Koosje Koene

Hi there, I’m Koosje!

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 tagged Tips

Urban Sketching with Just 3 Colors

Oct 14

Oct 14 Urban Sketching with Just 3 Colors

In today's Draw Tip Tuesday I take you sketching on location with just a few simple tools. Limiting materials helps keep your drawing playful, loose, and alive. I start with messy marks in color, layer shapes, and then add pen lines to bring clarity and energy. Along the way I share pro tips for drawing in public, for staying mindful of your stuff, and for trusting your inner artist. It is not about perfection but about capturing the moment in your own way. Materials: Strathmore Mixed Media sketchbook, Neocolor crayons, fountain pen, water brush.

Quick Café Sketch in 5 Minutes

Oct 7

Oct 7 Quick Café Sketch in 5 Minutes

In this Draw Tip Tuesday I show you how I sketch people quickly and loosely using a water-soluble pencil and a simple waterbrush. You can capture the energy of a barista with confident lines, light washes, and simplified shapes. This is about drawing with ease, focusing on movement and light instead of details, and embracing the wonkiness.

Just a few quick marks are enough to tell the story and bring your sketchbook pages to life.

4 Self Portraits in 10 Minutes

Sep 23

Sep 23 4 Self Portraits in 10 Minutes

In this Draw Tip Tuesday video, I share a quick and fun self portrait exercise you can do in under 10 minutes. Using a mirror and a timer, I draw my face 4 times, each with fewer lines than the last. This simple practice helps you focus on what really matters in a drawing, sharpen your observation skills, and discover how much you can simplify while still showing expression and resemblance. I also talk about why self portraits are a great subject for building your drawing habit.

Fresh Adventures, Fall Plans, Sketchbook Joy

Sep 10

Sep 10 Fresh Adventures, Fall Plans, Sketchbook Joy

Explore sketchbook ideas from black & white drawing to limited palettes and watercolors. Join my upcoming drawing workshops, follow my travels to Spain and Paris, and find simple sketchbook inspiration for your own daily practice. Discover how life gets better when you draw it!

How I Drew This Bike Without Drawing It

Aug 26

Aug 26 How I Drew This Bike Without Drawing It

In this Draw Tip Tuesday, Koosje Koene shares a fun way to draw tricky subjects by focusing on negative space. Using a bike as an example, she sketches the shapes around it instead of the bike itself. With watercolor and pencil, the drawing comes to life. A great technique to improve accuracy and gain confidence in your sketchbook.

Your Sketchbook Can Help You See More

Aug 14

Aug 14 Your Sketchbook Can Help You See More

Sketching helps you slow down, notice small details, and feel more present. A sketchbook makes you see patterns, colors, and quiet moments you’d otherwise miss. Even a quick train drawing can shift your mood and bring unexpected joy. One line at a time.

How to Start a Drawing with Confidence

Aug 12

Aug 12 How to Start a Drawing with Confidence

Learn how to start a drawing with confidence by using simple subjects like your feet to frame a scene. In this Draw Tip Tuesday video, Koosje Koene shares her step-by-step process for building a sketch from foreground to background. You'll get practical tips on composition, observation, and creating depth using a fountain pen, water soluble ink, and a waterbrush. Perfect for anyone looking to improve their sketchbook practice.

Two Sketches in 10 Minutes

Jul 15

Jul 15 Two Sketches in 10 Minutes

In this Draw Tip Tuesday, I sketch my coffee twice in under 10 minutes using two different approaches: first with line, then with color. It’s a fun, fast way to loosen up and enjoy your sketchbook practice. Perfect for daily drawing and creative exploration.

How I Sketched This Italian Scene

Jul 8

Jul 8 How I Sketched This Italian Scene

Join me in Orvieto, Italy, for a coffee and sketch date in this Draw Tip Tuesday episode! I sketch at Piazza del Popolo, using ink, watercolor, and colored pencil. I'm capturing buildings, people, and dramatic skies. I share tips on using negative space, adding color for light and shadow, and working quickly when sketching on location. This spontaneous drawing session shows how fun and doable urban sketching can be. Want to sketch together? I’m teaching a workshop in Spain!

Summer Sketching Tips and Travel Drawing Ideas

Jul 3

Jul 3 Summer Sketching Tips and Travel Drawing Ideas

Traveling with others can make it tricky to find sketchbook time, but even five minutes a day can turn moments into lasting memories. In this post, I share tips for drawing while on the go, how to communicate your creative needs, and a free downloadable guide for Patreon members. Sketching isn’t extra, it’s part of how you travel.

