing something that needs it.Joan Tavolotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11290923567339587417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857427025159398186.post-71792431550524542212013-07-20T12:54:09.837-07:002013-07-20T12:54:09.837-07:00You are kind Judith. Thank you. People online seem...You are kind Judith. Thank you. People online seem to get quite good results, though I have never liked watercolour on cartridge paper, was expecting too much. Glad I came across the Elegant Writer and it looks like that will be what a choose to use on this paper. Hope your workshop went brilliantly.Polly Birchallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18071252070928856360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857427025159398186.post-85911496664902785722013-07-20T12:06:17.722-07:002013-07-20T12:06:17.722-07:00I just can't get on with any smooth paper for ...I just can't get on with any smooth paper for watercolour but usually because it dries too quickly not too slowly!! All your sketches are delightful Polly, I specially like the second one, with the Elegant Writer.. looks really good and I think should be framed as it is....Judith Farnworth Arthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03466625674796659185noreply@blogger.com