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
Will you join me in the free (!) online sketchbook workshop Sketchbook revival? We’ll have fun filling up our sketchbook pages with everything from drawing and painting, to collage and mixed media, to stitching and printing so we can loosen up, develop our imaginations, practice our observation skills, express our emotions, tap into our intuition (and so much more), while also learning about color.
The workshop starts on March 20th and runs through April 1st
there is always something to draw. Especially the mundane things - they are part of your life. You don't need some grand concept or subject to enjoy filling a sketchbook page. Everything is interesting as soon as you start drawing it. And you're drawing life, how cool is that? I have a very deep believe that Life is better when you draw it.
As you know, a filled sketchbook is a memento unlike any other. Sketchbooks are intimate and personal and carry the power to bring you back to that moment and all its sensual detail instantly. You think: I wish I could do that. Well, now you can! Alongside a group of new creative friends, you will have a ton of fun learning and exploring - in Paris! You’ll get instruction and inspiration from a different teacher each day, and you’ll get to enjoy time to explore the wonderful city Paris.
Welcome to Draw Tip Tuesday!
Grab a bunch of colorful tools and let's draw faces! Our goal is not to capture resemblance. Let's just have fun with our tools and enjoy the process, while we look at the characteristics of the model's face, and try to simplify and abbreviate. Sometimes it helps to exaggerate certain facial features or accessories too.
In today’s video and assignment, I'd love to take you on a trip yet again. This time, we'll be using the website window-swap.com. On this website, people from all over the world are submitting videos, recorded from their windows. Let's find a window with a view to sketch. It'll feel like you're visiting someone at their home in Turkey, the UK, the US, Sweden or wherever you choose to go, and stare out of their window to draw the view.
Drawing can bring you joy, growth and mindfulness. That's why I draw every day. Because I draw every day, I filled up another sketchbook , and I'd love to show you.
If you like listening to podcasts, like I do, you might know the inspiring podcast Creative Chats, hosted by Mike Brennan.
Mike and I are on the same wave length when it comes to the daily creative habit, and I'm so honored he asked to interview me for his podcast.
We had a great chat, and it made for enough content to break it up into two parts.
Here's part 1
Today, we're taking a fun virtual trip using Google Earth.
I was invited by Brenda Murray from Studio56boutique.com, to teach a travel workshop in Malta in November this year and you could come with me!
If drawing makes you happy, put your drawing time at the top of your list! In today’s video, I'll show you how I make a fun, colorful and playful drawing of a very mundane subject, in just a few minutes.
Let’s not forget to prioritize a date with yourself and your sketchbook.
After last week's video, some may disagree but I dare to state that I'm not good at drawing nature. Yet.
We make up these rules for ourselves that when drawing from observation, we have to create a perfect representation of what we see. What if you let go of that idea?
Welcome to Draw tip Tuesday! Nature is all about texture, pattern and shape. Today, let’s play and, try to find our way, with these three elements.
I’d like to invite you to my vacation workshop in Valetta, Malta this November 4 to 8, 2023!
I know it's not easy to find time, or to make time in a busy day, but you can do it! You don't have to change your whole life to add a little habit like drawing, but DO make it a priority, because drawing makes you happy!
My book Life is better when you draw it, is self published and available as print-on-demand online. But there are now a few book stores in the Netherlands who sell it. One of them is also one of my favorite book shops: Hoogstins , in Amsterdam. To celebrate that my book is available in this wonderful shop, come draw with me and let me sign your book.
We can wait for some opportunity (or worse: “inspiration”!) to miraculously pop up, or wait for the moment that finally the week turns into 8 days, life gets less busy, or an hour consists of 80 instead of 60 minutes. But let’s be honest… who are we kidding anyway?
Drawing is priority. You need it to stay sane. You REALLY only need a few minutes with your sketchbook and pen.
I promise you will feel calm and much better after this exercise.Let's do this together. Right now.
Today I am sharing a video from the archives - one that I referred to in last week's video. It's about capturing proportions and perspective by using negative spaces. It's amazingly effective.
I am invited for a Draw Along - not as a guest but as an artist. We’re kicking off the new year, drawing together, and chatting about creativity, plans and resolutions, and more.
Are you joining me on Wednesday, January 4?
Time: 11:30am (NYC time)
