Koosje Koene
@koosjekoene.bsky.social
Sketchbook artist and educator. All about the creative practice. Maker of Draw Tip Tuesday YouTube videos. Author of “Life is better when you draw it”.
https://linktr.ee/Koosjekoene
https://linktr.ee/Koosjekoene
I get asked about my watercolor colors all the time, so I made a Draw Tip Tuesday video showing my palette and how I keep things simple.
You do not need my colors to make art. Watch the video on YouTube: youtu.be/h_46lI7wQkk
You do not need my colors to make art. Watch the video on YouTube: youtu.be/h_46lI7wQkk
How I Choose My Palette
YouTube video by Koosje Koene | Draw Tip Tuesday
youtu.be
November 11, 2025 at 5:21 PM
I get asked about my watercolor colors all the time, so I made a Draw Tip Tuesday video showing my palette and how I keep things simple.
You do not need my colors to make art. Watch the video on YouTube: youtu.be/h_46lI7wQkk
You do not need my colors to make art. Watch the video on YouTube: youtu.be/h_46lI7wQkk
Under a blanket on the couch, engaging in the video conversation, I was drawing the phone on my lap and the blanket texture.
Those tiny shadow dots were so meditative.
Doodling and drawing like that keep you fully present in the moment.
Those tiny shadow dots were so meditative.
Doodling and drawing like that keep you fully present in the moment.
November 10, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Under a blanket on the couch, engaging in the video conversation, I was drawing the phone on my lap and the blanket texture.
Those tiny shadow dots were so meditative.
Doodling and drawing like that keep you fully present in the moment.
Those tiny shadow dots were so meditative.
Doodling and drawing like that keep you fully present in the moment.
After lunch with dear friends, my sweet dessert was sketching with my dad, side by side on a bench. We played with colorful crayons, and giggled our way through our drawings. I forgot to take a photo of the drawing he did, but he did assist me when I was taking a photo of the final drawing.
November 8, 2025 at 9:08 PM
After lunch with dear friends, my sweet dessert was sketching with my dad, side by side on a bench. We played with colorful crayons, and giggled our way through our drawings. I forgot to take a photo of the drawing he did, but he did assist me when I was taking a photo of the final drawing.
Negative space drawing trains your eye fast. By drawing the shapes around people instead of the people, new forms suddenly appear like magic. I loved for example how the curly bun appeared on the page while I drew these people.
Try it in your sketchbook and see what shows up.
Try it in your sketchbook and see what shows up.
November 7, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Negative space drawing trains your eye fast. By drawing the shapes around people instead of the people, new forms suddenly appear like magic. I loved for example how the curly bun appeared on the page while I drew these people.
Try it in your sketchbook and see what shows up.
Try it in your sketchbook and see what shows up.
Workshop travel is done and November hit with cold drizzle and headwind today.
Days like this call for cafe drawing.
My bright colorful crayons stayed in the bag and I chose juicy ink pens again. The Pilot Parallel pen’s varying line feels rich enough in black and white.
Days like this call for cafe drawing.
My bright colorful crayons stayed in the bag and I chose juicy ink pens again. The Pilot Parallel pen’s varying line feels rich enough in black and white.
November 3, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Workshop travel is done and November hit with cold drizzle and headwind today.
Days like this call for cafe drawing.
My bright colorful crayons stayed in the bag and I chose juicy ink pens again. The Pilot Parallel pen’s varying line feels rich enough in black and white.
Days like this call for cafe drawing.
My bright colorful crayons stayed in the bag and I chose juicy ink pens again. The Pilot Parallel pen’s varying line feels rich enough in black and white.
This week, I’ve been lucky to see so many inspiring friends. We’re only halfway, and it’s already a great week!
I studied faces while chatting with my friends online. I used reference photos from earthsworld.com . I love the variety of faces and characters there. Great resource for people-drawing
I studied faces while chatting with my friends online. I used reference photos from earthsworld.com . I love the variety of faces and characters there. Great resource for people-drawing
October 29, 2025 at 6:46 PM
This week, I’ve been lucky to see so many inspiring friends. We’re only halfway, and it’s already a great week!
I studied faces while chatting with my friends online. I used reference photos from earthsworld.com . I love the variety of faces and characters there. Great resource for people-drawing
I studied faces while chatting with my friends online. I used reference photos from earthsworld.com . I love the variety of faces and characters there. Great resource for people-drawing
It’s amazing how colorful a page you can make, even when you limit your palette.
I had a yellow/greenish watercolor wash on the page already.
