"BEFORE" and "AFTER": interior sketches made by my students (fantastic progress)

Recognizing your progress is essential. At times, it may seem like you're endlessly drawing without seeing improvement in your skill level. However, by comparing two drawings—one from now and one from a year ago—you'll immediately notice the changes. Allow me to showcase a few examples from my students where the results speak volumes. As I love to say: “Practice makes progress“.

---

1 Example

Take a glance at the sketches by my student, Kate, before and after enrolling in my courses. The transformation is remarkable, wouldn't you agree? We witness not only a mastery of perspective but also a skillful depiction of textures and an impressive presentation of interior design ideas. Kate successfully completed the comprehensive “BASE+PRO“ Bundle at my Online School.

---

2 Example

Similarly, observe the watercolor works of another student, Polina. Post-course completion, Polina's drawings exhibit enhanced detail and professional rendering. Polina diligently completed all of my interior sketching courses, including WATERCOLOR, BASE+PRO, TEXTURES.

---

3 Example

In the "BEFORE" photo, you'll find Anastasia's very first interior sketch from my perspective challenge. Following her completion of courses in interior sketching (BASE+PRO, TEXTURES) witness the breathtaking "AFTER" result! It's worth noting that Anastasia's professional background lies in land surveying, without any formal training in the arts. Yet, her dedication and the guidance from my courses propelled her into a successful sketch artist.

“Practice makes progress”

In each of these instances, my students transitioned into full-time freelance sketch artists, securing interior sketch commissions. It's inspiring to note that even with completion of just the "BASE" course, many students began receiving their first sketch commissions. This demonstrates that achieving success in this field is within reach for anyone.

For further inspiration, explore more sketches crafted by my students on Instagram using the hashtag #SorokinaStudents

---

Join hundreds of designers who are currently taking my Interior Sketching course.

"BASE": a Course Which Teaches All the Basic Techniques You Need to Implement Sketching in Your Interior Design Practice

---

Related blog article: Open Day at Olga’s Online School of Sketching

DO YOU WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR SKETCHING LEVEL?

See the program of my online courses: here

HAVE A QUESTION?

Email me at olga@schoolofsketching.com

---

Read more from my blog:

The Best Fineliners for Interior Sketching: A Comprehensive Overview with Sketch Examples

When it comes to interior sketching, the right tools can make all the difference. As a sketch artist deeply involved in the world of interior design, I've put together a comprehensive overview of the fineliners I swear by.

In this article, we'll delve into the world of fineliners, comparing their performance on different papers, showcasing my interior sketches, and providing a detailed analysis to help you choose the best liner for your artistic endeavors.

---

Why fineliners?

Fineliners are an essential tool for any sketch artist, providing precision and control that can elevate your sketches to a new level. They are ideal for interior sketching – from line precision to ink quality and durability.

For those who prefer visual demonstrations, I've created a video where I compare the fineliners in action. This video will give you a firsthand look at how these artist pens perform and help you make an informed decision. Explore the unique qualities each liner brings to the table and how they contribute to the overall aesthetic of the sketches.

In this video, I'll show how the liners fare on different types of paper – regular paper, marker pad, and thick sketchbook paper. You will see how the choice of paper can significantly impact the outcome of your line. Understanding their performance on various surfaces will help you choose the right artist pen for your preferred sketching environment.

In this video, I also mentioned my 16-Day Instagram 5-Minute Sketch Challenge, here is a quick overview of the sketches I did there: watch

Amazon links

Artistic tools come in various price ranges, and it's essential to find a balance between quality and cost. Here are the Amazon links for your convenience. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Liners that I show in the video (or similar):

(1) Copic Multiliner 0.5:

https://amzn.to/3T03Iuf

(2) Copic Multiliner SP 0.3 (refillable):

https://amzn.to/49c6YcA

(3) Sharpie Pen:

https://amzn.to/3SGVI0J

(4) Pentel 0.5 Liner: 

https://amzn.to/42HRbzJ

(5) Touch Liners (I had this a a set): 

https://amzn.to/49fk1tY

(6) Micron (set in black):

https://amzn.to/48ngCrE

(7) Faber-Castell Artist Pen (raw umber) B:

https://amzn.to/3urp3V8

(8) Faber-Castell Artist Pen (a good set):

https://amzn.to/4bDj3sP

(9) STAEDTLER set (even though I don’t show this liner in the video, I love it and used to use it quite a lot and plan to buy it again):

https://amzn.to/42CFP01

Are you ready to make your own choice?

