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
All tagged Tips
Sketchbook flip through with mixed media experiments, watercolor, water soluble crayons, ink, coffee stains, and collage. I share what worked, what failed, and how drawing in cafés, from TV shows, and with fewer tools helped me loosen up and enjoy the process more.
Drawing can be a simple way to feel happier, calmer, and more present. A sketchbook doesn’t need rules, plans, or lots of time. One small drawing is enough to begin. By adding little moments of drawing throughout the day, your sketchbook becomes a mindful practice that grows naturally.
Learn how light and shadow can add depth and drama to your drawings. In this video I explore how changing the direction of light affects shadows, highlights, and color. You will get an easy sketchbook exercise using a simple household object to train your eye and build confidence when drawing from observation. It’ll be fun!
Stuck with a blank sketchbook page? In this video I share a playful way to start drawing using a light watercolor wash. A simple color base helps you loosen up, stop overthinking, and draw what is right in front of you with more confidence and ease.
Looking back at your sketchbooks helps you see how much you’ve drawn, learned, and experienced. Sketchbook pages capture everyday moments, big days, and quiet times. This reflection brings joy, shows growth, and reminds you that you often do more creatively than you realize.
Learn how to use lettering to bring story and personality to your sketchbook pages. I show how I combine drawing and text, play with size and spacing, and find inspiration in everyday lettering. A simple way to make your pages feel more lively and personal.
On the go sketching is a great way to capture real life moments. I draw people in busy places using a watercolor pencil for fast lines and quick shading. It keeps my sketches loose, lively and full of energy. Try people drawing to bring more movement into your sketchbook!
Fun challenge for your sketchbook practice!
Switching between wide, medium, and close can help you avoid overwhelm, find your focus, tell better visual stories, and bring variety in your sketchbook pages; you keep things fresh (even when you’re drawing the same stuff over and over again).
In this Draw Tip Tuesday I show the colors I use most (watercolors, colored pencils, crayons, gouache) and why you do not need to buy the same colors.
I explain 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.
Drawing in nature can boost your mood, calm your mind, and bring joy back into your sketchbook practice. In this post I share how I find peace and creativity outdoors, and how you can try it too. Plus info on my upcoming small group nature sketching workshop in the Eifel in June 2026.
In today's Draw Tip Tuesday I take you sketching on location with just a few simple tools. Limiting materials helps keep your drawing playful, loose, and alive. I start with messy marks in color, layer shapes, and then add pen lines to bring clarity and energy. Along the way I share pro tips for drawing in public, for staying mindful of your stuff, and for trusting your inner artist. It is not about perfection but about capturing the moment in your own way. Materials: Strathmore Mixed Media sketchbook, Neocolor crayons, fountain pen, water brush.
In this Draw Tip Tuesday I show you how I sketch people quickly and loosely using a water-soluble pencil and a simple waterbrush. You can capture the energy of a barista with confident lines, light washes, and simplified shapes. This is about drawing with ease, focusing on movement and light instead of details, and embracing the wonkiness.
Just a few quick marks are enough to tell the story and bring your sketchbook pages to life.
In this Draw Tip Tuesday video, I share a quick and fun self portrait exercise you can do in under 10 minutes. Using a mirror and a timer, I draw my face 4 times, each with fewer lines than the last. This simple practice helps you focus on what really matters in a drawing, sharpen your observation skills, and discover how much you can simplify while still showing expression and resemblance. I also talk about why self portraits are a great subject for building your drawing habit.
Explore sketchbook ideas from black & white drawing to limited palettes and watercolors. Join my upcoming drawing workshops, follow my travels to Spain and Paris, and find simple sketchbook inspiration for your own daily practice. Discover how life gets better when you draw it!
In this Draw Tip Tuesday, Koosje Koene shares a fun way to draw tricky subjects by focusing on negative space. Using a bike as an example, she sketches the shapes around it instead of the bike itself. With watercolor and pencil, the drawing comes to life. A great technique to improve accuracy and gain confidence in your sketchbook.
Sketching helps you slow down, notice small details, and feel more present. A sketchbook makes you see patterns, colors, and quiet moments you’d otherwise miss. Even a quick train drawing can shift your mood and bring unexpected joy. One line at a time.
Learn how to start a drawing with confidence by using simple subjects like your feet to frame a scene. In this Draw Tip Tuesday video, Koosje Koene shares her step-by-step process for building a sketch from foreground to background. You'll get practical tips on composition, observation, and creating depth using a fountain pen, water soluble ink, and a waterbrush. Perfect for anyone looking to improve their sketchbook practice.
In this Draw Tip Tuesday, I sketch my coffee twice in under 10 minutes using two different approaches: first with line, then with color. It’s a fun, fast way to loosen up and enjoy your sketchbook practice. Perfect for daily drawing and creative exploration.
Join me in Orvieto, Italy, for a coffee and sketch date in this Draw Tip Tuesday episode! I sketch at Piazza del Popolo, using ink, watercolor, and colored pencil. I'm capturing buildings, people, and dramatic skies. I share tips on using negative space, adding color for light and shadow, and working quickly when sketching on location. This spontaneous drawing session shows how fun and doable urban sketching can be. Want to sketch together? I’m teaching a workshop in Spain!
Traveling with others can make it tricky to find sketchbook time, but even five minutes a day can turn moments into lasting memories. In this post, I share tips for drawing while on the go, how to communicate your creative needs, and a free downloadable guide for Patreon members. Sketching isn’t extra, it’s part of how you travel.
