Koosje Koene

Celebrating the weekend by hanging out with my drawing pals. Lots of chatting, laughing, and drawing together. Finally today the temperatures dropped from insanely hot to “should we sit inside or outside?”

Feeling stuck with your sketchbook?
On Patreon today: my go-to trick for starting when you’re blocked, examples from famous & modern artists, a 10-minute assignment, and daily prompts for the rest of August.
Join me there👉 www.patreon.com/posts/136233...

These are the pages I filled during my live online Mini-Workshop yesterday. We explored using black and white only, and how taking out color changes how you take deliberate decisions in the process.

Don’t miss next session, September 3!
👉 www.eventbrite.com/e/1451892532...

With a handful of tools, I tried capturing the landscape alongside the train tracks, where I took a Sunday Stroll

The sketchbook is a Strathmore Mixed Media art journal 500 series. The tools I used are in the last photo.

#lifeisbetterwhenyoudrawit

Sketching in town.

Materials used:
-Strathmore Mixed Media art journal 500 series
-Sailor Fude fountain pen (55° nib) with Platinum Carbon Black ink
-Tombow ABT water-based marker
-Neocolor II aquarelle crayon
-Derwent Inktense colored pencils, green

Oh these are so fun!!

Drawing of table with bowl, bottle of sauce, and table plant. In the background 4 people at a table, only that part colored - with blue/green, ocher yellow and salmon.

Vacation vibes on a Friday! Drew this over lunch with a dear friend, soaking in the joy of being together. Still skipping watercolors, I used Tombow markers, crayon, and my fountain pen in a Strathmore sketchbook. Just playing and enjoying the moment.

Black and white drawing of plant leaves, mini monstera

Black and white sketchbook drawing of contents of a bag: smijt, tissues, a box of pills, cash, sun screen, lip balm, toothpicks

If it’s a slow-start kind of day… there’s always something to draw.

You don’t need a big idea. Just a moment, your sketchbook and a pen.

Everything becomes interesting as soon as you start drawing it.

I thought to just give you a gentle reminder of it.

#lifeisbetterwhenyoudrawit

A little sketchbook expedition into town, still with black and white only.

Tried drawing cats while watching a fun session by @londondrawinggroup + @emmacarlisle_. Some look like cats… others like seals or owls. Still, I had fun! Not every page is great, but that’s how we learn. Make the mess. Keep going. #embracethewonkiness #sketchbookpractice

Sometimes a free model appears and it’s your cue to draw! This guy prepped his SUP board in the sun: shirt off, sunscreen on, pump going. It took a while, so I took the opportunity and sketched him. When I left, he was still on the phone… I still wonder if he ever hit the water

A busy day, a busy mind…
Sometimes all it takes is a stroll, a moment to pause, a fresh drink, and a fresh sketchbook page.
That little drawing break helped me reset and feel ready for the rest of the day.

Maybe you need a moment like that too? Just a few lines can make a big difference.

Sketchbook with drawing of canal, with the scene in the background

Me and my dad and our sketchbooks

My sketchbook and my father’s sketchbook side by side, showing the same scene, each drawn in our own ways. Scene is in the background.

On a sketch date with dad!

Sitting side by side at the canal in Amsterdam, my father and I are perfectly happy drawing what’s in front of us. I love spending some one-on-one time with my dad, doing what brings us joy: drawing!

Starting a new sketchbook? Don’t let the blank page stop you.Try drawing your own hand as it draws. It’ll be a bit wonky, but that’ll be fun!
This week’s Draw Tip Tuesday is about quieting the inner critic and just getting started. Watch it here: youtu.be/3o7trQLS0zY

People often think I don’t like pencil. Not true. I love it! I even have one tattooed on my leg.
What I don’t love is the eraser. It makes you focus on “fixing mistakes” instead of the fun.
Ditch it, embrace the wonkiness, and just have fun hatching and layering. Play! #sketchbookpractice

While drawing people on the train, I noticed we were all wearing sunglasses (including me). My sketchbook makes me notice small things, which brings me joy. When you draw, you really start looking, and when you start looking, you’re seeing so much more.