I started coloring around the shapes (negative spaces), with watersoluble crayons, and from there on kept going.
Just three crayons.
I had a yellow/greenish watercolor wash on the page already.
I started coloring around the shapes (negative spaces), with watersoluble crayons, and from there on kept going.
Just three crayons.
October 27, 2025 at 3:29 PM
It’s amazing how colorful a page you can make, even when you limit your palette.
I had a yellow/greenish watercolor wash on the page already.
I started coloring around the shapes (negative spaces), with watersoluble crayons, and from there on kept going.
Just three crayons.
I had a yellow/greenish watercolor wash on the page already.
I started coloring around the shapes (negative spaces), with watersoluble crayons, and from there on kept going.
Just three crayons.
Watering the plants in my studio (and drawing them) before going to Paris, where I will do-teach the workshop “Paris Sketchbook”
October 3, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Watering the plants in my studio (and drawing them) before going to Paris, where I will do-teach the workshop “Paris Sketchbook”
Have you heard of habit stacking?
It’s pairing something you do already with something you want to do more.
I like stacking coffee + sketching.
This morning I drew with a grey brushpen while having coffee with my husband and a friend visiting for the week.
An idea for your #inktober project?
It’s pairing something you do already with something you want to do more.
I like stacking coffee + sketching.
This morning I drew with a grey brushpen while having coffee with my husband and a friend visiting for the week.
An idea for your #inktober project?
October 1, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Have you heard of habit stacking?
It’s pairing something you do already with something you want to do more.
I like stacking coffee + sketching.
This morning I drew with a grey brushpen while having coffee with my husband and a friend visiting for the week.
An idea for your #inktober project?
It’s pairing something you do already with something you want to do more.
I like stacking coffee + sketching.
This morning I drew with a grey brushpen while having coffee with my husband and a friend visiting for the week.
An idea for your #inktober project?
Welcome to Draw Tip Tuesday!
Sketchbook tour of a sketchbook in black and white only, no color at all!
Limiting my tools taught me so much about value, contrast, and texture. In today's sketchbook tour on YouTube, I share what I learned and why you might want to try it too.
youtu.be/CYNmHw1CBQ4
Sketchbook tour of a sketchbook in black and white only, no color at all!
Limiting my tools taught me so much about value, contrast, and texture. In today's sketchbook tour on YouTube, I share what I learned and why you might want to try it too.
youtu.be/CYNmHw1CBQ4
What I Learned Drawing Without Color
YouTube video by Koosje Koene | Draw Tip Tuesday
youtu.be
September 30, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Welcome to Draw Tip Tuesday!
Sketchbook tour of a sketchbook in black and white only, no color at all!
Limiting my tools taught me so much about value, contrast, and texture. In today's sketchbook tour on YouTube, I share what I learned and why you might want to try it too.
youtu.be/CYNmHw1CBQ4
Sketchbook tour of a sketchbook in black and white only, no color at all!
Limiting my tools taught me so much about value, contrast, and texture. In today's sketchbook tour on YouTube, I share what I learned and why you might want to try it too.
youtu.be/CYNmHw1CBQ4
Studio days with a friend means accountability + progress. She works on her project, I on mine. Coffee, tea, breaks, and before we know it, boxes are checked. I sketched this during breaks: lines first, details later, color in the last pause.
September 29, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Studio days with a friend means accountability + progress. She works on her project, I on mine. Coffee, tea, breaks, and before we know it, boxes are checked. I sketched this during breaks: lines first, details later, color in the last pause.
Happy to be home again. And to be reunited with the man who is always a willing subject to be sketched (even if he doesn’t know he’s being spied on while he’s deeply focused in a game)
Also: a fresh, new sketchbook!
Materials used:
-Hahnemühle watercolor book, size A5
-Pentel pocket brush pen
Also: a fresh, new sketchbook!
Materials used:
-Hahnemühle watercolor book, size A5
-Pentel pocket brush pen
September 22, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Happy to be home again. And to be reunited with the man who is always a willing subject to be sketched (even if he doesn’t know he’s being spied on while he’s deeply focused in a game)
Also: a fresh, new sketchbook!
Materials used:
-Hahnemühle watercolor book, size A5
-Pentel pocket brush pen
Also: a fresh, new sketchbook!
Materials used:
-Hahnemühle watercolor book, size A5
-Pentel pocket brush pen
Funny how something so familiar can turn into a real challenge when you start drawing it. Great practice, and fun too. Soon I’ll trade this view for Spain, where I’ll be teaching another workshop!
