Julia Bausenhardt

Are you as tired as I am from the digital noise and constant screen time that has crept into our lives? I’m taking some time off from that this summer. Ok maybe the title is a bit hyperbolic. I’m not prepared to stop using my phone or computer, but I’m limiting my interaction with screens ... Read more Source

In the last year, I’ve been struggling a lot with getting sketches down on paper. Often the sketches didn’t match what I wanted to express, or I found them lacking technique-wise. The latter problem, the technique, can be improved with a lot of deliberate practice. Draw (or paint) a lot of the things you want ... Read more Source

I want to look at one of the most useful pigments for landscape sketching today, and that’s Yellow Ochre and Raw Sienna. Wait, you’ll say, these are two pigments..and that’s right…or actually not entirely, since these are really similar pigments. I want to explore these two beautiful variants of the same pigment a bit more ... Read more Source

Recently I’ve explored sketching fire – a rare occasion. But the local easter fire tradition that signifies the end of winter and welcomes spring was a good way to explore that. Sketching fire is a lot like sketching water – a lot of times you just paint around it and add accents in the shadows. ... Read more Source

A common problem in landscape sketches is that they can end up looking flat, like there is no depth to them and it’s hard to see what’s in the foreground and what’s in the distance. This is because we need to consciously place cues for depth and volume on our two-dimensional paper to create the ... Read more Source

Sketching the delicate cherry tree blossoms in early spring is a highlight for me each, it’s the sign that the landscape and the botanical world are coming to life again. I like exploring the delicate and soft blossoms in the sketchbook very much – the only thing I maybe like sketching even more are apple ... Read more Source

In the middle of all the landscape sketching I’m doing, it’s nice to change things once in a while and return to other subjects. Since spring is finally around the corner, I thought it’s a great time for some botanical sketching. I’ve chosen a pitcher plant, which feels a bit like cheating, since it’s further ... Read more Source

Today I wanted to share a very cool event that’s special to me and that’s happening soon: The Sketchbook Revival Challenge 2026.It’s taking place between Saturday, April 11 – Monday, April 21st, 2026, and I’m really looking forward to being part of it again!  I met a lot of you during the past incarnations of ... Read more Source

Some of you have asked me what kind of brushes I prefer, so here’s an overview of the brushes I use most for my everyday sketching and especially landscape painting. Since I do not create huge paintings in my sketchbook, I mainly use smaller sizes, often mop brushes around 0-3, and classic round brushes up ... Read more Source