Hi Katie 🤗 I’ve just finished watching this video again & was wondering now that 6mths or so have passed since doing this comparison video between the two RT sketchbooks, if you have any further comments/feelings between them? I personally like the idea of the whiter/cleaner looking paper, but the extra pilling & weird marks like in the clouds would annoy me! 😬🥴 Have you given Stillman & Birn sketchbooks a try? 🤔 They come with so many different options from smooth to lightly textured paper, ivory or white & different paper weight, with the less heavier one (similar to RT) still being able to handle wet mediums well ~ I’d love to see a video or hear your thoughts on them compared with your regular RT’s sketchbook!? Cheers Fab 🙂🎨🩷🙏🏻
Ooooh great question! I have to admit I've not used it again since this test as I've been using other sketchbooks, but I do want to do some more experiments in this! The mottling of the paper definitely put me off a little but I need to use some more materials to do a thorough test. I have one Stillman & Birn sketchbook that I used for some of my book paintings which is a Zeta series, though I do find it a little too smooth and would prefer one with a bit of a tooth (I think the Alpha series might be better but I do like the thickness of paper in the Zeta one!). I'm definitely a newbie when it comes to S&B sketchbooks though so welcome any recs! 🤗
@@KatieMoody The ‘Beta’ range in Stillman & Birn is the same heavy weight (270gsm) & white paper as ‘Zeta’ but in cold press texture, so that sounds like it would suit you better. However I do think you should give the ‘Alpha’ range a go as even though it’s lighter in paper weight (150gsm) than the ‘Beta’ it can still take a light wash of wet media! It also has white paper & has a medium grain surface - so obviously more tooth compared to the smooth ‘Zeta’ range you’ve already tried, but maybe not as much as the ‘Beta’! So probably a good in between! (It also has a bit more tooth than the RTs, but not by much;) Plus as it’s lighter in paper weight, it has more pages than the Beta or Zeta ones. But not quite as many as compared to the RTs - eg. ‘Alpha’ in hardcover format has 62 sheets as opposed to 80 sheets in RTs, so slightly less pages to work on. And the softcover version has a bit less again with only 46 sheets, however the softcover has the rounded corners like the RT have which I like. I personally have a feeling that you will really like the 8”x10” size in the softcover (which I have, but not used yet;) or the similar sized one in ‘square’ softcover format! 🩷 Ftm I’ve started using the Alpha range in hard bound for a ‘Liz Steel ~ Foundations’ online course I’m taking. Liz Steel, who’s an Australian urban art sketcher & teacher loves using this S&B Alpha range as her everyday go to sketchbook; she primarily uses w/c & ink, but is getting more into other mixed medias. I believe she’s tested quite a few different s/books over the years, yet still comes back to the Alpha for everyday sketches!! FYI I’ve attached a couple of links where she explains her reasons for liking & choosing this particular range… www.lizsteel.com/bestpaperurbansketching/ www.lizsteel.com/how-to-choose-a-sketchbook/ www.lizsteel.com/lovealphapaper/ Please keep in mind that I’m not a professional artist or done extensive testing & research, however imho I do feel you will really like the S&B Alpha for all the above reasons ~ white paper with a little bit of tooth & can handle a bit of wet media without feeling too precious about it! The only ‘negatives’ I see you having compared to the RTs is it not coming in all the different beautiful cover colours (instead you could use here your lil Japaneses stickers to decorate cover?;) and the other might be the price difference for you there in the UK?? 🤔🤷🏼♀️ Actually a while ago Stillman & Birns kindly sent me a free ‘sample pack’ of their different papers to try out; so might be a good idea for you to contact them to send you one out? I also have a feeling that I saw their sample packs available at Jackson’s!?? I’m sorry Katie this has turned out to be such a long essay of a comment 🥴 but I do hope you will find this info useful! Have a great w/end ~ Fab 😊🤗
@@fabd8067 Thank you sooooo much for this incredibly helpful and informative comment, Fab! I'll be referencing this for sure when I next buy a Stillman and Birn sketchbook, it sounds like the Alpha range could be the one for me! I'll check out those links too, I already follow Liz Steel and love her work but hadn't realised what sketchbook she uses! I could definitely use my extensive sticker collection to decorate the covers, great idea 😂 I'll also have a look into getting the sample pack of paper, that sounds like such a good way to test them too. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge, and so sorry I didn't see your reply sooner! I so appreciate the advice and help 🥰💕
@@KatieMoody Awe you’re welcome hun, I’m glad if it can be of some help to you! 🙂 Yes I love Liz Steel’s style & work too ~ her abundance of ‘teacup sketches’ in particular are just gorgeous! ☕️🎨🩷🌸
I actually LOVE the tint of the royal talens "off white" pages- I'm drawn to them more than pure white. I do like the idea of having two versions for different results. Thanks for another wonderful and very informative video! I love how you describe everything and talk about texture, etc. it's very helpful
your comments about moving the pages that help the pastel not travel were really helpful! I've been using paper in between my pages as well but left them and found my sketchbook getting too full and thick
Oh thank you so much, so glad you found it useful! I totally agree, the off-white paper definitely adds a warmth and cosiness, but I think it depends on the vibes we want for the end result! Also so glad the tip about the paper in between pages was helpful too 🤗
Hope you enjoy this video! Just an update - I’ve since found that Royal Talens DO have this white-toned paper sketchbook in the other sizes! They all have the cork cover which is the only way to distinguish them but they’re in the smaller and larger versions too 😊
The Royal Talens Art Deco and Still Life cover ones also have the same paper. I bought some on sale not realising the paper was different and don’t like them compared to the usual toned paper ones. My markers bleed through way more and I don’t like how it reacts to my wet media. I have switched to using them for my collage art instead.