In conclusion, the world of fineliners offers a myriad of choices, each with its own strengths. Based on my experiences, I recommend those mentioned above as the best fineliners for interior sketching. However, personal preferences play a significant role, so feel free to explore and find the one that resonates with your artistic style.

As you embark on your artistic journey, keep in mind that the right fineliner can be a game-changer. Experiment with different options, share your thoughts, and let the creative process unfold. I hope this overview helps you find the perfect fineliner.

Resources

Download my PDF-list of all the materials I use for interior sketching (markers, paper, etc): here

Read also related articles on my blog:

• “Which Brands and Colours of Markers are the Best Choice for Interior Sketching?”

• “Top 10 factors that affect the cost of an interior sketch” (blog article+link to my live stream)

Please let me know in the comments which liners do you use and if you are happy with them.

Happy sketching!

P.S. Please share this article with your creative friend.

© Olga Sorokina, 2024

---

"BASE": a Course Which Teaches All the Basic Techniques You Need to Implement Sketching in Your Interior Design Practice

---

Read more from my blog

Blog Archive: here

Understanding Positive and Negative Space: Elevate Your Interior Design Drawings

In the dynamic world of interior design, the principles of positive and negative space are akin to the artist's brushstrokes on a canvas, shaping the aesthetic and functional essence of a space. As we delve into the realm of interior design drawing, these fundamental concepts take center stage, serving as the blueprint for creating spaces that are not only visually stunning but also harmoniously functional. Let’s dive deeper in this article.

Positive Space: Where Design Comes to Life

In the realm of interior design drawing, positive space constitutes the tangible elements that define and fill a room. Imagine the furniture, fixtures, and decor items—the elements that breathe life into the design. When sketching an interior space, positive space is the canvas upon which the designer articulates their vision, carefully placing each item to create a cohesive and purposeful environment.

Negative Space: The Unspoken Elegance

As the unsung hero of interior design, negative space plays a pivotal role in enhancing the overall aesthetic. It's the open floor space, the unoccupied walls, and the areas around and between furniture. In the realm of drawing, it's the blank canvas that allows for the articulation of design, contributing to the sense of openness, flow, and balance within a room.

Strategic Applications in Interior Design Drawing:

1. Furniture Choreography:

   - The arrangement of furniture is a dance between positive and negative space. In your drawings, consider how each piece contributes to both functionality and visual appeal, creating a symphony of form and function.

2. Navigating Traffic:

   - Intelligently managing negative space ensures smooth traffic flow within a room. It's about creating paths that are free from obstruction, fostering a sense of ease and practicality in the design.

3. Harmonious Balance:

   - Achieving the perfect equilibrium between positive and negative space is the key to a visually stunning interior. Striking this balance prevents a space from feeling cluttered or sparse, fostering a sense of visual delight.

4. Artistic Framing:

   - Negative space acts as a framing device, directing attention to architectural features, artwork, or designated focal points. It's the whitespace that enhances the significance of design elements within your interior composition.

5. Visual Comfort:

   - A well-considered distribution of negative space contributes to visual comfort. It ensures that a space is inviting, providing individuals with the freedom to relax and engage with the environment.

6. Spatial Symphony:

   - Mastering the interplay between positive and negative space is the art of spatial planning. It involves not just meeting functional requirements but doing so in a way that captivates the eye and evokes a sense of balance.

