Tag Archives: Koosje Koene

Recess at Sketchbook Skool

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I had great plans for the winter holiday hiatus from Sketchbook Skool. I thought I’d take the opportunity to sketch a portrait of every teacher. There were only 14 instructors… 3 terms, 6 teachers each… and each term 2 of them were returning teachers, the founders, Danny Gregory and Koosje Koene.  No sweat… plenty of time.

HA! …. it’s amazing how time just evaporates.

I did manage to sketch all 6 instructors in the SBS – Beginnings class: Danny Gregory, Koosje Koene, Prashant Miranda, Jane LaFazio, Roz Stendahl and Tommy Kane.

Have you been wondering what Sketchbook Skool is like?  You can find out by taking a free klass. Get a taste of creativity, it may be just what you need to get you through the winter.  Beginnings starts again January 2, Seeing starts January 23 and Storytelling starts on February 13.

Don’t be too kool for skool!

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Sketchbook Skool… art for me!

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I’ve matrikulated into Sketchbook Skool!

This endeavor is a wonderful kollaboration of Danny Gregory and Koosje Koene, two artists I’ve followed for quite a while. They’ve put together a six week kourse, (adding the k is killing me… I’ll stop now.) each week featuring the art, inspiration and guidance of a different artist.  Danny took the first week and inspired us to draw the ordinary, the everyday… no special equipment, just a sketchbook and a pen.  Paint the page first if a blank white page makes you freeze… just start.

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Just yesterday, Koosje’s lessons, week 2, were posted.

I particularly appreciated Koosje’s intonation to “get over yourself!”… to just get out and draw… out in the open, in the community, even if… gasp!… people may be watching! This has long been one of my goals so I packed my sketchbook Friday evening when we went to a friend’s home for a Celtic music house concert.

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My apologies, portraiture is not a specialty, but I’m going to keep working on it!

Next up… Prashant Miranda.

Watch… Then Draw.

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I’m a big fan of an artist from the Netherlands, Koosja Koene. She’s a prolific artist and blogger, teaches online classes and submits recipe pages to They Draw and Cook. She is one busy woman! I really love her short drawing videos she uploads on Tuesdays, appropriately named:  Draw Tip Tuesday!  They’re so much fun and her enthusiasm is infectious!

Last week I spent an afternoon with Koosje and my watercolors.  I watched her paint an orange and then tried it myself.  It’s not really a paint-along technique since her videos are greatly sped up but it’s helpful to watch her technique.  I’ve nowhere the skill as Koosje but I’m still rather pleased with my first attempt.

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I then watched one on Do It Yourself Postcards.  She divided the page and drew small simplified thumbnail sketches of shirts… all types of shirts.  Koosje colored them with colored pencil but I chose to use watercolor.  I might try her suggestion to paint a collection of shoes next time… or even handbags.  Goodness knows I have TONS!

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She’s a wealth of knowledge and inspiration and her videos are a sure bet to kick you out of the winter doldrums.

Koosje’s collected videos can also be found on her YouTube video channel as well.  There are over 50 but they’re short.  If you have self control you won’t have to watch them all in an afternoon like I did! 😉