@emmat961 Ooh I hadn’t realised that! That’s really good to hear, thanks for sharing! Im definitely going to do some more tests on both to see how other mediums compare
Thank you so much for doing this video, I really looked forward to it! I think I search UA-cam for 5 hours to see if there's any other videos testing the white paper RT sketchbooks, but I think you are the first one to do it! ❤ I think it's worth testing them out, so thanks again!
Oh my pleasure, thanks for watching! I was surprised that there isn't much info/videos on these sketchbooks! So glad this was helpful 😊 I'll definitely be testing out more mediums in there too!
@@KatieMoody btw, because you mentioned it in the video, there is another cover with white paper. It's one with a golden pattern, but I only saw it once and can't remember it exactly to describe it better.
I love the look of the Royal Talens sketchbooks, the colours are beautiful, I’m currently using the lilac one too. I’d much prefer white paper but I really don’t like the cork cover of this one. I know this doesn’t make much difference to the pages but I like a sketchbook to make me feel happy by looking at it and this just doesn’t do it for me.🫣 Thanks so much for sharing this demo, your paintings are beautiful! x
Thank you so much!🥰 The different colour covers are a huge factor for me too, I love having a rainbow on my desk 😄 I've been told there are other sketchbooks from Royal Talens that have the white paper so I was wrong in saying it was just the cork! They have some with art/patterns on that are white too: the Art Deco, the Milkmaid and there's a floral still life design too! Maybe you'll prefer one of those covers, or you could cover the cork one and make it prettier 😊💜
That’s fascinating, thank you Katie. I do wonder if ivory paper is coated and this white is I coated - that would account for the apparent extra thirstiness of the white one. The shocking discovery for me is seeing your art on the two finishes, I really rather prefer the ivory tone! I did not expect that! There’s just a starkness with the white that I would want to cover in my own work. Although it occurs to me that it may be the subject and if I tried animals illustrations which I draw a lot, would I prefer the white??? I feel I may have to buy a couple to test myself now lol.
Thank you for watching and commenting! Yes that's a very good point, I wonder if that's it! Another commenter has said it could be the same paper base but it's been bleached, and that it may also affect the light-fastness of the paper! Haha yes I was the same! There is such a warm and cosy feeling to the ivory one isn't there! I'm so used to having that with my art now, and switching to the white paper makes the whole atmosphere of the piece feel different... as you say, does that only apply to landscapes though? Lots to test out I think! 😄
Yay, I was looking forward to this video. So glad you got your hands on one to test out Katie! As I've already mentioned I love my A4 and13x21cm Cork sketchbooks, but I think I was spoiled by not having used the ivory toned ones beforehand. 🤣
Thanks so much, Eve! Haha yes so interesting what we just get used to isn't it! I've been using the ivory ones for so long that it felt so weird to work on white 😆
I saw these in a store and got worried that Royal Talens are switching to white paper. I reached out and they said the regular Art Creation sketchbooks are definitely keeping the cream coloured paper. *phew* (Cork, art deco, milkmaid, flower vase - those have white paper and come in all 5 sizes.)
Thank you for sharing, I hadn't realised there were other covers until reading comments! I think its great they are keeping both options - I'd be sad if the ivory was disappearing 😅
Oooh, this is very cool they have white toned paper. I just bought my first Royal Talens sketchbook at my local art store and love it for all my sketches. Thanks for sharing!
I found one of these last week on Amazon, the cover is a still life with flowers in a glass vase, by Jan Davidsz. de Heem. It's the same size as yours. I was so excited to find one with white paper!! Haven't used it yet thou. Loved what you did, beautiful! 🤗💖😊
Thank you so much! I didn't realise there were other covers with white paper until a few of you told me in the comments which is great to hear! I hope you have fun creating in it 😄
Thank you for the review Katie, excellent as always! I'm using my RT sketchbook with white paper using only colour pencils so I'm loving it 🥰 as i prefer much more the white paper! Enjoy your break ❤
Katie, have you tried Spectrafix Degas fixative? It’s a non-toxic fixative that doesn’t release fumes or odor and is safe to spray indoors. You can also continue to work on top of it after you’ve sprayed your art. I like to use it in my sketchbook.
I have! I was a bit disappointed in it compared to the Sennelier and Jacksons spray fixatives I've tried because it felt like it wasn't fixing it as well. I think I needed more layers so perhaps it was user error! Good to know I can work on top of it too, thanks for sharing!
