But First, Coffee | Sketchbook Play Without Overthinking
Welcome to Draw Tip Tuesday!
In today's video, we’re revisiting a fun and messy technique: using coffee to kickstart your creativity!
If you’ve ever felt stuck staring at a blank page, wondering what to draw, coffee splatters will be a fun way to get started. You don’t need a plan, and you definitely don’t need to worry about making things perfect; just have fun, play, and experiment!
Today I’m using this playful coffee technique to create bold sketches and explore new ideas in my sketchbook. Let’s dive into how you can do the same.
Why coffee stains?
Sometimes we get so caught up in what and how to draw (and to do it perfectly, on top of that), that we forget to have fun. That’s where coffee stains come in! With a simple splash of coffee, your blank page is no longer intimidating - you’ve got a starting point. You can't make any mistakes". It's unpredictable what the coffee will do and that can take the pressure off and allows you to let loose.
Here’s how to get started:
Splash some coffee: Grab your coffee (I always use black coffee) and splash a little on your sketchbook page. Let it drip, dab off the excess, or even close your sketchbook to create stamped patterns with the stains.
Draw on top: Once your page is dry, grab a bold drawing tool. I used a Stabilo Woody pencil, which is thick and kind of buttery, perfect for making bold lines and not much detail.
You can use any pencil or pen you feel comfortable with.Start drawing: Don’t overthink it! Pick a simple object to sketch over and over, from different angles.
add depth: The Woody pencil is water-soluble, so I added water with my brush pen to blend the lines and bring depth and contrast to the drawing. But with waterproof ink, you can also add dark drop shadows and do a bit of shading with hatching lines.
Embrace the wonkiness
There’s no “right” way to do it. The coffee stains give your page a random, messy start, and from there, you can go wherever your creativity takes you.
Your sketchbook is your creative playground; not a place for perfect masterpieces page after page, but for exploration, fun, and experimentation.
If you use sugar in your coffee, maybe your page gets a little sticky. People have told me they worry about mold. I don't know if that's something to worry about, that's up to you. You could also mix an interesting color with your watercolor paint or use colorful ink, instead of coffee.
Your assignment this week
I hope this video gives you a little nudge to try something different in your sketchbook.
Grab your coffee, splash it around, and start drawing.
Next time you’re stuck, think about this approach and start playing without overthinking.
Related Videos:
My friend Cynthia Morris is the Coffee-Stained-Sketchbook-Master! And if you enjoyed this video, you’ll love what’s coming up in April 2025: Capture the Lisbon Wow Workshop! Cynthia Morris and I are co-leading this workshop, and we’ve got just a few tickets left.
Check out the details here if you want to join us!
