Tag Archives: cotman sketching

How to use a sketchbook

How-to-use-a-sketchbook-smallI did a lot of sketching during my recent trip to Amsterdam. I had a wonderful time. Talking with my friends in the evening, as we discussed what we’d seen that day, I was drawing away happily when I realised that everyone was watching, but they were involved in the drawing and the conversation continued even though I was, i suppose, not 100% concentrating on the conversation. But no one felt I was excluding myself or that they were excluded. We agreed it was a good thing to do for everyone.

So, let go of your inhibitions and draw, your friends will want to be involved helping you remember things and probably wanting to be drawn themselves!

Have a look inside my Amsterdam Sketchbook

My-Amstrerdam-SketchbooksmallI went to Amsterdam the week  before last and did a lot of drawing in my sketchbook. There’s not a lot about Amsterdam in the book but there is a lot about the people and their bicycles as well as inspiration from the art galleries and museums.

Have a look inside and see what interests me when I visit another country! You’ll also see me drawing in a bar having supper in the evening!

A watercolour set for beginners

CotmanSketchersSetSmall-300x177I’ve been asked many times to recommend a watercolour set for beginners. That’s difficult to do as my viewers are all over the world and the re are so many sets to choose from.

I use Winsor and Newton Artists Quality watercolours. This set is a grade below and quite a lot cheaper. It is a small set, so you can get used to the paints and the way they work and also get used to the idea of mixing.

Also, being a small set, it is great to slip into a pocket and take with you sketching.

I shall be using this set in my videos in the near future so if you want to follow along, I’m putting Amazon links below to the set and the Derwent watwer brushes too.