pronounced "Kōsha”
I’m an artist and creative entrepreneur living in the Netherlands. I love drawing and I do it every day. On this website, I hope to inspire you to develop a drawing practice too, because it can make you feel good.
Photo by Rick Keus
Flip through my Etchr accordion sketchbook with me! It sat on my shelf for years because I felt way too precious about it. Turns out filling it was more fun and less scary than I thought. See how I played with materials, drew on the go, and get a pro tip for tackling that one sketchbook you've been dreading. Sketchbook shown: Etchr accordion, A6, 100% cotton, hot press
Get cozy with a warm drink and sketch a café scene with me. See how to decide how much to draw, what to do when a drawing goes wonky, and how to keep watercolor colors cohesive. Includes a simple sketchbook assignment and a pro tip!
Inktober is complete! Thank you to everyone who played along, whether you drew all 31 prompts or just one. My process-focused prompt list helped you keep going. Some rediscovered new tools like dip pen and India ink. Next up is a first look at the new online drawing program inspired by Life is Better When You Draw It.
Learn how to paint bold shadows with just black gouache, a flat brush and a few pencil marks. I filmed this sketching demo in the UK in the early evening, when the light was low. See the dark side of a building as one big shape, keep it simple and let less be more. Try it at home!
Watch me sketch a row of colorful houses in Bristol using loose watercolor washes, water-soluble colored pencil and Neocolor crayons. Learn how to work quickly, add texture and darks, and balance your page by repeating colors. This demo includes handy tips for drawing on location!
Watch how I sketch a street in Bath, UK, using India ink washes and a big flat brush, then add loose line with an Inktense pencil. You'll get a handy trick for taking India ink on location, plus a fun 30-minute drawing assignment to try in your own sketchbook!
Inktober is here! Discover why I love drawing in ink, from easy, ready-to-go fountain pens (Sailor, Lamy, TWSBI and more) to a fresh rediscovery for my sketchbook practice. Get inspired to put some juicy lines on the page.
Sketchbook flip through from a drawing workshop retreat in Bristol and Bath, UK. See how black and white only practice, a timed sketch date, and unexpected chats (with a curious kid, a tattoo artist barista, and a welcoming restaurant) turned a solo trip into a sketchbook full of memories. Hahnemühle Nostalgie sketchbook, A5.
Watercolor and colored pencil sketching in the park, using minimal art supplies. Watch how limited tools lead to creative color choices and quick, expressive marks. Includes a fun sketch challenge and tips for getting great results with less in your kit. Bonus: this demo is a free peek from the Koosje Koene Patreon archives.
Join my Inktober challenge this October! I put together 31 fun drawing prompts, one for each day. Use any ink you like, keep it to 15 minutes, skip the days that don't excite you, and download the prompts list to print and check off. Life is better when you draw it!
Filling a 100% cotton Hahnemühle watercolor sketchbook: was it worth the price? In this flip through: a portrait sketch from my brother's professor inauguration in Amsterdam, a flea market urban sketch, ink, crayon, watercolor and colored pencil. Plus tips on adding text to your sketches. Includes a fun drawing assignment to try in your own sketchbook.
Learn how to add shadow to your watercolor paintings before adding color. In this tutorial I sketch potted plants and cacti, mix a simple gray wash for shadows, then layer on color for depth and life. Includes bonus watercolor tips and a fun drawing challenge you can try at home with objects from your own table.
Wax resist is a fun watercolor technique that's easier than it looks. Using wax crayons (or even a candle) I show how wax will block watercolor which creates texture, highlights and sparkle effects. And: what to do with mistakes when adding text! Also, a drawing assignment so you can try wax resist yourself.
Flip through my sketchbook full of travel sketches from Paris and the Black Forest, cafe scenes, rainy day drawing, and playful experiments like non-dominant hand drawing. Plus 5 bonus sketchbook tips to loosen up your own art, boost creativity, and make every wait (train station, cafe, transit) a chance to draw.
Curious how to use water soluble crayons? I took my Caran d'Ache Neocolor II crayons and Stabilo Woody pencils on a park walk to show you my scribble, wash, repeat process. Bold, playful, and a great way to sketch loose without overthinking every line.
Curious how to use water soluble crayons? I took my Caran d'Ache Neocolor II crayons and Stabilo Woody pencils on a park walk to show you my scribble, wash, repeat process. Bold, playful, and a great way to sketch loose without overthinking every line.
Feeling overwhelmed sketching busy urban scenes? In this Draw Tip Tuesday video I sketch the garden of the Royal Palace in Paris and share my top tips to sketch with ease. I’ll show you how I ditch the overwhelm and get into that creative flow, wherever you sketch.
I'm sharing my July sketching month, plus 6 practical tips to help you sketch more this August. Watch my free tutorial on drawing trees and foliage, celebrating 5 years on Patreon. I'm also packing for a workshop trip, and show you how to handle people noticing me sketching. Plus a reminder that flipping through your old sketchbooks can spark inspiration for your next drawing.
A rainy Paris sketch didn't go as planned. Wrong pen, no coffee, and a rushed, wonky drawing I almost didn't share. But weeks later I revisited the page with watercolors and colored pencils, and learned something about judging our art too soon. Plus a fun sketchbook assignment for you to try this week.
A short urban sketching video about starting anyway. Sketching in Paris on a busy square with an overwhelming view. The trick: use negative space to capture the shapes around the building rather than getting lost in the details. Then it starts to rain, which forces quick decisions and adds its own texture to the page.
