(How) Do You Fix Mistakes?

Welcome to Draw Tip Tuesday!
I got a question from Sue, which I'd like to address today.
"How do you fix mistakes when drawing with a pen?"
A lot of people use pencil first, erase their mistakes, draw with the pencil again, and once they're happy with the result, they'll trace the "correct" lines with pen.
I discourage using erasers, because you're focusing on your mistakes again and again, instead of allowing yourself to get pulled into the lovely flow of drawing.
An even more important issue: It takes all spontaneity out of the process and out of the drawing.
And.... "Mistakes"? What are they anyway when you're drawing?
We make up these rules for ourselves that when drawing from observation, we have to create a perfect representation of what we see. While, if you let go of that idea and you start enjoying where you are and that you are giving yourself time to draw, you could be making something way more interesting: your interpretation of the place, the subject, the view, your experience.
I'll show you a few drawings today, drawings that "went wrong" in the first place, but they became the most interesting of all. I think in THOSE drawings, my "handwriting" is most recognizable too. which is my 'style".
If you'd like to learn from me in person: check out my workshop schedule here: www.koosjekoene.com/workshops
If you like my free weekly videos, then please consider backing me on Patreon. You'll will be helping me to keep consistently making Draw Tip Tuesday videos, and making them available for everyone for free:
/ koosjekoene
Thank you for considering to support me, it means a lot!
Don't miss out on any news about my upcoming book: www.koosjekoene.com/book
Copyrights Koosje Koene
www.koosjekoene.com
/ koosjekoene

[@kavithaekambaram7885]

Embrace the wonkiness!❤❤❤ Love your attitude!

[@nxtlightdesign7440]

I'm going to have to watch this video once every week, to keep me encouraged that my palette full of mistatkes on each drawing are OK! Thx, but now I have a another weekly assignment.

[@eileengoldenberg270]

I agree, “ mistakes” are a backward way to think. Draw and enjoy it.. focusing on negativeness is useless. Thanks for your positive attitude.. I tell my students the same thing. “ Mistakes” are a myth!

[@KoosjeKoene]

Absolutely!

[@WorldWideWebObserver]

Thanks for your creative tips! Have never considered drawing with my non-dominant hand nor only looking at the subject itself instead of looking at what I’m drawing. Very creative ideas!

[@nathaliedrinkstea]

I absolutely love that dinner table drawing with your husband! I thought "This is such a cool stylization!" drawing him with the smaller head. And pencil with watercolour is my jam 😍 So beautiful!

[@KoosjeKoene]

Oh thank you!

[@JohnsArtLife]

When I started sketching with pen and ink, I was surprised how often I got it right, rather than wrong 😊 It took away the fear of getting it wrong (which was silly in the first place) and it loosened up my mindset as well as my hands. All the best, John

[@KoosjeKoene]

That's great! I love how we can surprise ourselves like that.

[@laurencegandon255]

...is a treasure of cleverness. Thank you so much! Very helpful, as usual.

[@JF-kv1gm]

This video is wonderful!! I love these disproportionate features, they seem to add so much more than a "perfect" balance of carefully pencilled then corrected lines. A bit like people with "defects" whose faces have more character and a dignity than those perfect photoshopped or surgically corrected/enhanced ones. Looking forward to the book. How about a merch t-shirt/other items with the slogan "embrace the wonkiness"?😄

[@kanner3831]

Only a few more days?!! Hooray!

[@laurencegandon255]

Koosje, you are so nice! I really appreciate your way of thinking, your way of working...your way of drawing! Each video is a treasure of

[@julieduncan4075]

Great philosophy! Go with the flow! 🙂

[@travisnobleart]

One wonderful thing about art videos here on KZbin is that I could easily find a video that suggests the complete opposite to this one, and neither perspective would really be wrong. There are so many beautiful ways to make art, and I think really the main rule in it is to enjoy your process, because that's what keeps you sitting in the chair to create more. As for me, my learning has been a back and forth grapple between drawing with spontaneity and drawing correctly(?). Maybe it's not achievable to do both at once, but I'm having a real fun time trying to figure out how.

