drawing materials | Julia Henze

WINSOR & NEWTON COLORS FOR 2024 COMPETITION

5 min read

WINSOR & NEWTON COLORS FOR 2024 COMPETITION

Winsor & Newton watercolor competition 2024. Beautiful colors, swatches, mixes, exercices, tutorials and techniques videos for beginners.

OHUHU MARKERS: A POPULAR CHOICE FOR (URBAN) SKETCHING

Julia Henze

6 min read

OHUHU MARKERS: A POPULAR CHOICE FOR (URBAN) SKETCHING

My review of Ohuhu's 320-marker set: quality, color range, nibs, blending, marker paper.

9 GREAT GIFT IDEAS FOR ARTISTS AND CREATIVES FOR THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS

Julia Henze

4 min read

9 GREAT GIFT IDEAS FOR ARTISTS AND CREATIVES FOR THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS

Art supplies make the best gifts, right? This post contains ideas that will definitely bring joy to any artist (and you). No matter how...

PAPER: THE MOST IMPORTANT SKETCHING INGREDIENT

Julia Henze

2 min read

PAPER: THE MOST IMPORTANT SKETCHING INGREDIENT

A guide to choosing paper for urban sketching: watercolor, mixed-media, sketching, and marker paper.

Julia Henze

3 min read

GRAPHITE PENCILS: CHOOSING AND USING

Beginner-friendly guide to graphite pencils: how to choose graphite (lead) pencils for urban sketching. Key characteristics and uses.

5 WATERCOLOR MISTAKES ALL BEGINNERS MAKE AND HOW TO AVOID THEM

Julia Henze

4 min read

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.

GRANULATING WATERCOLOR PAINTS: WHAT THEY ARE AND HOW TO USE THEM IN YOUR PAINTINGS

Julia Henze

3 min read

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.

WHAT BRUSHES DO YOU NEED FOR GOUACHE: MY FABULOUS TOP 5

Julia Henze

3 min read

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.

50 SHADES OF GREY MARKERS: HOW TO DECIDE WHAT YOU NEED

Julia Henze

3 min read

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?

12 GREAT GIFT IDEAS FOR ARTISTS AND CREATIVES FOR THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS

Julia Henze

3 min read

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!

WATERCOLOR PANS VS. TUBES: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE AND WHICH IS BETTER?

Julia Henze

4 min read

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.

GOUACHE AND WATERCOLOR PAINT LABELS: 7 IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS

Julia Henze

5 min read

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.

INK DRAWING MATERIALS YOU NEED TO GET STARTED: MY FAVORITES

Julia Henze

5 min read

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.

HOT AND COLD PRESS WATERCOLOR PAPER: IS THERE REALLY MUCH DIFFERENCE?

Julia Henze

6 min read

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.

STEP-BY-STEP TUTORIAL: MIXED MEDIA TECHNIQUES FOR URBAN SKETCHING

Julia Henze

5 min read

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

CARAN D'ACHE LUMINANCE 6901: MY FAVORITE COLORS FOR SKETCHING

Julia Henze

3 min read

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 read

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 read

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 read

FIRST AID FOR DRY GOUACHE

This article gives a handy tip on what to do if your gouache has dried hard inside its tube.

YOUR GUIDE TO PERFECT PAPER FOR ALCOHOL-BASED MARKERS

Julia Henze

4 min read

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.