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 while ago, I worked on a fun project outside of my regular sketchbook.
I used an accordion sketchbook to go on a virtual trip to Malta! I used reference pictures that I found on Google Images to draw, and to learn about Malta a little bit more. That's because I will be traveling there for real, in November this year, to teach an urban sketching vacation workshop. It’s hosted by Brenda Murray from Studio56boutique in Malta, an archipelago smack in the middle of the Mediterranean!
Upon request, today I am sharing my very first sketchbook! Not from when I was a kid or teenager, but the sketchbook that eventually initiated my sketchbook practice, as it is now.
I think it's valuable to show them, because it illustrates how all artists develop, grow, change course, and find their style throughout the year and through their practice.
If you ever attended one of my monthly session, then you know how fun it is to hang out and draw together.
Will you be joining the next Live Online Mini-Workshop session in April?
I'd love to see you there.
"Life Is Better When You Draw It" is an illustrated book for people who love drawing, but need inspiration to do so. It is also a tribute to drawing, and a glimpse into the world through the eyes of an artist. It is about how drawing can make you happy and mindful. As your paper soaks up the ink, you clear your head and forget about time and your to-do list.
Like in my videos, I don't provide art instruction in my book, because what you need even more when you want to draw is motivation, permission, and encouragement. No matter the outcome, the process of drawing makes you happy, and that’s what it’s all about.
Let's get out and draw - in a café today. I often get questions about how to draw people in a cafe (they move, help!), how to capture the interior, mood and vibe... how to deal with people noticing you drawing, and much more.
So today I want to show you the full process, so I went for a coffee and a sketch and filmed from beginning to end. Because I think seeing someone draw, and then try it yourself (that's the most important part!) can teach you a lot.
There aren't any rules in my sketchbook - I draw anything around me, and because of that, my sketchbook tells my personal story. My sketchbook is also my creative gym.
I filled another sketchbook, and I'll flip through it today - hopefully it'll be inspiring for you. I know seeing other people’s sketchbooks could be kind of intimidating. Or overwhelming. And getting started is really hard when you feel overwhelmed.
So - start small. Invite yourself to do a little something today.
I aim to capture the vibe and the feeling of the place, not to create a perfect representation of what I see. I like "editing" in my drawings too, meaning: when a tree is in view, but it would fall off my composition when I would stay true to all the elements that I see, then I just draw it anyway. I "move it" closer into my composition. It might be much more to the left in the street for example, but if I think it should be included in the drawing for my "story", my interpretation, I can totally decide to do that - it's a drawing after all and I can do what I want. It's all very exciting how creative you can get when drawing.
If you and I would sit together urban sketching, we would have completely different drawings because your interpretation will be so different than mine.
Every time you draw, you are paying so much attention to how you feel, what you see, what you hear, to the colors, to what really captures your attention, to the story around the place... And that's what makes you an artist. You are interpreting and you are creating something out of this, and you're creating a memory that lasts because it's in your sketchbook. Isn't that exciting?
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.