In the realm of interior design drawing, understanding the dance between positive and negative space is the hallmark of a skilled designer. Just as a maestro conducts an orchestra, an adept designer orchestrates a symphony of elements on paper, setting the stage for a beautifully realised interior. As you embark on your design journey, let positive and negative space be your guiding notes, creating spaces that are as functional as they are visually captivating.

(Quick note) Elevate Your Gallery Experience:

As you embark on your design journey, consider applying the principles of positive and negative space to your appreciation of art. The next time you visit an art gallery, focus on the negative space in the paintings. Notice how the deliberate use of empty space enhances the impact of the artwork, guiding your gaze and influencing your emotional response. You'll find that this heightened awareness transforms your gallery experience, allowing you to see and appreciate art in a new and enriching light.

Happy sketching!

Olga Sorokina

---

Master drawing furniture with my online course for beginners:

---

Shadows and Light: The Interior Artist's Guide to Mastering Value Study Techniques

In this article, I'd like to underscore the significance of incorporating a value study into your interior drawings.

It's quite common to observe beginners using a pleasing colour palette for their sketches. However, a key aspect often overlooked is the variation in tones. Without a thoughtful value study, the sketch tends to appear flat and lacks the dynamic contrast that brings it to life.

The secret to enhancing your interior sketches lies in mastering the art of value study.

“Sketching teaches us to become very observant, to see nuances.”

— Olga Sorokina

---

A “value study" in drawing refers to the exploration and representation of different shades of light and dark within an artwork. 

When it comes to interior drawing, understanding and effectively depicting values are crucial for creating a sense of depth, lighting, and atmosphere.

Here is a quick guide on how to approach a value study for interior drawing:

• Identify Light Sources:

• Determine the primary light sources within the interior space. This could be sunlight streaming through windows, artificial lighting from lamps, or a combination of both.

• Note how the direction and intensity of light affect different surfaces and objects in the room.

• Define Major Forms:

• Identify the major forms and shapes within the interior, such as furniture, architectural elements, and decorative items.

• Use values to accentuate the three-dimensional qualities of these forms. Consider how light and shadow play across surfaces.

• Establish a Focal Point:

• Decide on a focal point within the interior. This could be a specific area, object, or piece of furniture that you want to draw attention to.

• Use a higher contrast around the focal points or key elements in the foreground, making it stand out within the composition. This not only directs attention but also adds to the perception of depth by making those elements visually prominent.

• Consider Material and Texture:

• Different materials and textures within an interior space will reflect light differently. Pay attention to how values can convey the characteristics of materials, such as the shine of polished surfaces or the softness of fabrics.

• Experiment with variations in shading to depict a variety of textures realistically.

• Balance Light and Shadow:

• Achieve a balance between light and shadow to create a visually appealing composition. Avoid overly bright or dark areas unless intentional for artistic purposes.

• Use mid-tones to connect light and shadow, allowing for smooth transitions and a cohesive overall look.

• Utilize Reflections:

• If there are reflective surfaces like mirrors or glossy furniture, consider how they interact with light sources and surrounding elements. Reflections can enrich your value study.

• Experiment with Different Times of Day:

• If possible, explore how the lighting changes throughout the day. Different times of day can significantly impact the mood and atmosphere of an interior space (think here “Haystacks” by Claude Monet).

• Morning and evening light, for example, may create long shadows and warm tones, while midday light can be brighter and more direct.

• Create Atmosphere:

• Use values to establish the overall atmosphere of the interior. A well-executed value study can convey the mood of the space, whether it's cozy and intimate or spacious and airy.

• Practice Depth and Perspective:

• Use values to emphasize the sense of depth and perspective in the room. As objects or surfaces recede into the background, gradually decrease the intensity of values. Darker values in the foreground will contrast with lighter values in the distance, creating a sense of depth. Emphasize the contrast between light and shadow in the foreground. Remember that objects in the distance often have softer, less defined edges due to atmospheric effects.

• Refine Details:

• Pay attention to details in your interior drawing. Use values to highlight intricate details in furniture, patterns on surfaces, and other elements that contribute to the overall realism of the scene.

