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 urban sketching
Feeling overwhelmed by too many art supplies? Try limiting your tools! In today's Draw Tip Tuesday video, I use just three simple tools to show how constraints can spark creativity. With fewer choices, you focus on the essentials and make bolder creative decisions. See how it works, then apply what you learned by following the assignment!
You can join me on this Thursday's free Street View World Tour.
Let's travel and draw together, from the comfort of your own home using Google Street View! Each Street View World Tour session features a guest artist who will do a 20-30 minute demo - and this month, that'll be me!
Are you in a bit of a rut?
Or do you inspiration but don’t know where to get it? First of all - don’t worry. We’ve all been there - staring at a blank page, unsure where to begin.
Here’s a simple trick to get started: draw frames first.
Last year in Lisbon, my sketchbook came alive with memories—busy pastelerias, calm gardens, and inspiring moments. Teaching Capture the Lisbon Wow with my friend Cynthia Morris was a dream, and even on breaks, we couldn’t stop sketching.
If this seems like a fun adventure to you, join us for a magical week of drawing, exploring, and creativity this April!
Let’spractice gesture drawing! Capture movement, energy, and posture with quick 1- and 2-minute poses. I’ll share my favorite tools, like water-soluble pencils, and tips to make drawing people fun and stress-free. Perfect for urban sketchers and artists looking to improve their skills. Join me and take your figure drawing to the next level!
Urban sketching is a fun way to turn everyday moments into art! Cafes are perfect for capturing cozy vibes, colorful details, and lively scenes. In this video, learn how to sketch a coffee date step-by-step with simple tools like a sketchbook, watercolors, and pens. Overcome public drawing fears and embrace creativity. Start sketching today and see why life is better when you draw it!
Take a peek inside my sketchbook filled with everyday moments—hands, selfies, café sketches, and more. In this flipthrough, I share thoughts about the daily drawing practice, about finding joy in simple subjects, and creating meaningful stories with your art.
Discover creative sketchbook inspiration! From drawing movie stills and exploring bold color palettes to experimenting with textured paper, this Hahnemühle watercolor sketchbook is filled with daily drawing adventures. Learn tips for urban sketching, overcoming challenges, embracing the process, and finding inspiration anywhere.
Join me in Greece for a quick 10-minute travel sketch in this week’s *Draw Tip Tuesday* video! I found a peaceful spot in Naxos and captured the scene with a limited watercolor palette and a Derwent Inktense pencil. Discover how to simplify shapes, mix versatile grays, and embrace the wonkiness of loose, playful sketching. Perfect for anyone looking to sketch on the go!
Finding inspiration in the park today! Join me as I sketch these stunning water lilies against the dark, reflective water. The contrast between the bright green petals and the deep water is just mesmerizing! Sometimes, simplicity and contrast can make your artwork truly stand out.
Today I am sharing a fun drawing technique inspired by coffee! In this video, learn how to use coffee stains to spark creativity and add depth to your sketches. I’ll demonstrate easy methods for creating art with just a cup or even a sip of coffee. Plus, get details on our upcoming Lisbon workshop, where you can join me and Cynthia Morris for a transformative, creativity-boosting experience. Perfect for artists and coffee lovers alike!
There’s this misconception that when you draw from observation, you should draw exactly what you see. But wait! What I see or observe, will be something completely different than what you see, or anyone else. Yet, we set these “rules” for ourselves that make us tense up. We want to “get it right”.
Why though? It’s a drawing! Not a prefect representation of the building, subject or view. So here’s a gentle reminder that drawing is really just about being creative and playful while having fun.
In today's episode, I'm in Paris, fresh from teaching the workshop City Drawing Trip back in June. I had an amazing time and the morning I filmed this, I squeezed in a few sketches before heading home. I will share the process of one of my favorite drawings from this morning.
Today we're heading out on location to draw in the beautiful city of Amersfoort, where I live.
We'll find a cozy spot, enjoy some great coffee, and do a fun, quick sketch.
This video shows a step by-step approach of my drawing process, taken with photos every two minutes so you can follow along. I'll be using watercolors, a water brush, and my trusty Sailor Fude nib fountain pen.
Starting with colorful blobs for shapes, I'll build up the sketch, adding people, details, and using a white crayon for finishing touches. It's all about having fun and embracing the wonkiness.
A few weeks ago, I was in Santa Fe teaching a workshop. Despite a packed schedule, I managed to film some footage on the last day before heading home.
Join me as I draw on location at the Santa Fe Farmer's Market, near the iconic water tower at Santa Fe Railyard.
In the middle of the bustling market, I found a moment to sketch the vibrant scene.
Today I am drawing in my Hahnemühle grey toned sketchbook.
Stepping out of my comfort zone, I share how important it is to embrace new experiences to grow creatively.
Remember, it's just a drawing—so even if things don't go as planned, like you will see during the recorded process, there's no harm done. It might actually add to the liveliness of your drawing.
Today I'm showing you another sketchbook that I filled on vacation in December.
You'll see that I have been playing a lot with limited palettes. Sometimes just two colors is more than enough to capture the essence of a moment or a place. You don't need to be that literal.
Hopefully by watching this tour, you'll get some ideas about how to fill your travel sketchbook pages when you're on a trip.
Did you know that you can use non-soluble wax crayons for glistening water? Apply a bit of texture with crayon first, and then add watercolor on top.
The wax will resist the watercolor and it’ll create a wonderful effect of highlights.
My small-group art retreat “Drawing In The Wild” takes place in Germany, May 27-30, when fresh leaves are growing and things start blooming again. It still feels a long time away, but in case you're interested: start planning now. Just yesterday, I received a call from Robin, our host, that three of the most popular tickets opened up!
In today's video, I'm sharing memories from my December vacation through sketches in my travel sketchbook. It's a Hahnemühle Nostalgie sketchbook, size A6. It's compact and perfect for on-the-go creativity and urban sketching, but I also learned some valuable lessons about size limitations.
