How To Loosen Up

How To Loosen Up

Koosje Koene
Drawing Tips

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!

Live Online Workshop: Drawing People

Live Online Workshop: Drawing People

Koosje Koene

For many artists there’s a lot of fear around drawing people. It has to do with our minds worrying about likeness. Or maybe you don’t feel confident about the proportions. You always end up with legs that are too short, or arms that are too long… and what about all the facial features. And let’s not forget about the elephant in the room: people move. All the time!
I love drawing people, and I’ve gained confidence about my skills by practicing a lot. I’d love to help you lower the threshold and take the fear away, so you can have fun and be playful when sketching people.

Sketchbook Tour And Tips

Sketchbook Tour And Tips

Koosje Koene
Drawing 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

Drawing With A Dip Pen

Koosje Koene
Drawing Tips

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!

How To Take Artistic Liberty And Have Fun Urban Sketching

How To Take Artistic Liberty And Have Fun Urban Sketching

Koosje Koene

I remind my students about this regularly, but need to nudge myself every now and then too: you don’t need to be accurate, when you’re drawing. Let’s allow ourselves to take artistic liberty and have some fun. Even though a building is grey or beige, that doesn’t mean you can’t paint it pink, if that’s the color that matches your mood or the vibe of the place! Play!

Noticing and Drawing Repetition

Noticing and Drawing Repetition

Koosje Koene
Drawing Tips

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.

Feel Better By Taking 15 Minutes To Draw

Feel Better By Taking 15 Minutes To Draw

Koosje Koene

When you think your calendar doesn’t allow any drawing time, THAT’s your cue to drop everything and draw. Because then you need it most. An active meditation by drawing. Getting out of your head and forgetting the to dos for just a moment. You will almost feel like a different person, having sketched away the stress you were feeling
(And let’s all be honest: you EASILY spend 15 minutes a day staring at your phone without real purpose. Swap that time out for some joyful creative time!)

Drawing With A Brushpen

Drawing With A Brushpen

Koosje Koene
Drawing Tips

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.

What Happens When Changing Angle

What Happens When Changing Angle

Koosje Koene

Change your angle and you’ll change your view and perspective, it can be quite dramatic and exciting for drawing something seemingly mundane in your sketchbook page. These are the demo drawings that I made during the April live online Mini-Workshop. It was great to see everyone’s drawings after looking at their subject from the side view, bird’s eye view, and worm’s eye view.

Be An Artist In Paris

Be An Artist In Paris

Koosje Koene
Drawing Tips

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.

Spark!

Spark!

Koosje Koene

Sketchbook Skool has a big sale right now: 90 days of Spark for $139. It starts today and ends May 2.
What a treat! And i get to give you 15% off your first payment on top of that.

My Sketchbook, Filled Last March

My Sketchbook, Filled Last March

Koosje Koene
Drawing Tips

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

Virtual Travel Sketchbook

Koosje Koene
Drawing Tips

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

My Very First Sketchbook

Koosje Koene
Drawing Tips

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

This Book Could Change Your Life

Koosje Koene
Drawing Tips

"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!

Urban Sketching In A Café - A Free Class!

Koosje Koene
Drawing Tips

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.

Load More