All tagged Tips

Too Busy To Draw?

Stressed & overwhelmed? Reconnect with creativity in 5 mins! Try blind continuous line drawing. No skills needed. Reset your mind, embrace imperfection, and draw your way to calm.

It's About How You (Want To) Feel, Not The Result

It's our inner critics who encourage our inner artists to focus on the outcome, rather than the process of getting where we want to go.
You might catch yourself every so often thinking about your art, rather than actually spending time in your sketchbook. Maybe you are worried about the outcome. Instead of focusing on the end result, learn to focus on how you want to feel along the way.

How To Turn Lunch Into Sketchbook Art

You can turn a simple lunch break into a quick, creative art session. I draw my sandwich before taking a bite, and then keep eating and sketching. Making one quick drawing of the sandwich with  every bite.
Doing a drawing like this is a perfect example how to stack habits: combining drawing with everyday moments. That makes it easier to keep a regular sketching practice. See this as a low-pressure way to practice observation, line variation, and composition while you enjoy your food!

A Single Line Can Capture More Than You Think

By keeping your pen on the paper the whole time, you train your eye to notice angles, relationships, and depth.

You’re no longer relying on traditional perspective rules or drawing what you think you know. Instead, you trust your eyes and draw what you truly see.

I love how a continuous line creates movement and energy. It makes the pages feel more organic and alive.

How Drawing Can Ease Anxiety

Feeling stressed or restless? Sketching can calm your mind and bring you into the moment. Your sketchbook isn’t just for making art. It's a powerful tool for relaxation and mindfulness. Learn how drawing can help you unwind, even when you think you feel too tired. Give it a try now and thank yourself after.

A Little Reminder For Your Sketchbook Practice

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.

How Light and Shadow Change Your Drawing

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!

Why Looking Back at Your Sketchbooks Matters

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.

People Sketching on the Go

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!

Seeing the big picture and narrowing down

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).

How I Choose My Palette

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.

Why drawing in nature feels so good

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.

Urban Sketching with Just 3 Colors

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.