Yes, I think just like anything it may depend on what material you are trying to fix, how much of that material is on the page, how much fixative you use etc. In other words, there are a lot of variables- as with many art supplies. It’s probably also a trade-off- not being quite as strong as a fixative because it doesn’t have as strong of chemicals.
I’ve been curious about the white paper sketchbook form royal talens. So thank you for making this video, very helpful seeing them side by side using all those different types of media. The way you test and compare is very helpful and have made it easier for me figuring out what I want to buy so many times 😄💖 hope you had a great Easter 🐣
I just got my first ivory royal talens book and the paper is so amazing for using pencil with a tortilion paper stump to smudge pencil on it. Because it’s super smooth it smudges loads and you get really lovely dark tones quickly. I love this sketchbook already and the ivory tone
Hi Katie. Jim from Madrid, Spain (a fellow artist and a New Yorker expat living abroad). Just found you on UA-cam and actually looking for more info on the RT white paper sketchbooks (I've watched several videos on them, as well as yours, doing some R&D before buying). I bought some RT sketchbooks in the past. I like that they open flat (so you can do a nice spread), they have a reasonable good binding and stitching (though if worked a bit more than light, pages will come off) and the paper thickness isn't too bad (not the greatest but ok), and for their price, at least here in Spain, they are decent as EDC for use with dry media and some ink (not suitable for watercolor and I don't like them for gouache either - I paint with Gouache as with oil, not like with watercolor - for that I already have watercolor!). My ONLY concern is that I cannot stand their creamy color... it just dies not work at all for me. I use grey and tanned sketchbooks too, but the RT cream color is distorting. So I was happy to see that they came out with a White coloured sketchbook. I will probably try it just to see if it works for me or not. I usually use Hahnemuhle sketchbooks (their paper is AMAZING for what you pay for and always lay flat and are natural true white) and in different thicknesses (from 120 gsm to 250 gsm, both pulp and 100% cotton). I am interested in the RT if their price point is cheap and only for dry media, as an EDC anywhere. Thanks for sharing! Cheers from Sunny Spain! 😁👍😎✌
Thanks so much for sharing, Jim! So great to hear your thoughts about various sketchbooks! I can't imagine not having a sketchbook that doesn't lay flat now as I'm so used to it, especially as so much of my art goes over the middle! Totally agree about them being a good EDC, and I love that I feel less pressure in them because of the paper stock and price. With more expensive sketchbooks I can definitely feel the fear! It'll be great to hear what you think if you try the white paper version! I'm yet to try a Hahnemuhle sketchbook but I have a white and a tan paper one that I'm looking forward to creating in 😄
Thank you for the review, Katie. So interesting! I’ve noticed the same things about the white paper. The difference is so slight that I thought I was imagining it 😅 I keep trying to use it, but struggle to produce anything I like. The buckling is definitely a problem. I always wondered how the ivory paper could take so much media and be so flat the next day 😅
Thank you, Sarra! 💛 Nooo you're definitely not imagining it, and I'm glad you feel the same way as I do! I'm really looking forward to creating in it more so I can do some more material testing! The buckling will be a big negative for me too!
I am such a lover of the toned cream paper. I’ve been using Archer & Olive’s sketchbook for white paper. It’s a bit thicker than talens. But I miss my toned paper and I plan to go back to it for my next sketchbook.
I'm with you there, Mandy! I'm so used to the cream paper now and I do love the atmosphere and warmth it gives my pieces. I've not tried Archer & Olive before!
@@KatieMoody I don’t know what it does for me, but that cream just feels different. Changes the mood maybe? Or that warmth like you mentioned. Archer & Olive I think just launched their sketchbooks in their essentials drop earlier this year. They are a bit pricey, but double the pages of a Royal Talens sketchbook and have beautiful front covers that make me happy to pull them out and open them.
Ok, so after I had watched this, I finally found this sketchbook. I didn't realize that it was only available with the cork cover so thank you for that hot tip! I was so excited to try it because I much prefer white paper to cream because the colors are truer and really pop. Buuuuut, now I'm nearly halfway through it and I don't love the paper as much- the color is fine but you were right: there's something a bit off about the quality. I was hoping I would love it but I just don't😕Not so much that I won't finish this sketchbook because I will, but what a bummer, man! Anyway, this was a great thorough and helpful review and much appreciated!
I've since learned that they also do some other speciality covers with the white paper, the art deco one and the milkmaid! It's so interesting to hear you found the same though, I think they do something different to the paper! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts though, I've not gone back to this sketchbook yet but I will as I hate the thought of it staying empty 😆
Thank you Katie! An excellent review and video, just like all your other videos. Personally I really enjoy the ivory paper and how you can throw almost all media on it. Naturally though I do wanna try out the white paper one, too (love the cork cover!)
Interesting comparison! Thanks so much! I have a white page one with a black and gold Art Deco cover. I haven’t used it yet because I was nervous about all that white!
i like them both. the "yellow" pages gave your painting a soft, romantic feel while the white pages were very vibrant. I have the off white one. I havent worked in it yet, but I'm looking forward to trying it. Both paintings are beautiful, but my favorite it the second one.