How I Filled This A4 Sketchbook

Jul 1

Jul 1 How I Filled This A4 Sketchbook

Join me for a flip-through of my latest A4 sketchbook, filled with daily drawings from Lisbon to Orvieto. From coffee breaks and travel sketches to quick portraits and color palettes, I share tips, fun stories, and creative moments from my sketchbook practice. Whether you're drawing at home or on the go, this video is full of inspiration to keep you motivated. Plus, I share pro tips, behind-the-scenes travel moments, and a look at how I use my sketchbook to stay creative every day. Perfect for urban sketchers and daily drawing fans!

Filled in Just One Week!

Jun 24

Jun 24 Filled in Just One Week!

Join me for a double sketchbook tour from two creative workshop weeks in Lisbon. See how I filled two accordion sketchbooks with maps, bold brush marks, café scenes, and colorful experiments. From market sketches to a citywide power outage, every page tells a story. I share tips, prompts, and a pro tip to help you build a daily drawing habit.

Thinking of joining a travel workshop? Now’s the time: Spain and Paris are coming up. Don’t wait for “someday”!

What to Pack for Travel Sketching

Jun 16

Jun 16 What to Pack for Travel Sketching

Traveling this summer? Pack smart for sketching on the go. Learn which sketchbooks, pens, and inks are best for location drawing, plus get tips for flying with art supplies. Keep your sketch kit lightweight without leaving behind your favorite tools.

What will people think?

Jun 5

Jun 5 What will people think?

We all think people are watching us when we’re drawing in public, urban sketching, and that they must have all kinds of thoughts about what we’re doing (usually negative ones, in our heads). But in reality, people are way too busy thinking about themselves, and what others might be thinking of them!

Pro Tip: Use Boxes to Sketch What Catches Your Eye

May 4

May 4 Pro Tip: Use Boxes to Sketch What Catches Your Eye

Feeling overwhelmed by a blank page? Try this sketchbook tip: draw boxes first. Use different formats: landscape, portrait, round, and fill each one with a small sketch or note. It’s an easy way to tell a story, one box at a time. Keep your tools consistent for a unified, creative page.

Draw a Moment, Not a Masterpiece

Apr 29

Apr 29 Draw a Moment, Not a Masterpiece

Learn how to draw a quick and vibrant vignette using watercolor, crayons, and colored pencils. This easy sketching technique helps you capture a moment without filling a full sketchbook page. Perfect for beginners and urban sketchers alike!

How to Sketch When You’re Too Busy

Apr 22

Apr 22 How to Sketch When You’re Too Busy

Think you're too busy to draw? In this video, I share urban sketching tips and show how I use short pockets of time, like train rides, to fill my sketchbook. Learn how to stay creative on the go, and try the fun sketching assignment at the end!

Urban Sketching Tip: Don’t Color Everything

Apr 15

Apr 15 Urban Sketching Tip: Don’t Color Everything

Want to make your urban sketches more vibrant without coloring everything in? In this Draw Tip Tuesday, I show you how using less color can actually make your drawings stronger. It's all about making conscious choices: what to highlight, what to leave out, and how that tells a clearer story. I sketch two musicians in Spain and share tips on simplifying a scene, creating focus with color, and letting go of perfection. Plus, I share a little teaser about my upcoming Costa Brava workshop with The Blue Walk this September. Tune in for sketchbook inspiration!

Drawing Shadows Made Simple: Quick Tips & Tricks

Apr 1

Apr 1 Drawing Shadows Made Simple: Quick Tips & Tricks

Welcome to Draw Tip Tuesday!

Learn how to draw realistic light and shadow using a ballpoint pen. I'll show you how to capture highlights, midtones, shadows, and depth. Plus, try a fun drawing assignment at home!

How to Fill a Sketchbook Page (Without Overthinking!)

Mar 18

Mar 18 How to Fill a Sketchbook Page (Without Overthinking!)

Struggling with a blank sketchbook page? Learn how to fill your sketchbook without overthinking by drawing the same object repeatedly! This simple and fun exercise helps you loosen up, build confidence, and enjoy the creative process. Watch my latest Draw Tip Tuesday video to see the full process and try it yourself!