Take a workshop with me too! Check out koosjekoene.com/workshops
Take a workshop with me too! Check out koosjekoene.com/workshops
September 11, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Funny how something so familiar can turn into a real challenge when you start drawing it. Great practice, and fun too. Soon I’ll trade this view for Spain, where I’ll be teaching another workshop!
Take a workshop with me too! Check out koosjekoene.com/workshops
Take a workshop with me too! Check out koosjekoene.com/workshops
Everyday things turn into patterns when you look again (and again)
September 10, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Everyday things turn into patterns when you look again (and again)
Great art exhibition in Museum Arnhem, coffee (in their fantastic sculpture garden), conversations, snacks and sketching with two dear friends. This sketchbook page is holding a precious memory of a special trip.
September 6, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Great art exhibition in Museum Arnhem, coffee (in their fantastic sculpture garden), conversations, snacks and sketching with two dear friends. This sketchbook page is holding a precious memory of a special trip.
Today I had a coffee-and-sketchdate at a coffee shop with about 60 people!
OK, it was on Zoom but it definitely felt like we all hung out and were about to order a pastry or cookie with our virtual cappuccinos!
Join me in the next session:
www.eventbrite.com/cc/online-wo...
OK, it was on Zoom but it definitely felt like we all hung out and were about to order a pastry or cookie with our virtual cappuccinos!
Join me in the next session:
www.eventbrite.com/cc/online-wo...
September 3, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Today I had a coffee-and-sketchdate at a coffee shop with about 60 people!
OK, it was on Zoom but it definitely felt like we all hung out and were about to order a pastry or cookie with our virtual cappuccinos!
Join me in the next session:
www.eventbrite.com/cc/online-wo...
OK, it was on Zoom but it definitely felt like we all hung out and were about to order a pastry or cookie with our virtual cappuccinos!
Join me in the next session:
www.eventbrite.com/cc/online-wo...
September is #selfietember, the perfect excuse to practice self portraits.
Drawing yourself is a fantastic way to improve observation skills, notice new details, and build confidence.
It’s also fun to play with different views!
It stretches your skills and keeps your sketchbook dynamic.
Drawing yourself is a fantastic way to improve observation skills, notice new details, and build confidence.
It’s also fun to play with different views!
It stretches your skills and keeps your sketchbook dynamic.
September 1, 2025 at 7:07 PM
September is #selfietember, the perfect excuse to practice self portraits.
Drawing yourself is a fantastic way to improve observation skills, notice new details, and build confidence.
It’s also fun to play with different views!
It stretches your skills and keeps your sketchbook dynamic.
Drawing yourself is a fantastic way to improve observation skills, notice new details, and build confidence.
It’s also fun to play with different views!
It stretches your skills and keeps your sketchbook dynamic.
Drawing in the late august sun, along with sketching friends, coffee and good conversation.
Without knowing where or what I would be drawing later, I prepared the spread at home with Quinacridone gold watercolor wash, and outlined it with ink.
Without knowing where or what I would be drawing later, I prepared the spread at home with Quinacridone gold watercolor wash, and outlined it with ink.
August 31, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Drawing in the late august sun, along with sketching friends, coffee and good conversation.
Without knowing where or what I would be drawing later, I prepared the spread at home with Quinacridone gold watercolor wash, and outlined it with ink.
Without knowing where or what I would be drawing later, I prepared the spread at home with Quinacridone gold watercolor wash, and outlined it with ink.
I’m dog sitting this morning - great opportunity for cuddles and sketching!
August 30, 2025 at 10:15 AM
I’m dog sitting this morning - great opportunity for cuddles and sketching!
Lunch and sketch break
Materials:
-Hahnemühle Nostalgie sketchbook, A4
-Sailor Fude fountain pen (55° nib) with Platinum Carbon Black ink
-Faber-Castell watersoluble pencil, black
#lifeisbetterwhenyoudrawit #everythingisinterestingwhenyoudrawit #drawingmeditation #sketchbook
#urbansketch
Materials:
-Hahnemühle Nostalgie sketchbook, A4
-Sailor Fude fountain pen (55° nib) with Platinum Carbon Black ink
-Faber-Castell watersoluble pencil, black
#lifeisbetterwhenyoudrawit #everythingisinterestingwhenyoudrawit #drawingmeditation #sketchbook
#urbansketch
August 28, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Lunch and sketch break
Materials:
-Hahnemühle Nostalgie sketchbook, A4
-Sailor Fude fountain pen (55° nib) with Platinum Carbon Black ink
-Faber-Castell watersoluble pencil, black
#lifeisbetterwhenyoudrawit #everythingisinterestingwhenyoudrawit #drawingmeditation #sketchbook
#urbansketch
Materials:
-Hahnemühle Nostalgie sketchbook, A4
-Sailor Fude fountain pen (55° nib) with Platinum Carbon Black ink
-Faber-Castell watersoluble pencil, black
#lifeisbetterwhenyoudrawit #everythingisinterestingwhenyoudrawit #drawingmeditation #sketchbook
#urbansketch
Earlier this week, I spent an afternoon in Utrecht with my inspiring friend @ellenvesters (founder of @vensteracademy, new semester starting soon; you can still apply!).
