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
A rainy Paris sketch didn't go as planned. Wrong pen, no coffee, and a rushed, wonky drawing I almost didn't share. But weeks later I revisited the page with watercolors and colored pencils, and learned something about judging our art too soon. Plus a fun sketchbook assignment for you to try this week.
A short urban sketching video about starting anyway. Sketching in Paris on a busy square with an overwhelming view. The trick: use negative space to capture the shapes around the building rather than getting lost in the details. Then it starts to rain, which forces quick decisions and adds its own texture to the page.
Sketchbook tour through Paris, the Netherlands, and Germany. Lots of experiments with mixed media. Different approaches to the same subject. And a favorite page captured at a cafe in Germany. Flip through a filled Hahnemühle Nostalgie sketchbook and get inspired to fill your own!
I'm celebrating 5 years on Patreon with a free tutorial on drawing trees and greens using fountain pen, waterproof ink, and watercolor. I show how to capture foliage without overworking your sketchbook page, inspired by a discussion in our Discord community on urban sketching and nature drawing.
Grab a pen and your sketchbook next time you're on the go. No desk, no plan, no overthinking. See how a 35-minute commute can turn into a full spread of life around you, and learn why limiting your time and tools might just make your sketches better.
Less is more when it comes to sketch kits! Learn how to travel with a minimal setup using tools you already own. Find out why watersoluble tools are worth a second look, and take on the Minimal Kit Challenge: 5 tools, endless possibilities.
July and August are travel moths for many people. Are you going somewhere? This post gives you some fun ideas and inspiration, plus tips on how to pack light for your sketching trip!
A Paris café, a blank page, and no plan. Watch a sketchbook drawing unfold step by step, from a coffee on the table to the street life outside. Learn how drawing in layers, foreground to background, creates depth and tells a story. Includes a drawing assignment to try yourself.
What to pack for a sketching trip without overdoing it. I share my travel sketch kit, from sketchbook choice to fountain pen tips for flying, plus advice on packing smart based on your trip. Bonus tips included!
Koosje Koene shows the colors she uses most (watercolors, colored pencils, crayons, gouache) and why you do not need to buy the same colors.
Learn how you decide on YOUR colors, how a simple limited palette can boost creativity and why keeping your sketch kit light helps you draw more.
Your sketchbook might just be the best souvenir you ever bring home. Learn why travel sketching beats photos, how to make it work with non-sketching travel companions, and why you don't need hours to fit it in. Plus: Drawing doesn't need to be something you fit in around the trip. It can BE the trip!
Traveling and feel like there's no time to draw? There always is! In this video I sketch my Paris view in just 15 minutes, sharing tips on how to fit sketching into any trip. Your sketchbook is the best travel companion.
Drawing and Urban sketching while traveling is one of the best ways to truly capture a place, way more than any photograph ever could.
Sketchbook flip-through time! This Hahnemühle Nostalgie A6 started as a backup in Spain, filled up with everyday life in the Netherlands, and made it all the way to Paris. Watch along as I experiment with color and come back to my go-to tools. No rules, just drawing and keeping it regular.
A sketchbook tour through an Etchr hot press watercolor sketchbook that was not quite the right fit, but still holds some favorite drawings. Filled partly during a color workshop in Spain, this one is all about working around limitations and discovering new materials along the way.
Learn how color choices can completely shift the focus and mood of your drawing. In this video, I draw a still life in two planes and add color to only one area. The result? A different story, same scene. Includes a fun 15-minute drawing assignment you can try right away.
Learn to sketch a simple still life with pen and watercolor in one sitting. I picked fruit straight from the fruit bowl and turned it into a lively drawing with real depth. 9 practical tips along the way, plus a drawing assignment to try yourself. No big setup needed, just draw what's in front of you.
A full tour of my Hahnemühle Watercolor sketchbook (A6, 200gsm). Not every page is a winner and I'm showing you all of them anyway. Everyday sketches, a two-color cafe experiment, a few challenges, and pages from my monthly live online drawing workshop. The sketchbook practice with all its highs and lows.
Stressed & overwhelmed? Reconnect with creativity in 5 mins! Try blind continuous line drawing. No skills needed. Reset your mind, embrace imperfection, and draw your way to calm.
Learn how to loosen up your sketching by painting color first and adding minimal line on top. This Draw Tip Tuesday shows you how a simple watercolor blob becomes a fun, expressive drawing with just a few strokes. Includes a creative assignment to try it yourself!
It's our inner critics who encourage our inner artists to focus on the outcome, rather than the process of getting where we want to go.
You might catch yourself every so often thinking about your art, rather than actually spending time in your sketchbook. Maybe you are worried about the outcome. Instead of focusing on the end result, learn to focus on how you want to feel along the way.
