All tagged urban sketching

Want to Get Better at Drawing People?

Want to Get Better at Drawing People?

Koosje Koene

Struggling with stiff figures, slow sketching, or capturing movement? My “Let’s Draw People” workshop helps you loosen up, draw faster, and make your sketches more lively. These are a few demo drawings from my live classes. Want to improve your people-drawing skills? Join my interest list to be the first to know when the next session opens! Let’s draw people together!

Travel Sketching - What to Pack

Travel Sketching - What to Pack

Koosje Koene
Drawing Tips

Want to know what art supplies to pack for travel sketching? Keep your sketch kit lightweight and compact while bringing everything you need. In today’s video, I share travel sketching essentials, urban sketching tools, and packing tips to avoid overpacking. From sketchbooks and pens to watercolors and a sitting mat, I cover it all. Plus, a pro tip: skip the 'just in case' supplies!

Why Fewer Art Supplies Make You More Creative

Why Fewer Art Supplies Make You More Creative

Koosje Koene
Drawing Tips

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!

Tip To Get Out of a Creative Funk

Tip To Get Out of a Creative Funk

Koosje Koene

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.

Drawing Lisbon: a week to remember

Drawing Lisbon: a week to remember

Koosje Koene

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!

How to Draw People Quickly and Confidently!

How to Draw People Quickly and Confidently!

Koosje Koene
Drawing Tips

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 on a Coffee Date - Tips & Inspiration

Urban Sketching on a Coffee Date - Tips & Inspiration

Koosje Koene
Drawing Tips

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!

How To Capture The Moment In Just 10 Minutes

How To Capture The Moment In Just 10 Minutes

Koosje Koene
Drawing Tips

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!

Make Your Drawing Pop!

Make Your Drawing Pop!

Koosje Koene
Drawing Tips

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.

The Caffeinated Sketchbook

The Caffeinated Sketchbook

Koosje Koene
Drawing Tips

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!

Editing: Yes, You're Allowed To Do That!

Editing: Yes, You're Allowed To Do That!

Koosje Koene

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.

Urban Sketching | Color First, Then Line

Urban Sketching | Color First, Then Line

Koosje Koene
Drawing Tips

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. 

Drawing on Grey Toned Paper

Drawing on Grey Toned Paper

Koosje Koene
Drawing Tips

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.

Travel Sketchbook Tour (2 of 2)

Travel Sketchbook Tour (2 of 2)

Koosje Koene
Drawing Tips

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.

Load More