[@KoosjeKoene]

I agree, Travis, that IS the only rule. And, the more you draw, the better yoir skills get - so yes I think it's an achievable goal (depending what "drawing correctly" means ...)

[@iman0b0dy]

I don't know if i will be able to buy the book right away but i know that one day i will definitely be doing so. you've got to be my favorite artist ever.

[@KoosjeKoene]

Oh wow, thank you!!

[@firdyk]

Great advice!

[@KristynaU]

Thank you very much for your video - I really enjoy to watch them, very inspiring and I also like that they are short, just under 10 minutes. Thanks a lot! :-)

[@peanutthelion815]

I think this is something I still really need to work on. I really enjoy the process but a lot of times I lose confidence. An anatomically incorrect, confident painting almost always seems to look nicer even than an anatomically correct, unconfident painting. It all seems so simple in theory. In practice, though, when you start disliking your work, sometimes it's just so hard to keep finding the fun in it. :(

[@KoosjeKoene]

My experience is that, when you spend a bit more time and add some love and attention, the feeling of dislike turns into appreciation and enjoyment (you'll let the process take over rather than thinking about results)

[@marieke5064]

I’m so excited for your book to come out! It looks so amazing and can’t wait to buy it and read it 🥰 watched draw tip tuesdays a long while ago and recently found your channel again, have been watching so many of them, love your style! 🤩

[@KoosjeKoene]

Yay! Thank you!

[@swissalmond20]

Your insights of art always encourage me and I can’t wait to have your book!! 🥳🥳🥳

[@kathylarson7601]

Wonderful advice!

[@KoosjeKoene]

Glad it was helpful!

[@susancook1617]

Thank you Koosje for another great video. Your drawings are amazing

[@KoosjeKoene]

Thank you so much 😀

[@neshkavirdure8289]

🎇🙋🏻‍♀️🙂Thank You So Much For Posting This, Soo Helpful😊👍👍🎨

[@alicebeshay6124]

Koosje, dit is geniaal🤗Er zijn zo weinig leraren die er zo tegenaan kijken. Ik zal zeker je raad opvolgen🌹❤️

[@Pixiewithpens]

another wonderful video, thank you koosje

[@zahramohamadi5952]

🌷

[@alicebeshay1744]

😘❤️

[@Humanbeing-fv3yt]

Thank you.👍

[@KoosjeKoene]

Welcome 👍

[@ImpactDriven-CoachSchool]

What are you using to create multi colored lines? Is it a rainbow colored pencil? Those are so pretty! Thank you for what you do

[@KoosjeKoene]

Yes, it is!

[@mypreciousgarden]

Hi! I tried but it doesn't work that good.Last time, I was at an outdoor concert and I tried to use a pen. it was lacking ink (but I don't know why I kept trying, maybe because it was green and I thought it would look worse adding another colour. Then there was this huge tree and I tried to draw its general shape but it looked bad to me. then the people moving and the fear of people seeing my bad drawing (i know!) and myself judging my bad drawing (i know !), it was tough !

[@KoosjeKoene]

Maybe it was the pen, maybe it was the circumstances… sometimes you just need to embrace it and move on to the next page.

[@markdonovan1540]

Hi Koosje, I'm in Amsterdam for a few days, probably until Monday. Where can I buy the book here?

[@KoosjeKoene]

It's not out yet - and it will initially only be available to order online.Have fun in Amsterdam!

[@user-ye9oj4hu4o]

Dear Koosje, thank you very much! Your videos bring me sooo much of inspiration! I live in Russia, is there a way for me to get a copy of your book?

[@KoosjeKoene]

The great British bookshop ships anywhere. www.thegreatbritishbookshop.co.uk/collections/new/products/life-is-better-when-you-draw-it

[@egewerner8225]

will book be available to purchase in turkey ?

[@KoosjeKoene]

It'll be online available, through amazon and other online retailers that ship worldwide

[@wolfgangproductions7402]

I’m having art block I use to sketch everyday what’s wrong with me…..