Monday, September 30, 2013

inspiration monday


i recently received some new art journals from stillman & birn (thank you michael!).  what's fun about this line of sketchbooks is you can tailor them to the way you create.....there's lots of different sizes, wire-bound and hardbound, and many different types of paper to choose from!  since i'm always on the hunt for a journal that's filled with smooth paper for lettering, but can also take some water, i chose hardbound journals in the alpha and zeta series.....and then i started to play!




 i was curious to see if the paper in the alpha series would hold up to their claim of taking light washes, so i got out my watercolors to test it out.  i was pretty generous with the koi watercolors and the paper buckled a little (but surprisingly not much!), but it dried beautifully to almost flat again.  i used less water with my watercolor pencils, and there was no buckling at all.  so i would definitely give it a "thumbs-up-like" when it comes to light washes!





then i dedicated a page to testing out markers, drawing pens, and pan pastel.....there was no feathering out, no annoying bleeding around the edges of my lines, and no bleed-thru onto the other side of the paper.  i tested microns, pitt pens, koi coloring brush pens, and pan pastel.  two-thumbs-up on this one!





but what i was most curious about was the paper in the zeta series journal.....it's heavy weight, almost like bristol board, and it's so smooth it reminds me of fresh ice at the skating rink right after the zamboni machine has resurfaced it!   this is the type of thing that makes my lettering-artist-heart so joyful that i feel like i'm floating up in the clouds.....





so i took some advice from someone who found joy floating in the clouds, too.....





and i was inspired to create a journal page using only three supplies:
pitt pens, pan pastel, and a 6B graphite pencil.
{for me, this paper is definitely a two-thumbs-up, plus more!}





p.s.  and somehow i made a huge mess in the process!  i think that's how you always know inspiration is hard at work......when you have everything you own out on your worktable!  :))


{supplies:  stillman & birn sketchbooks in alpha and zeta series, koi watercolor, pitt pens, micron pens, koi coloring brush markers, pan pastel, derwent watercolor pencils, 6B graphite pencil}




♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥



 thank you SO much for the sweet, sweet comments you left for my online class giveaway!!  you are the best-in-blogland, and i'm sending each one of you a huge, chocolate-filled cyberhug!!  xox

the recipient of the online class is gloria vivas!   many thanks from here-to-the-moon-and-back to everyone for participating and making our creative workshops giveaway-hop a huge success!!







16 comments:

Stillman and Birn said...

Thanks so much for your very generous comments, Lori.

Jeanette said...

Lori,
I'll be on Dick Blick today ordering some journals! What a fabulous review post, loved all your applications!!! Most of all, love your art and lettering, of course!
What a fun start to the week with the opportunity to add to my art supply stash!
Hugs and love,
Jeanette

Colleen said...

I just bought my first Stillman and Birn journal yesterday! Can't wait to try it out! I purchased the Beta series! Wahoo! :)

Createology said...

Great review of Stillman and Birn journals. How very thoughtful and generous of Michael to send you some. I agree with Amelia's quote. Congratulations to Gloria. Huge chocolate filled cyber hug back at ya dear creative soul...

Anonymous said...

Lori - ALWAYS enjoy your creative lettering, sketches & comments!

I'm GREEN with envy, Gloria...But congrats anyway.
Thanks Lori for another great "Inspiration Monday."
Grandma Nancy Sapp

gloria vivas said...

Many thanks to you!
I always say the same, I love everything you do!
I love your tests, I love the sign in the clouds, and above all, I love that heart with my name.
I'm so glad Lori, you are so kind and sweet. Heartfelt thaaaaanks.

XOXOXO

Tammie Lee said...

wonderful to see your tests on these journals. I enjoy their journals, very much. The paper is fab and somehow inspire art that makes me smile. Lovely to see what you did with yours.

Isabel said...

Congratulations to my dear friend Gloria. It's exciting to see her name in your blog. A big hug to you both.

wv said...

a great inspiration!
xXx

LeeAnn@Encouragement Is Contagious said...

congratulations to Gloria!

Kathryn Zbrzezny said...

I was already in the mood to get a new journal...now I am over the top excited, lori! And, I have pan pastels that are still new... Thanks for the fun! Kath

Tesa said...

Love the review, one question do these journals open flat? even in the middle?

lori vliegen said...

hi tesa! i've only used the hardbound, and from what i understand, they're designed to open flat. you have to bend back the covers throughout the entire book to break it in.....here's a more complete explanation about it: http://hudsonvalleysketches.blogspot.com/2012/01/breaking-in-your-stillman-and-birn.html

hope this helps to answer your question....thanks for stopping by! xox

Tesa said...

Thanks Lori!

gloria vivas said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
gloria vivas said...

Dear Lori, I speak to you today on my blog, I love you visit.

http://papersdecolors.blogspot.com.es/

XOXOXO

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