Thank you so much! I totally agree, I'm so used to the ivory tone paper and the softer vibes it gives my art compared to the starker white - but I think both can work depending on what I'm painting! Thanks for watching 🥰
Katie! I’ve left a few comments asking if there was one like talens with white paper and this is music to my ears!!! Maybe they’ve seen my comments haha
I was disappointed when I first got the royal talens sketchbook and it was a lot more yellow than I'd expected (like literally the most yellow sketchbook I've ever had), this is really interesting and I would definitely buy the white paper one even with those cons, because I much prefer white paper so I think it would be worth it 🥰
Same, Chantelle! I used to work in a moleskine and really struggled to transition to the ivory paper, but now I'm the other way around 😆 Yes I think it'd be worth it for the colour pay off and your style too! You'll have to let me know what you think when you get one 🤗
I use watercolor on the ones with ivory paper and I love it, but I think the white paper does not take it well. I use the cork sketchbook for alcohol markers and color pencil, but my favorite is the old trusty ivory paper 😊
A month ago i bought my first sketchboon by them. I didnt know the pages were going to be so yellow and i struggled with that in the beginning. It always felt like i looked at my art in dim, orange lighting. Now i got used to it more and so far it has some of my favorite artworks ever! But i think i will switch to a white one again. Still its interessting to try this kind of paper
It definitely takes a while to get used to, and now I struggle going to white pages! 🤣 I'm so glad to hear you've created some of your favourite art in it though, that's so wonderful! Glad you gave it a go 😊
As far as I know, the white paper is made of the same thing as the toned one. Usually in the paper world that's the way it goes, the whiter version is usually whiten by using a product, it used to be bleach but it did alter the colors that were put on so the people that were selling their art or anyone who wanted to do something with an archival goal was unhappy about it. So they started to use other product in the paper paste ... I don't know what... So the most important difference usually is the light-fastness (a whitening agent might weaken the strength of the pigment, is usually more important when the coloring agent is liquid -markers- than with a pigmented base but some manufactured pigment are sensitive to their environment, therefore might be to the whitening agent)
Ooooh this is so interesting, thank you for sharing your thoughts! That makes sense if it was bleached and the same paper, I wish they'd share more information about the stock in each sketchbook! Also a really great point about the lightfast quality, though I tend not to worry to much about that in sketchbooks!
@@KatieMoody Each brand and paper range seam to have a different recipe, but its impossible to get the complete information, I know that there often is a bit of glue in some paper (some low quality paper and not perfectly mixed and when you use watercolor on top, on some place it's absorbed and on other part of the page it stay on top...) The light-fastness is not a big issue on sketchbook but I have seen some neon ink disappear in less that a year so might still be problematic for sketchbook tour or longer project... (Just like the erasable ink disappear in some old work from school...For French kid at least, we do/did our school writing with erasable blue ink cartridges in fountain pen)
Yes it looks like the problem with the white paper here is the glue sizing has deteriorated or not been applied well on that page. It’s possible other pages will have less of the patchy effect with the watered down gouache. I used to think only watercolour paper had sizing but all paper except blotting paper have some
thanks for making this video. i fully agree that these sketchbooks are not fit for (moderately to very wet application) watercolours. also kind of dulls the colour.
Thank you!! I look so much forward to receiving mine. Interesting what you said about it looks like it's been rained on [9:50]. I know exactly what you mean, the same thing happens in my leuchttrum sketchbook, which also has white paper. I'm curious if this is related or not.
Hi Katie 🤗 I’ve just finished watching this video again & was wondering now that 6mths or so have passed since doing this comparison video between the two RT sketchbooks, if you have any further comments/feelings between them? I personally like the idea of the whiter/cleaner looking paper, but the extra pilling & weird marks like in the clouds would annoy me! 😬🥴
Have you given Stillman & Birn sketchbooks a try? 🤔 They come with so many different options from smooth to lightly textured paper, ivory or white & different paper weight, with the less heavier one (similar to RT) still being able to handle wet mediums well ~ I’d love to see a video or hear your thoughts on them compared with your regular RT’s sketchbook!? Cheers Fab 🙂🎨🩷🙏🏻
Ooooh great question! I have to admit I've not used it again since this test as I've been using other sketchbooks, but I do want to do some more experiments in this! The mottling of the paper definitely put me off a little but I need to use some more materials to do a thorough test. I have one Stillman & Birn sketchbook that I used for some of my book paintings which is a Zeta series, though I do find it a little too smooth and would prefer one with a bit of a tooth (I think the Alpha series might be better but I do like the thickness of paper in the Zeta one!). I'm definitely a newbie when it comes to S&B sketchbooks though so welcome any recs! 🤗
@@KatieMoody