I started drawing in black and white to focus on values. I filled half a sketchbook and surprisingly, I don’t miss color. Contrast, hatching, and grey washes do the trick. For now, I’m loving the simplicity and creative challenge of a minimal, no-color sketch kit

Drawing of a man playing banjo, an open suitcase in the corner with added texture for background Written Text on page: “bridge replaced, new strings, tuning of the drumhead” And next to an arrow pointing to the suitcase: “suitcase full of strings and other stuff”

Drawings often look confident and intentional, like the artist knew exactly what they were doing. But truth is, every drawing is a process.
Today’s: I drew banjo man, added a suitcase for context, then a textured “sound” background with watersoluble pencil.
No plan, just curiosity. It worked out!

Wednesday all afternoon play date with my sketch gals.

Good coffee, great food, more coffee and lots of art supplies and chatting.

Tekening van lezende man op bed in houten kamer

Tekening van tafeltje met waterkoker, koffiemachine en spullen voor vertrek in hotelkamer

PenTekening van man achter het stuur in de auto, en deel van het interieur.

Een foto van de lucht met wolken

And so it ends, a week in insanely gorgeous Switzerland.

I’m not done yet with my black-and-white challenge, so I’ll continue learning and discovering at home.

Today’s drawing was a quick one during a break while hiking up the mountain. Sometimes it’s all you manage, when traveling. Still worth putting the sketchbook in my day pack!

I may or may not add some writing.

Another vacay day in Switzerland.
After yesterday’s hike, today was for slowing down: a trip to Sankt Gallen.
A big and beautiful lunch on a terrace in the shade, from where I also drew the street view.
We traveled by train today. I drew people on the way. Way easier than those tricky landscapes!

Today was wunderschön.
An all day hike in the Swiss alps, with family. Challenging paths and the most stunning views.

During lunch (an amazing buttery crispy rösti and salad), I sketched. I am still practicing capturing landscapes, and kind of pleased with this one.

When you set a challenge, be ready for it to challenge you back!

In Switzerland, I worked in black and white to study values. One drawing with a fat-nib pen (not a great succes), one with a soft pencil. So different! I learned a lot, especially about choosing the right tool for the job.

On vacation in Switzerland!
Here’s today’s drawing from high up a mountain.
Then 3 other drawings from yesterday. During breakfast in Heidelberg, Germany, then a walk to the castle there, and the view from the car.

I took a minimal kit. A small A6 sketchbook, and tools for black and white drawing.

Welcome to Draw Tip Tuesday!

I had 10 minutes and sketched my coffee twice: once with line, once with color. Quick, loose, and fun.
It’s not about being perfect, it’s about enjoying the process.

Watch here: youtu.be/tNKdWChVfCw

#DrawTipTuesday #SketchYourDrink

Wonky and shaky lines on the German Autobahn, using only ink and some graphite.

Materials used:
-Hahnemühle Nostalgie sketchbook, size A6
-Pentel Pocket Brushpen
-Sailor Fude fountain pen (55° nib)
-Faber-Castell graphite aquarelle pencil

Happy Friday!

I’m celebrating an early start of the weekend this afternoon by sipping coldbrew while drawing the view in sunny Amersfoort.

How will you celebrate the weekend?

#lifeisbetterwhenyoudrawit #urbansketchers #urbansketch #drawingonlocation #sketchbookpractice #caffeinatedartist

A quick sketch of medieval gate Monnikendam in Amersfoort.
Probably 10 minutes max.

I made this drawing as I was being photographed because I need new photos for my website. I was a little distracted by that 😂, but could be capture in my natural habitat and favorite activity, instead of posing.

Come along on a coffee and sketch date in Orvieto! I draw the piazza with quick lines, splashes of color, and share tips as I go. I took snapshots of the process. Watch the video here: youtu.be/sozjjkcned0