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
All in Drawing Tips
Let's revisit last week's exercise and explore the possibilities of using sticks and twigs again. Remember, anything made of wood that can be dipped in ink can be your drawing tool!
In this video, I will demonstrate the same techniques from last week while incorporating the lessons learned. Let's use expressive lines, mark making, and black ink, look for contrast, texture, and liveliness. I am adding people in my drawing to bring in some storytelling aspect of my drawing.
In today's Draw Tip Tuesday video, join me for the first part of a two-part series on drawing with organic materials. Learn how to create exciting drawings using sticks, twigs, and ink. We explore all kinds of wooden tools found in the forest. Wooden skewers, stirring sticks, disposable wooden forks and knives, and bamboo dip pens are very suitable too. If it's made of wood and you can dip it in ink, you can draw with it!
Welcome to Draw Tip Tuesday! In today’s video, I flip through a sketchbook I didn't like much, but it had a surprising effect on my creativity.
Today, I will give you a sketchbook tour of the sketchbook that I took with me to Tel Aviv, Israel. I went there to take a workshop taught by illustrators and urban sketchers Maru Godas and Marina Grechanik
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.
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.
Welcome To Draw Tip Tuesday!
Today I'd like to show you that we don't need fancy tools to experiment and have fun with materials you might have forgotten.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
"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.
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.
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.
