Stillman & Birn is a brand associated with the art materials industry in the United States for decades. The original company was founded in 1958 by Philip Birn (1911 – 2004). Birn was a highly admired Viennese bookbinder, who brought his “old world” craftsmanship to a small plant in the SoHo section of Manhattan. From his plant at 270 Lafayette Street, Philip Birn pioneered the concept of the black hardbound sketchbook. The management team of the new Stillman & Birn organization follows its founder’s commitment to uncompromising quality and to developing new sketchbook forms that respond to the changing needs of artists.
Stillman & Birn stands out in the crowded sketchbook market, offering a unique collection of archival quality, premium sketchbooks designed to work with many different kinds of media. Only Stillman & Birn offers a sketchbook system, allowing the artist to choose the paper weight, shade and surface type to suit their specific techniques. Papers used have both internal and surface sizing, providing exceptional wet strength.
Bound in the United States, our sketchbook system offers artists a choice of three paper surfaces:
• Medium Grain – distinctive tooth, suitable for all dry media, and will also accept multiple washes
• Cold Press – Substantial tooth, enhanced wet and tear strength, suitable for mixed media artwork
• Smooth – Suitable for pen & ink, colored pencils, water-based markers as well as watercolors
Papers are true art papers and withstand multiple erasures and suitable for precision work. Choose from 6 different categories – Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon and Zeta. There is one for every artist.
Click here to find one for yourself.