Stop Drawing Details (Try This Instead)

Back in August, I was in the UK for a workshop. After class, the evening light was low and the cast shadows were long and sharp. I knew I had a short window to try out what I'd just learned. In class we explored black and white and bold shadows, so I took out my sketchbook, balanced my phone to practice and also film it for you.

What I practiced: seeing the dark side of the building as one big shape, then painting it in one go.

When you try this, it will probably take the brain a moment to let go of the details. With only black and white, you see shape and structure instead of things. And leaving details out, makes the drawing stronger. At the end, I add a few pencil marks, just enough to finish it off, and definitely not every brick.

Click the image to watch the video

Give it a try at home! Look at the shadows, get out your black and white materials, and be bold and brave. You've got this.

Materials I used:

• Hahnemühle Nostalgie sketchbook, size A5

• Black gouache paint (Winsor&Newton)

• Flat brush

• White colored pencil (Caran d'Ache Luminance)

• Black colored pencil (Caran d'Ache Luminance)

In my August live online Mini-Workshop, we explored this same approach. It was very fun. The highest two tiers on Patreon get access to all the recordings, did you know that? Try my Patreon for free for seven days and see if it's for you.

If you'd rather watch the demo in real time (not sped-up), I shared it on my Patreon here.

I plan to launch an online program in November. It's inspired by my book Life is Better When You Draw (it), and if you have the book, it deepens the experience. There's a lot of drawing together in this program, and you can do it on your own pace, in your own space and on your own time. So if you don't have the book yet, order it now: https://www.koosjekoene.com/book