The ‘Beta’ range in Stillman & Birn is the same heavy weight (270gsm) & white paper as ‘Zeta’ but in cold press texture, so that sounds like it would suit you better. However I do think you should give the ‘Alpha’ range a go as even though it’s lighter in paper weight (150gsm) than the ‘Beta’ it can still take a light wash of wet media! It also has white paper & has a medium grain surface - so obviously more tooth compared to the smooth ‘Zeta’ range you’ve already tried, but maybe not as much as the ‘Beta’! So probably a good in between! (It also has a bit more tooth than the RTs, but not by much;)
Plus as it’s lighter in paper weight, it has more pages than the Beta or Zeta ones. But not quite as many as compared to the RTs - eg. ‘Alpha’ in hardcover format has 62 sheets as opposed to 80 sheets in RTs, so slightly less pages to work on. And the softcover version has a bit less again with only 46 sheets, however the softcover has the rounded corners like the RT have which I like. I personally have a feeling that you will really like the 8”x10” size in the softcover (which I have, but not used yet;) or the similar sized one in ‘square’ softcover format! 🩷
Ftm I’ve started using the Alpha range in hard bound for a ‘Liz Steel ~ Foundations’ online course I’m taking. Liz Steel, who’s an Australian urban art sketcher & teacher loves using this S&B Alpha range as her everyday go to sketchbook; she primarily uses w/c & ink, but is getting more into other mixed medias. I believe she’s tested quite a few different s/books over the years, yet still comes back to the Alpha for everyday sketches!! FYI I’ve attached a couple of links where she explains her reasons for liking & choosing this particular range…
www.lizsteel.com/bestpaperurbansketching/
www.lizsteel.com/how-to-choose-a-sketchbook/
www.lizsteel.com/lovealphapaper/
Please keep in mind that I’m not a professional artist or done extensive testing & research, however imho I do feel you will really like the S&B Alpha for all the above reasons ~ white paper with a little bit of tooth & can handle a bit of wet media without feeling too precious about it! The only ‘negatives’ I see you having compared to the RTs is it not coming in all the different beautiful cover colours (instead you could use here your lil Japaneses stickers to decorate cover?;) and the other might be the price difference for you there in the UK?? 🤔🤷🏼♀️
Actually a while ago Stillman & Birns kindly sent me a free ‘sample pack’ of their different papers to try out; so might be a good idea for you to contact them to send you one out? I also have a feeling that I saw their sample packs available at Jackson’s!??
I’m sorry Katie this has turned out to be such a long essay of a comment 🥴 but I do hope you will find this info useful! Have a great w/end ~ Fab 😊🤗
@@fabd8067 Thank you sooooo much for this incredibly helpful and informative comment, Fab! I'll be referencing this for sure when I next buy a Stillman and Birn sketchbook, it sounds like the Alpha range could be the one for me! I'll check out those links too, I already follow Liz Steel and love her work but hadn't realised what sketchbook she uses! I could definitely use my extensive sticker collection to decorate the covers, great idea 😂 I'll also have a look into getting the sample pack of paper, that sounds like such a good way to test them too. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge, and so sorry I didn't see your reply sooner! I so appreciate the advice and help 🥰💕
@@KatieMoody Awe you’re welcome hun, I’m glad if it can be of some help to you! 🙂
Yes I love Liz Steel’s style & work too ~ her abundance of ‘teacup sketches’ in particular are just gorgeous! ☕️🎨🩷🌸
I actually LOVE the tint of the royal talens "off white" pages- I'm drawn to them more than pure white. I do like the idea of having two versions for different results. Thanks for another wonderful and very informative video! I love how you describe everything and talk about texture, etc. it's very helpful
your comments about moving the pages that help the pastel not travel were really helpful! I've been using paper in between my pages as well but left them and found my sketchbook getting too full and thick
Oh thank you so much, so glad you found it useful! I totally agree, the off-white paper definitely adds a warmth and cosiness, but I think it depends on the vibes we want for the end result! Also so glad the tip about the paper in between pages was helpful too 🤗
Hope you enjoy this video! Just an update - I’ve since found that Royal Talens DO have this white-toned paper sketchbook in the other sizes! They all have the cork cover which is the only way to distinguish them but they’re in the smaller and larger versions too 😊
The Royal Talens Art Deco and Still Life cover ones also have the same paper. I bought some on sale not realising the paper was different and don’t like them compared to the usual toned paper ones. My markers bleed through way more and I don’t like how it reacts to my wet media. I have switched to using them for my collage art instead.
@emmat961 Ooh I hadn’t realised that! That’s really good to hear, thanks for sharing! Im definitely going to do some more tests on both to see how other mediums compare
Also the Milkmaid cover has white paper. ☺️
Thank you so much for doing this video, I really looked forward to it! I think I search UA-cam for 5 hours to see if there's any other videos testing the white paper RT sketchbooks, but I think you are the first one to do it! ❤ I think it's worth testing them out, so thanks again!
Oh my pleasure, thanks for watching! I was surprised that there isn't much info/videos on these sketchbooks! So glad this was helpful 😊 I'll definitely be testing out more mediums in there too!
@@KatieMoody btw, because you mentioned it in the video, there is another cover with white paper. It's one with a golden pattern, but I only saw it once and can't remember it exactly to describe it better.
