All in Drawing Tips

How To Draw Greens Without Using Color

Welcome to Draw Tip Tuesday!
And welcome to my back yard. 
I have always lived in the city, and now moved to the edge of a smaller town, with the forest close by, and a back yard to step into any time I want. And although I love urban sketching, I love being surrounded by greens! So that's a reason in itself to draw greens in my sketchbook. Which, basically would still be an urban sketch. To draw greens, what if I didn't use color? Can I still capture greens? Let’s find out with two simple tools: a pen and a pencil.

Sketchbook Tour

When drawing every day, just like in life, some days are good, some days are not so great... and so are the drawings. My sketchbook is like my visual diary, reflecting my feelings, emotions and experiences of everyday life.

Set Yourself Up For Success

Welcome to Draw Tip Tuesday!

Today I share why it's important to be a little organized in order you set yourself up for a fun drawing session. I’ll show you how I do it, and why my watercolours and colored pencils are in a certain order. Hopefully you get inspired to grab your stuff to draw.

How To Loosen Up

You love that feeling of flow when you draw, but all too often, your inner critic holds you back from daring to just draw, from making mistakes and wonky lines. It's a fear about wanting your drawing to be perfect. And that fear might even cause that you find yourself not even daring to start. I have some practical tips for your sketchbook as well as some mindset tips. let’s draw, draw, draw - and then draw more!

Sketchbook Tour And Tips

In today's video, I give you tips and ideas for your sketchbook practice, and how to squeeze some drawing time into your day, even if you think it's impossible. Whether it's an urban sketch, a drawing of your feet on the couch, or a quick doodle... you'll feel better for allowing yourself the time to draw.

Drawing With A Dip Pen

While I talk you through the process of drawing with a dip pen in this video, you’ll also learn how to develop a style as an artist (spoiler alert: you already have a style!). Let’s explore and have fun drawing with a dip pen!

Noticing and Drawing Repetition

There is always something to draw.
I looked around, I noticed how there was a certain rhythm, a pattern, of all the chairs. The repetition in the room of all the shape and color of the chairs caught my eye, so that would be the focus of my drawing today. I used the "blob method"; big shapes of color first, then line.

Drawing With A Brushpen

In today’s video I'd like to show you how I use a brush pen.
The brushpen is a fun and playful tool, with a variety in line. It might help you to draw a little bit faster and get more spontaneity in your drawings.
I'll also add watercolour for that bright yellow splash, because Brown and yellow is just too good of a combination! It’ll also be an opportunity to play with a simple wet-in-wet technique that you might like.

Be An Artist In Paris

Wouldn't you like to be an artist in Paris? Today, let's travel virtually to Paris together, and plop down in one of the streets to draw! We'll use Google Streetview. While I draw, I am giving you tips on using negative spaces when drawing architecture and urban sketching, taking artistic liberty, not being too accurate, using repetitive patterns that you see, and finally limiting your colors. Also: how to juggle drawing time when you’re with non-drawing travel-buddies? It's all covered in this generous drawing demonstration.

My Sketchbook, Filled Last March

It doesn't matter what size or format your sketchbook is - what matters is that you spend time drawing in it. I am really so happy to have this daily sketchbook practice. It is so valuable to take time to draw the things around me, empty my head, ground myself, and just BE for a little creative while. I want this for you too.
Bring that joy to your day by drawing your adventures, big and small. Mine include in this sketchbook blooming flowers as well as smelly shoes. Coffee dates with myself, and time with friends.

Virtual Travel Sketchbook

A while ago, I worked on a fun project outside of my regular sketchbook.

I used an accordion sketchbook to go on a virtual trip to Malta!   I used reference pictures that I found on Google Images to draw, and to learn about Malta a little bit more.   That's because I will be traveling there for real, in November this year, to teach an urban sketching vacation workshop. It’s hosted by Brenda Murray from Studio56boutique in Malta, an archipelago smack in the middle of the Mediterranean!

My Very First Sketchbook

Upon request, today I am sharing my very first sketchbook! Not from when I was a kid or teenager, but the sketchbook that eventually initiated my sketchbook practice, as it is now.
I think it's valuable to show them, because it illustrates how all artists develop, grow, change course, and find their style throughout the year and through their practice.

This Book Could Change Your Life

"Life Is Better When You Draw It" is an illustrated book for people who love drawing, but need inspiration to do so. It is also a tribute to drawing, and a glimpse into the world through the eyes of an artist. It is about how drawing can make you happy and mindful. As your paper soaks up the ink, you clear your head and forget about time and your to-do list.   

Like in my videos, I don't provide art instruction in my book, because what you need even more when you want to draw is motivation, permission, and encouragement. No matter the outcome, the process of drawing makes you happy, and that’s what it’s all about.  

Urban Sketching In A Café - A Free Class!

Let's get out and draw - in a café today. I often get questions about how to draw people in a cafe (they move, help!), how to capture the interior, mood and vibe... how to deal with people noticing you drawing, and much more.
So today I want to show you the full process, so I went for a coffee and a sketch and filmed from beginning to end. Because I think seeing someone draw, and then try it yourself (that's the most important part!) can teach you a lot.

Sketchbook Tour

There aren't any rules in my sketchbook - I draw anything around me, and because of that, my sketchbook tells my personal story. My sketchbook is also my creative gym.
I filled another sketchbook, and I'll flip through it today - hopefully it'll be inspiring for you. I know seeing other people’s sketchbooks could be kind of intimidating. Or overwhelming. And getting started is really hard when you feel overwhelmed.
So - start small. Invite yourself to do a little something today.

Urban Sketching Decisions

If you and I would sit together urban sketching, we would have completely different drawings because your interpretation will be so different than mine.
Every time you draw, you are paying so much attention to how you feel, what you see, what you hear, to the colors, to what really captures your attention, to the story around the place... And that's what makes you an artist. You are interpreting and you are creating something out of this, and you're creating a memory that lasts because it's in your sketchbook. Isn't that exciting?

Draw What's In Your Bag

there is always something to draw. Especially the mundane things - they are part of your life. You don't need some grand concept or subject to enjoy filling a sketchbook page. Everything is interesting as soon as you start drawing it. And you're drawing life, how cool is that? I have a very deep believe that Life is better when you draw it.

Let's Draw Faces!

Welcome to Draw Tip Tuesday!
Grab a bunch of colorful tools and let's draw faces! Our goal is not to capture resemblance. Let's just have fun with our tools and enjoy the process, while we look at the characteristics of the model's face, and try to simplify and abbreviate. Sometimes it helps to exaggerate certain facial features or accessories too.

Urban Sketching Made Simple

In today’s video and assignment, I'd love to take you on a trip yet again. This time, we'll be using the website window-swap.com. On this website, people from all over the world are submitting videos, recorded from their windows. Let's find a window with a view to sketch. It'll feel like you're visiting someone at their home in Turkey, the UK, the US, Sweden or wherever you choose to go, and stare out of their window to draw the view.