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
I’ve been thinking a lot about morning habits lately. If you’ve read my book, you know how much I value habits and rituals. They can lead you to discover exciting things and make your day feel meaningful right from the start. I encourage you to find those moments for yourself, especially in the mornings. Savor your coffee, take a breath, pick up your pen and your sketchbook before you pick up your phone. It doesn’t take much time, but it makes all the difference.
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.
A few weeks ago, I was in Santa Fe teaching a workshop. Despite a packed schedule, I managed to film some footage on the last day before heading home.
Join me as I draw on location at the Santa Fe Farmer's Market, near the iconic water tower at Santa Fe Railyard.
In the middle of the bustling market, I found a moment to sketch the vibrant scene.
In today's video, I'm sharing a flip-through of my Watercolor Pocket Panorama Handbook journal from the Travelogue series.
This sketchbook measures 3.5”x8.25” and has been sitting in my stack of untouched sketchbooks for a while. Sound familiar? If you're a sketchbook hoarder like me, you know the struggle of having too many sketchbooks and not enough time to fill them.
I finally stopped procrastinating and have taken the plunge into this challenging format!
Throughout the video, I'll share how I approached this elongated sketchbook with various ideas.
Paris!
Taking yourself out of your usual environment and landing in a different world, leads to a shift in your being and senses.
Can you imagine? Sunny terraces on the sidewalk. Coffee and croissants among the French, picnics in the city park. Walks along Canal Saint Martin…
Through drawing assignments, you'll see your surroundings differently and experience Paris in a way you haven't before: as an artist.
Welcome to Draw Tip Tuesday! Join me in Lisbon for Draw Tip Tuesday! Get inspired by Cynthia Morris's tip on intuitive drawing and see her beautiful sketchbook pages.
Join me on a day of sketching snippets in my sketchbook, as I navigate through the day with my sketchbook in hand.
From waiting rooms to train rides, I capture snippets of my day using minimal materials. Despite the wobbly train, windy spots, and changing scenes, I embrace the imperfections, am being in the moment, and I find joy (so much joy!) in the process.
Navigating a busy life while maintaining a consistent sketchbook practice can often feel like a balancing act, even when you made a commitment for yourself to regularly spend time drawing.
Yet, despite our obligations and responsibilities, nurturing our drawing habit is important - even if it was just to stay sane, am I right?
Here’s a quick guide for you with practical strategies for your sketchbook habit. Bring some renewed energy and dedication when you show up to draw (and you know that showing up is the hardest part).
In today's video, join me on a sketchbook tour of The Grey Book by HahneMühle. Over nearly a year, I've experimented with various techniques and materials on its grey-toned pages. I started this some time in June, right after taking a colorful workshop taught by Maru Godas and Marina Grechanik. They provided a sketchbook that was partly filled with colored paper - after using that during the workshop, I felt courageous enough to finally take this grey toned sketchbook off the shelf and start filling it.
Will you be joining my Mini-Workshop in May ?
By then I'll be in between two workshop trips: the one in Santa Fe will be behind me, and I'll be gearing up for Germany. Who knows what kind of inspiration I'll take from it all to class.
Join me as I flip through the moments captured in my latest sketchbook. From urban sketches to cafe scenes and as always, drawings of my husband, each page tells a story of exploration and growth.
Embrace the wonkiness and celebrate the joy of artistic expression with me!
Drawing views from a moving train adds a dynamic element to your sketches! The constantly changing scenery challenges you to capture fleeting moments, making each sketch unique. Plus, it's a fun way to experiment with perspective and capture the energy of the journey!
After last week's talk about the Pilot Parallel Pen, I am now actually drawing with it in today's video.
The unpredictable lines and organic feel of this pen gets me excited. Even when I don't feel inspired.
Remember that everything is interesting when you draw it!
Today, it's all about the tools I use for drawing. I'm often asked about my favorite tools, and I believe that whatever feels right for you is your perfect tool. Today, I'm diving into the Pilot Parallel pen, an exciting, bold bold fountain pen that can add expression to your drawings.
Drawing the mundane might seem insignificant. But instead of trying to find a “meaningful” subject, spend your time drawing the things around you. By drawing these things, you are telling part of your very unique story. AND you’re doing something that makes you happy. That’s not insignificant at all!
Let's take urban sketching to a whole new level in this week's Draw Tip Tuesday!
Who says you need a truckload of gear to create awesome art? Come with me to the park with just a pen, water brush, and watercolor pencil.
If you ever attended one of my previous online Mini-Workshops, you know how fun it is to hang out, draw together, and learn from each other.
The March Mini-workshop was about drawing random stuff in frames, making it look like there was a plan all along! Even if there wasn’t.
In this Draw Tip Tuesday video, I share my essential art materials for traveling.
From pens and watercolors to pencils and clips, I'll guide you through what I pack in my sketch kit for creative adventures. Whether you're exploring new places or attending workshops, find out how to keep your travel gear minimal yet versatile.
Plus, I'll reveal handy tips for packing efficiently and staying organized on the go. I've got you covered to keep creating while traveling!
I promised myself not to purchase any new sketchbooks since I already have a stack gathering dust.
Some were gifts, others bought out of curiosity. A few have lingered for years due to their challenging format.
I know for a fact that this is quite relatable for many artists. We always find a reason to buy a new sketchbook!
Usually, I fill one sketchbook completely before moving on to the next one. I might have a side-project-sketchbook next to it, like a toned paper one, or currently a large accordion sketchbook in which I record all corners of my home.
The very oblong sketchbook I am currently working in, gives me quite the challenge.
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.
