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
In my book, Life Is Better When You Draw It, I dedicated a chapter to this. My mantra is “everything is interesting when you draw it”.
It doesn’t matter what you draw; it matters that you draw.
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.
Wow, did I bring myself into trouble by biting off more than I could chew during my last mini-workshop!
I got into trouble during the second drawing. I didn’t mind though, because it’s all part of the learning curve and the drawing process.
Seeing everyone’s drawings by the end of my Mini-workshops is inspiring. Every time when we get to the end of a session and people hold up their sketchbooks in front of the camera, I feel so proud of how brave everyone is. Taking up a creative challenge and then maybe feeling vulnerable about the drawing, but showing it so everyone can learn from one another.
Sunday 10 September, from 1PM and 2 PM, I will be drawing together with anyone who wants to join, so bring your sketchbook and pen(cil). Between 2PM and 4PM, I will sign your copy of Life is better when you draw (it)!
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!
Summer is great for so many reasons. One of them is that there are a lot of location adventures to take and join. I am filling so many summer sketchbook pages, it’s crazy how productive I am! Urban sketching, exploring color and collage… and visiting wonderful places. I got to learn a lot this month and I get to teach a lot in the upcoming months too.
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
I am so thankful for each and every one who decided to support me on Youtube and Patreon in return for tips and inspiration for their drawing practice.
If you're not a member of my Draw Tip Tuesday Club yet, I'd like to invite you to see if you'd like to stay inspired through my Patreon Page, like 150 plus others.
With a free trial, you can try it for 7 days and get a taste of it. Follow this link if you're curious.
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.
I love making plans for teaching workshops. Especially if I can teach on location, with inspiring surroundings.
There's so much good stuff coming up this second half of 2023, and I'm planning exciting workshops for 2024 as well!
Here’s an overview of what workshops I am teaching (that are not already sold out). Maybe you’d like to join one!
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.
People are part of life around us, so when including them to your drawings, you’re telling a stronger story, as the viewer can relate even more to what they see. It'll bring your sketchbook to life!
It’s a challenge to capture a person and their characteristics. To choose the right subject and capture them quickly while they pass by, or are in conversation. I’ve gained confidence about my skills by practicing a lot. Now, I want to help you overcome these obstacles and take the fear away.
Together, we can develop your creative courage and make capturing people in your sketchbook a fun and playful experience! I'll give you encouraging tips, techniques, and exercises to help you loosen up and embrace the process.
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.
I’m having a Drawing Party and you’re invited!
Join my next Live Online Mini-Workshop Wednesday June 13 at 5 - 6:30 PM CEST.
We'll meet on Zoom and draw together. You will get the direct Zoom link after signing up, and you'll be reminded via email when the event draws closer.
I will prepare instruction and an assignment for us to work on, during the 90-minute-session. Fun!!
Now that spring is here (and it actually feels more like summer the past days here in the Netherlands), maybe you are making holiday plans. Will you take a vacation this year? And will your sketchbook play a role in it?
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!
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.
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.
