What's Sketch flash mob?

My name is Natalie Ratkovski. I'm an artist, illustrator, designer and non-fiction writer. In 2011 I started a drawing from life project "Sketch flash mob" for artists, designer, illustrators and for all those who likes drawing or painting from life with watercolor, acryl, oil, ink, pastel, marker, color pencils and more. One week – one theme, a lot of sketches, drawings or paintings from life only (no photographs, no computer graphics).

For many creative people in the world it’s really important to create something true and tangible in the century of computers. I created Sketch flash mob as a challenge to improve my drawing skills and to do something true. It has since grown into a worldwide endeavor with hundreds of artists taking part in the challenge every month.

Anyone can join in Sketch flash mob, just pick up a pencil and start drawing. For any questions or collaboration please contact me via email.

Related themes 1. Sketch flash mob rules 2. The official themes list 3. My tools and materials 4. Current project

1) Look to the topic of the week on my Instagram.

2) Make a drawing or painting from life.
Note: don't use photographs as a reference or computer programs to create your works.

3) Post your work online (Facebook, Blogger, Instagram or something else).

4) Hashtag it with #sketchflashmob and #sketchflashmob2017 and with "art project @natalie_ratkovski.

Note: you can do it daily or once a week. What ever you decide, just be consistent with it. Sketch flash mob is about growing and improving and forming positive habits by drawing from life, the more the better.

1. Pens

I use some waterproof ink liner for creating fine lines in my drawings. Top down: Staedtler Pigment Liner, Derwent Graphik line maker sepia, Derwent Graphik line maker graphit, Faber-Castell PITT artist pens, Uni-ball Signo White Ink pen.

Please click alternative on the link below the pictures to follow the product description at the shop.
2. Pencils

I use some mechanical pencils Faber Castell, 0.5 mm, blue and red with graphite 0.5 HB and color lead - TK-COLOR-lead 0.5 mm, blue, TK-COLOR-lead 0.5 mm, red. Please click alternative on the link below the pictures to follow the product description at the shop.

I like erasable colored pencils for the under-drawings much more than graphite pencils. The erasable colored pencils don't make noise on the paper: Col-Erase Erasable Colored Pencils , Staedtler Norris Club erasable, Faber Castell 116612 erasable. Please click alternative on the link below the pictures to follow the product description at the shop.


I use these colored pencils for my drawings: Faber Castell Polychromos, KOH-I-NOOR Polycolor. Please click alternative on the link below the pictures to follow the product description at the shop.

Pastel colored pencils Faber Castell Pitt Pastel, Caran D'Ache Pastel Pencils. Please click alternative on the link below the pictures to follow the product description at the shop.


3. Watercolors
I like watercolor more than anything and I use different colors from manufacturer. Top down: Winsor & Newton watercolor, Sennelier Artists' Watercolors, Schmincke Artists' Watercolors, Van Gogh Artists' Watercolors.
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5. Brushes
To draw with watercolor is the standard practice to use natural red marten-, squirrel, wolf's hair or goat hair brashes. I do it too, but I use even some synthetical brushes for my sketches and watercolors: Boesner Series 10/300 | retouch, round (Nr.4 and Nr.8), Gerstaecker Aqualon (Nr.2 and Nr.4), Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolour Brushes 3 rigger 333 , Da Vinci tinkerer / Series 5519 | Nr.8, Derwent 2301975 Waterbrush Set

Please click alternative on the link below the pictures to follow the product description at the shop.

6. Eraser
Tombow Mono Zero eraser, Factis BM2 eraser pen, Faber Castell Art eraser, Faber Castell Sleeve eraser/182402. Please click alternative on the link below the pictures to follow the product description at the shop.

7. Other helpful things

Caran D'ache Pencil-sharpening Machine (455.200), KUM The Masterpiece (Automatic long point)



For gessoed backgrounds AMI Paint foam roller Set, Liquitex 7608 Professional Gesso, Lefranc & Bourgeois Gesso Universal Primer


For the brush bath Ars nova brush cup, Princeton Artist brush bucket and watercolors REEVES 8490528 Folding Plastic Palette, Large

For UV protection and color protection Schmincke universal fixative, LASCAUX UV Protect 2, Sennelier Satin Varnish with UV protection

8. Sketchbooks and paper

Top down: Sketch- and watercolor book ROSSO, 230 g/m2, KUNST & PAPIER watercolor books (17 cm x 24 cm, 160g/m2), Clairfontaine Paint On Multi Techniques, naturel, ARCHES® Grain Fin

Please click alternative on the link below the pictures to follow the product description at the shop.


Enjoy!