Amsterdam Urban Sketching Workshops & Mentorships:
The Power of the Pause: The City’s Soul in Your Sketchbook
Beyond the Postcard: Create Your Story With Pens & Paint
Photography captures a moment, but sketching captures a memory. I designed these private masterclasses to be more than just tours, to help you trade the rush of sightseeing for the quiet, focused beauty of creation. This is your invitation to move beyond generic images and develop the artistic language needed to translate Amsterdam’s unique beauty onto the page—a fundamental skill that stays with you long after the ink has dried.
The Three Levels of Mentorship:
Find Your Fit
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"I love the idea of sketching but don't know where to start."
Focus: Overcoming the Blank Page & Essential Geometry Designed for the "Engaged Beginner," this session strips away the intimidation of urban sketching. Learn to see the world not as "houses and bridges," but as a series of interlocking shapes and perspectives.
Core Skills: Linear perspective, simplified architectural geometry, and the "First Mark" confidence.
The Outcome: You will move past the fear of the white page and learn to capture the structural "bones" of Amsterdam with a clean, confident line.
BOOK A LEVEL ONE OBSERVER SESSION
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“I am comfortable drawing but want to add depth and life to my sketches."
Focus: Creating Depth through Color, Contrast and Shadow
For those who have mastered basic shapes but find their sketches feel "flat." We move into the realm of the Dutch Masters, studying how light falls across brick and water. We learn to use value (darks and lights) to create a three-dimensional sense of place.Core Skills: Shading, washes, and building color techniques, understanding light sources, and creating a "focal point" through contrast.
The Outcome: Your sketches will gain weight and depth, transforming from simple drawings into atmospheric records of a specific moment in time.
BOOK A LEVEL TWO STORYTELLER SESSION
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“I can handle ink and watercolor but want to better express my experience and viewpoint.
Focus: Advanced Composition & The Artist's Voice Visual storytelling for the experienced sketcher. Move beyond "copying what we see" and begin to interpret the scene. We focus on complex layered compositions—incorporating moving figures, water reflections, and the "shorthand" required to capture a city.
Core Skills: High-speed gesture drawing, advanced color theory, and intentional "editing" of a scene for maximum impact.
The Outcome: Develop a cohesive "shorthand" and personal style. Build an archive of sketches that feel like a curated professional portfolio.
Every Mentorship Includes
Private Coaching: Expert-led mentorship for 1.5 or 4 hours.
Portfolio Review: A virtual follow-up session to refine your work.
Artisanal Refreshments: Local Dutch snacks and beverages included.
Curated Field Kit: Lens wipes, sensor swabs, and power banks to keep you shooting, Portable tripods, stabilizers, and a pocket reference guide I designed to make things easier.
Select Your Session
All are private and exclusively for you.