No plan but drawing. She suggested @theaterfestivaldeparade
Great vibes, good talks, and sketching until it got too dark to see.
No plan but drawing. She suggested @theaterfestivaldeparade
Great vibes, good talks, and sketching until it got too dark to see.
August 27, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Earlier this week, I spent an afternoon in Utrecht with my inspiring friend @ellenvesters (founder of @vensteracademy, new semester starting soon; you can still apply!).
No plan but drawing. She suggested @theaterfestivaldeparade
Great vibes, good talks, and sketching until it got too dark to see.
No plan but drawing. She suggested @theaterfestivaldeparade
Great vibes, good talks, and sketching until it got too dark to see.
Welcome to Draw Tip Tuesday!
Drawing something tricky? Try focusing on the shapes around it. In this sketch I used negative space to draw a bicycle, and it totally changed the way I saw it. Materials: fineliner, watercolor, colored pencil.
👉 youtu.be/9oWot74Lrto
Drawing something tricky? Try focusing on the shapes around it. In this sketch I used negative space to draw a bicycle, and it totally changed the way I saw it. Materials: fineliner, watercolor, colored pencil.
👉 youtu.be/9oWot74Lrto
How I Drew This Bike Without Drawing It
YouTube video by Koosje Koene | Draw Tip Tuesday
youtu.be
August 26, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Welcome to Draw Tip Tuesday!
Drawing something tricky? Try focusing on the shapes around it. In this sketch I used negative space to draw a bicycle, and it totally changed the way I saw it. Materials: fineliner, watercolor, colored pencil.
👉 youtu.be/9oWot74Lrto
Drawing something tricky? Try focusing on the shapes around it. In this sketch I used negative space to draw a bicycle, and it totally changed the way I saw it. Materials: fineliner, watercolor, colored pencil.
👉 youtu.be/9oWot74Lrto
Today’s color palette: green.
I can’t believe how fast I am going through this sketchbook - just a few pages left and I still haven’t grabbed for my go-to watercolors. I better start getting back into it, otherwise I’ll be out of practice when teaching in Spain on the @_thebluewalk trip!
I can’t believe how fast I am going through this sketchbook - just a few pages left and I still haven’t grabbed for my go-to watercolors. I better start getting back into it, otherwise I’ll be out of practice when teaching in Spain on the @_thebluewalk trip!
August 24, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Today’s color palette: green.
I can’t believe how fast I am going through this sketchbook - just a few pages left and I still haven’t grabbed for my go-to watercolors. I better start getting back into it, otherwise I’ll be out of practice when teaching in Spain on the @_thebluewalk trip!
I can’t believe how fast I am going through this sketchbook - just a few pages left and I still haven’t grabbed for my go-to watercolors. I better start getting back into it, otherwise I’ll be out of practice when teaching in Spain on the @_thebluewalk trip!
I went into town with just a few tools, so today’s page turned into a yellow/ochre study. And look at that… My coffee showed up in the same sunny yellow! Sketching in Amersfoort before heading to the museum with a friend felt extra golden.
August 23, 2025 at 5:38 PM
I went into town with just a few tools, so today’s page turned into a yellow/ochre study. And look at that… My coffee showed up in the same sunny yellow! Sketching in Amersfoort before heading to the museum with a friend felt extra golden.
Just a little virtual stroll at MontMartre in Paris, because I feel excited about the Paris Sketchbook workshop I will be teaching in October.
You can still sign up: www.originalimpulse.com/paris-sketch...
You can still sign up: www.originalimpulse.com/paris-sketch...
August 22, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Just a little virtual stroll at MontMartre in Paris, because I feel excited about the Paris Sketchbook workshop I will be teaching in October.
You can still sign up: www.originalimpulse.com/paris-sketch...
You can still sign up: www.originalimpulse.com/paris-sketch...