I love the look of the Royal Talens sketchbooks, the colours are beautiful, I’m currently using the lilac one too. I’d much prefer white paper but I really don’t like the cork cover of this one. I know this doesn’t make much difference to the pages but I like a sketchbook to make me feel happy by looking at it and this just doesn’t do it for me.🫣 Thanks so much for sharing this demo, your paintings are beautiful! x
Thank you so much!🥰 The different colour covers are a huge factor for me too, I love having a rainbow on my desk 😄 I've been told there are other sketchbooks from Royal Talens that have the white paper so I was wrong in saying it was just the cork! They have some with art/patterns on that are white too: the Art Deco, the Milkmaid and there's a floral still life design too! Maybe you'll prefer one of those covers, or you could cover the cork one and make it prettier 😊💜
I’ve recently bought my first Royal Talens sketchbook and really enjoying it so far. Love your videos they have given me so much inspiration.
Oh thank you so much, so happy to hear that! 🥰
Thank you, Katie. I was wondering how the white version would perform. I think I will stick with the cream one.
Thank you so much for watching 🧡 I think the cream one is a safe bet!
That’s fascinating, thank you Katie. I do wonder if ivory paper is coated and this white is I coated - that would account for the apparent extra thirstiness of the white one. The shocking discovery for me is seeing your art on the two finishes, I really rather prefer the ivory tone! I did not expect that! There’s just a starkness with the white that I would want to cover in my own work. Although it occurs to me that it may be the subject and if I tried animals illustrations which I draw a lot, would I prefer the white??? I feel I may have to buy a couple to test myself now lol.
Thank you for watching and commenting! Yes that's a very good point, I wonder if that's it! Another commenter has said it could be the same paper base but it's been bleached, and that it may also affect the light-fastness of the paper! Haha yes I was the same! There is such a warm and cosy feeling to the ivory one isn't there! I'm so used to having that with my art now, and switching to the white paper makes the whole atmosphere of the piece feel different... as you say, does that only apply to landscapes though? Lots to test out I think! 😄
Yay, I was looking forward to this video. So glad you got your hands on one to test out Katie! As I've already mentioned I love my A4 and13x21cm Cork sketchbooks, but I think I was spoiled by not having used the ivory toned ones beforehand. 🤣
Thanks so much, Eve! Haha yes so interesting what we just get used to isn't it! I've been using the ivory ones for so long that it felt so weird to work on white 😆
I saw these in a store and got worried that Royal Talens are switching to white paper. I reached out and they said the regular Art Creation sketchbooks are definitely keeping the cream coloured paper. *phew* (Cork, art deco, milkmaid, flower vase - those have white paper and come in all 5 sizes.)
Thank you for sharing, I hadn't realised there were other covers until reading comments! I think its great they are keeping both options - I'd be sad if the ivory was disappearing 😅
Oooh, this is very cool they have white toned paper. I just bought my first Royal Talens sketchbook at my local art store and love it for all my sketches. Thanks for sharing!
I love that we have the option of ivory and white now with these sketchbooks! So glad to hear you’re enjoying it, they’re definitely my go to 😊
I found one of these last week on Amazon, the cover is a still life with flowers in a glass vase, by Jan Davidsz. de Heem. It's the same size as yours. I was so excited to find one with white paper!! Haven't used it yet thou. Loved what you did, beautiful! 🤗💖😊
Thank you so much! I didn't realise there were other covers with white paper until a few of you told me in the comments which is great to hear! I hope you have fun creating in it 😄
Thank you for the review Katie, excellent as always! I'm using my RT sketchbook with white paper using only colour pencils so I'm loving it 🥰 as i prefer much more the white paper! Enjoy your break ❤
Thank you, sweet Teresa! That makes sense, I think that it'd be perfect for pencils and also really make the colours stand out! 😄💜
Katie, have you tried Spectrafix Degas fixative? It’s a non-toxic fixative that doesn’t release fumes or odor and is safe to spray indoors. You can also continue to work on top of it after you’ve sprayed your art. I like to use it in my sketchbook.
I have! I was a bit disappointed in it compared to the Sennelier and Jacksons spray fixatives I've tried because it felt like it wasn't fixing it as well. I think I needed more layers so perhaps it was user error! Good to know I can work on top of it too, thanks for sharing!
Yes, I think just like anything it may depend on what material you are trying to fix, how much of that material is on the page, how much fixative you use etc. In other words, there are a lot of variables- as with many art supplies. It’s probably also a trade-off- not being quite as strong as a fixative because it doesn’t have as strong of chemicals.
I’ve been curious about the white paper sketchbook form royal talens. So thank you for making this video, very helpful seeing them side by side using all those different types of media. The way you test and compare is very helpful and have made it easier for me figuring out what I want to buy so many times 😄💖 hope you had a great Easter 🐣
My pleasure, thank you for watching and for your lovely compliments and support 🥰 So glad my videos have helped you with buying art supplies! 💜
I just got my first ivory royal talens book and the paper is so amazing for using pencil with a tortilion paper stump to smudge pencil on it. Because it’s super smooth it smudges loads and you get really lovely dark tones quickly. I love this sketchbook already and the ivory tone
Oh that sounds like a great combo, the smooth pages are perfect for blending on! 😄
I appreciated your excellent camera work as well as your commentary. I could really see the details as you worked in each sketchbook.
