PAPER: THE MOST IMPORTANT SKETCHING INGREDIENT
A guide to choosing paper for urban sketching: watercolor, mixed-media, sketching, and marker paper.
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Julia Henze
- 3 min
GRAPHITE PENCILS: CHOOSING AND USING
Beginner-friendly guide to graphite pencils: how to choose graphite (lead) pencils for urban sketching. Key characteristics and uses.
Julia Henze
- 4 min
5 WATERCOLOR MISTAKES ALL BEGINNERS MAKE AND HOW TO AVOID THEM
Avoid these common beginner mistakes with watercolors: tweak your sketching habits to ensure amazing results.
Julia Henze
- 3 min
GRANULATING WATERCOLOR PAINTS: WHAT THEY ARE AND HOW TO USE THEM IN YOUR PAINTINGS
Discover the basics of watercolor granulation. Learn how to use granulating watercolors in your sketches and paintings.
Julia Henze
- 3 min
WHAT BRUSHES DO YOU NEED FOR GOUACHE: MY FABULOUS TOP 5
The best synthetic brushes to use with gouache: Winsor & Newton, Da Vinci, Escoda. Personal recommendations from an urban sketcher.
Julia Henze
- 3 min
50 SHADES OF GREY MARKERS: HOW TO DECIDE WHAT YOU NEED
How many grey markers do you need? What's the difference between warm and cool tones? How do you decide what alcohol-based markers you need?
Julia Henze
- 3 min
12 GREAT GIFT IDEAS FOR ARTISTS AND CREATIVES FOR THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS
Best gifts for artists, urban sketchers, and other creatives for 2022 holiday season. Ideal for Christmas, birthdays and just for fun!
Julia Henze
- 4 min
WATERCOLOR PANS VS. TUBES: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE AND WHICH IS BETTER?
Pros and cons of using watercolor paints in pans and in tubes. Useful tips and personal experience.
Julia Henze
- 5 min
GOUACHE AND WATERCOLOR PAINT LABELS: 7 IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS
How to read watercolor and gouache paint labels: series number, permanence rating, lightfastness, pigment number, opacity rating.
Julia Henze
- 5 min
INK DRAWING MATERIALS YOU NEED TO GET STARTED: MY FAVORITES
All the supplies you need to start drawing with ink: paper, nibs and nib holders, brushes, black and colored inks.
Julia Henze
- 6 min
HOT AND COLD PRESS WATERCOLOR PAPER: IS THERE REALLY MUCH DIFFERENCE?
All you need to know about watercolor paper: textures, materials used, manufacturing methods, formats and sizes. Beginner-firendly guide.
Julia Henze
- 5 min
STEP-BY-STEP TUTORIAL: MIXED MEDIA TECHNIQUES FOR URBAN SKETCHING
A tutorial on using metallic watercolors together with regular watercolors on black paper for unusual effects in urban sketching
Julia Henze
- 3 min
CARAN D'ACHE LUMINANCE 6901: MY FAVORITE COLORS FOR SKETCHING
Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils for sketching. Which colors do you need? Combine colored pencils with gouache for expressiveness
Julia Henze
- 4 min
SKETCHING ON LOCATION: WHY AND HOW?
Sketching on location: tips and tools for beginners. The benefits of joining an urban sketching group. Useful resources for sketchers.
Julia Henze
- 7 min
GOUACHE COLORS FOR BEGINNERS
Learn how two choose gouache paints, and what colors to buy for your urban sketching needs. Learn the basics of color mixing.
Julia Henze
- 2 min
FIRST AID FOR DRY GOUACHE
This article gives a handy tip on what to do if your gouache has dried hard inside its tube.
Julia Henze
- 4 min
YOUR GUIDE TO PERFECT PAPER FOR ALCOHOL-BASED MARKERS
Don't you know how to choose paper for your alcohol-based markers? In this article, you will learn about seven different kinds of paper.
Julia Henze
- 4 min
ALCOHOL-BASED MARKERS Q&A | EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MARKERS
If you are just starting out with alcohol-based markers, you will find answers to all your questions in this article.
Julia Henze
- 2 min
HOW TO BLEND ALCOHOL-BASED MARKERS | STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTION & TIPS
Learn how to blend alcohol-based markers properly (a step-by-step instruction and tips).
Julia Henze
- 6 min
BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO GOUACHE
Gouache is the perfect sketching medium for beginners. It’s easy to learn and use and fun to play around with.
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