Oh thank you so much, really appreciate that feedback! 🥰
Hi Katie. Jim from Madrid, Spain (a fellow artist and a New Yorker expat living abroad).
Just found you on UA-cam and actually looking for more info on the RT white paper sketchbooks (I've watched several videos on them, as well as yours, doing some R&D before buying).
I bought some RT sketchbooks in the past.
I like that they open flat (so you can do a nice spread), they have a reasonable good binding and stitching (though if worked a bit more than light, pages will come off) and the paper thickness isn't too bad (not the greatest but ok), and for their price, at least here in Spain, they are decent as EDC for use with dry media and some ink (not suitable for watercolor and I don't like them for gouache either - I paint with Gouache as with oil, not like with watercolor - for that I already have watercolor!).
My ONLY concern is that I cannot stand their creamy color... it just dies not work at all for me. I use grey and tanned sketchbooks too, but the RT cream color is distorting.
So I was happy to see that they came out with a White coloured sketchbook. I will probably try it just to see if it works for me or not.
I usually use Hahnemuhle sketchbooks (their paper is AMAZING for what you pay for and always lay flat and are natural true white) and in different thicknesses (from 120 gsm to 250 gsm, both pulp and 100% cotton).
I am interested in the RT if their price point is cheap and only for dry media, as an EDC anywhere.
Thanks for sharing!
Cheers from Sunny Spain!
😁👍😎✌
Thanks so much for sharing, Jim! So great to hear your thoughts about various sketchbooks! I can't imagine not having a sketchbook that doesn't lay flat now as I'm so used to it, especially as so much of my art goes over the middle! Totally agree about them being a good EDC, and I love that I feel less pressure in them because of the paper stock and price. With more expensive sketchbooks I can definitely feel the fear! It'll be great to hear what you think if you try the white paper version! I'm yet to try a Hahnemuhle sketchbook but I have a white and a tan paper one that I'm looking forward to creating in 😄
I love watching you paint so much! Every brush strokes are satisfying and your artworks are gorgeous! 🌟💖🌿
Oh that's so kind of you to say! Thank you 🥹
Thank you for the review, Katie. So interesting! I’ve noticed the same things about the white paper. The difference is so slight that I thought I was imagining it 😅 I keep trying to use it, but struggle to produce anything I like. The buckling is definitely a problem. I always wondered how the ivory paper could take so much media and be so flat the next day 😅
Thank you, Sarra! 💛 Nooo you're definitely not imagining it, and I'm glad you feel the same way as I do! I'm really looking forward to creating in it more so I can do some more material testing! The buckling will be a big negative for me too!
I am such a lover of the toned cream paper. I’ve been using Archer & Olive’s sketchbook for white paper. It’s a bit thicker than talens. But I miss my toned paper and I plan to go back to it for my next sketchbook.
I'm with you there, Mandy! I'm so used to the cream paper now and I do love the atmosphere and warmth it gives my pieces. I've not tried Archer & Olive before!
@@KatieMoody I don’t know what it does for me, but that cream just feels different. Changes the mood maybe? Or that warmth like you mentioned.
Archer & Olive I think just launched their sketchbooks in their essentials drop earlier this year. They are a bit pricey, but double the pages of a Royal Talens sketchbook and have beautiful front covers that make me happy to pull them out and open them.
Ok, so after I had watched this, I finally found this sketchbook. I didn't realize that it was only available with the cork cover so thank you for that hot tip! I was so excited to try it because I much prefer white paper to cream because the colors are truer and really pop. Buuuuut, now I'm nearly halfway through it and I don't love the paper as much- the color is fine but you were right: there's something a bit off about the quality. I was hoping I would love it but I just don't😕Not so much that I won't finish this sketchbook because I will, but what a bummer, man! Anyway, this was a great thorough and helpful review and much appreciated!
I've since learned that they also do some other speciality covers with the white paper, the art deco one and the milkmaid! It's so interesting to hear you found the same though, I think they do something different to the paper! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts though, I've not gone back to this sketchbook yet but I will as I hate the thought of it staying empty 😆
Thank you Katie! An excellent review and video, just like all your other videos. Personally I really enjoy the ivory paper and how you can throw almost all media on it. Naturally though I do wanna try out the white paper one, too (love the cork cover!)
Oh thank you so much! 🥰❤️ yes I do love how much that holds, I’ll definitely have to do some more media tests in the white one I think! ☺️
Interesting comparison! Thanks so much! I have a white page one with a black and gold Art Deco cover. I haven’t used it yet because I was nervous about all that white!
Thank you for watching and commenting! That first page is always the hardest but you could always start with swatching colours to ease you in! 😄
i like them both. the "yellow" pages gave your painting a soft, romantic feel while the white pages were very vibrant. I have the off white one. I havent worked in it yet, but I'm looking forward to trying it. Both paintings are beautiful, but my favorite it the second one.
Thank you so much! I totally agree, I'm so used to the ivory tone paper and the softer vibes it gives my art compared to the starker white - but I think both can work depending on what I'm painting! Thanks for watching 🥰
thanks for sharing. I haven't seen this sketchbook before, so I appreciate the update
My pleasure! Thank you for watching 💛
Ooh interesting! I thought they only had the one with yellowish pages. Thank you so much for sharing! ❤❤❤
I hadn’t realised they were so available til recently either! Thank you for watching 🥰
@@KatieMoody Thank you! I'm definitely going to get one of these when I get the chance! 🥰❤️
Katie! I’ve left a few comments asking if there was one like talens with white paper and this is music to my ears!!! Maybe they’ve seen my comments haha
Maybe it’s not in the USA yet but I’m glad it’s coming
Hahah they did it for you, Amy!! Fingers crossed it'll make it's way over to the US soon 🤗
For me the cream toned paper looks best 😍
I agree, it definitely adds a nice warmth to the art! 😄
Thank you Katie! Great, comprehensive review and I always love to see your process! How do the Stabilo Woodies compare on the paper? Dry and wet?
Thank you for watching! 🥰 oooh I’ll do some tests and report back!
I was disappointed when I first got the royal talens sketchbook and it was a lot more yellow than I'd expected (like literally the most yellow sketchbook I've ever had), this is really interesting and I would definitely buy the white paper one even with those cons, because I much prefer white paper so I think it would be worth it 🥰
Same, Chantelle! I used to work in a moleskine and really struggled to transition to the ivory paper, but now I'm the other way around 😆 Yes I think it'd be worth it for the colour pay off and your style too! You'll have to let me know what you think when you get one 🤗
I use watercolor on the ones with ivory paper and I love it, but I think the white paper does not take it well. I use the cork sketchbook for alcohol markers and color pencil, but my favorite is the old trusty ivory paper 😊
That's good to know, thanks for sharing Blü! I have such a soft spot for the ivory paper 🥰
A month ago i bought my first sketchboon by them. I didnt know the pages were going to be so yellow and i struggled with that in the beginning. It always felt like i looked at my art in dim, orange lighting. Now i got used to it more and so far it has some of my favorite artworks ever! But i think i will switch to a white one again. Still its interessting to try this kind of paper
It definitely takes a while to get used to, and now I struggle going to white pages! 🤣 I'm so glad to hear you've created some of your favourite art in it though, that's so wonderful! Glad you gave it a go 😊
As far as I know, the white paper is made of the same thing as the toned one. Usually in the paper world that's the way it goes, the whiter version is usually whiten by using a product, it used to be bleach but it did alter the colors that were put on so the people that were selling their art or anyone who wanted to do something with an archival goal was unhappy about it. So they started to use other product in the paper paste ... I don't know what... So the most important difference usually is the light-fastness (a whitening agent might weaken the strength of the pigment, is usually more important when the coloring agent is liquid -markers- than with a pigmented base but some manufactured pigment are sensitive to their environment, therefore might be to the whitening agent)
Ooooh this is so interesting, thank you for sharing your thoughts! That makes sense if it was bleached and the same paper, I wish they'd share more information about the stock in each sketchbook! Also a really great point about the lightfast quality, though I tend not to worry to much about that in sketchbooks!
@@KatieMoody
Each brand and paper range seam to have a different recipe, but its impossible to get the complete information, I know that there often is a bit of glue in some paper (some low quality paper and not perfectly mixed and when you use watercolor on top, on some place it's absorbed and on other part of the page it stay on top...)
The light-fastness is not a big issue on sketchbook but I have seen some neon ink disappear in less that a year so might still be problematic for sketchbook tour or longer project...
(Just like the erasable ink disappear in some old work from school...For French kid at least, we do/did our school writing with erasable blue ink cartridges in fountain pen)
Yes it looks like the problem with the white paper here is the glue sizing has deteriorated or not been applied well on that page. It’s possible other pages will have less of the patchy effect with the watered down gouache. I used to think only watercolour paper had sizing but all paper except blotting paper have some
thanks for making this video. i fully agree that these sketchbooks are not fit for (moderately to very wet application) watercolours. also kind of dulls the colour.
Absolutely! Thanks so much for watching and sharing 🥰
Thank you!! I look so much forward to receiving mine. Interesting what you said about it looks like it's been rained on [9:50]. I know exactly what you mean, the same thing happens in my leuchttrum sketchbook, which also has white paper. I'm curious if this is related or not.
Oh that's interesting!! It must be something to do with the sizing they use for white paper!
Using Google Earth as reference for land scapes 😶why didn't my brain think of that before
Hehe it unlocks SO many more references, right! 😄
What’s the coral luminance pencil at 5:07. Lovely! Also, I just love your art! You make it look so effortless- probably the years of practice. ❤
Thank you so much Amy! Definitely is all the practice 💜 I'm using an Anthraquinoid Pink 571 Luminance - one of my favourites for sure!
Nooo‼️are they going white❓I like them cream ‼️🥺😰
they aren't going white, they have a few special design covers that have white paper
They're still sticking with the cream, so no worries at all! But now there's a new option for artists who prefer white 😊