Remember that achieving depth and perspective in a value study requires a balance between accurate observation and artistic interpretation. Experimenting with these techniques will help you create interior drawings that not only capture the spatial relationships but also convey a convincing sense of depth through the effective use of values. Observe real interior spaces, study how light interacts with various elements, and practice consistently to enhance your skills in depicting values in interior drawings.

P.S. Hope you enjoyed this article, please share it on your social media so more Creatives can learn about the importance of value study and interior sketching.

© Olga Sorokina, 2024

Drawings from my online course on watercolour techniques in interior sketching. Learn more here

---

Transform your interior drawings with depth and perspective in my online course “Interior Sketching in Watercolour“

---

See my blog archive: click here

Perspective Drawing Explained: 7 Types of Perspective in Interior Sketching

In this article, I'll introduce you to seven exciting perspective techniques that I employ in my interior drawings. From the fundamentals of 1-point and 2-point perspectives to the fusion of 1+2, "distorted" perspectives, and more, discover how each technique can bring depth and uniqueness to your sketches. Join me on this creative journey to the art of perspective drawing.

---

In the world of interior sketching, perspective is the key to bringing your designs to life on paper. Whether you're a budding artist or an experienced designer, mastering different perspective techniques is essential. In this article, we'll explore seven intriguing types of perspective that can add depth, dynamism, and uniqueness to your interior sketches.

(1) One-Point Perspective (Frontal Perspective):

The fundamental technique for interior sketching, that forms the backbone of interior sketching. Here, we have only one vanishing point on the horizon line, but it forms everything. 

Read also related article on my blog for a more in-depth exploration of 1-point perspective:
“The 9 principles of one-point perspective in interior sketching”

---

(2) Two-Point Perspective (Oblique View):

Here we can see two vanishing points on the horizon line, adding an extra dimension of dynamism to your drawings compared to the more static nature of 1-point perspective.

Read also related article on my blog:
“The 6 principles of two-point perspective in interior sketching”.

---

(3) Combined Perspective (1+2):

A fusion of 1-point and 2-point perspectives, with some furniture objects having their own 2-point perspective. In this sketch, you can see a blend of 1-point perspective for the room and 2-point perspective for the objects, in this case, two classic bergere armchairs. What makes this perspective truly captivating is that each chair has its own set of 2 vanishing points. Here, things get intriguing with a total of 5 vanishing points! 

In my online course BASE, I'll guide you step-by-step in drawing this French interior.

---

(4) "Distorted" Perspective:

Some love it for the dynamism it brings, while others find it challenging. It's a unique fusion of one-point and two-point perspective. I find it really profound as it brings a lot of dynamic to the sketch. With "Distorted" Perspective, the back wall (also referred to as the frontal wall at times) takes on a trapezium shape, in contrast to the rectangular form of the back wall in our 1-point perspective (please take a look at my drawing below). This transformation adds an intriguing element of dynamism to your sketches, making it a captivating technique to explore. 

You can learn how to create this captivating effect in my online course PRO.

---

(5) "Elevated" Perspective with Two Vanishing Points:

Ideal for small spaces like bathrooms and home offices, this technique can add a new dimension to your designs. 

Join me in THE CLUB and explore how to create interiors with this perspective.

---

(6) "Elevated" Perspective with Three Vanishing Points:

Take your perspective skills to the next level with three vanishing points, offering even more depth and complexity to your sketches.

Let’s draw this interior together in my online course PRO.

---

(7) Four-Point Perspective:

Think about it as two sets of 2-point perspective.

You can draw this classic oval bench with me in my online course “FURNITURE“.

In my practice, I most often utilise the fundamental 1-point and 2-point perspectives, which form the backbone of interior sketching. Remember, the best way to make good interior sketches by hand is to make a lot of them, quickly and spontaneously, until it becomes natural for you.

To further dive into the art of interior sketching and discover the nuances of these perspective techniques, be sure to check out my 35-minute Instagram live stream where I explore this topic in greater detail: watch here.

Do you want to master interior drawing from scratch?

Welcome to my online course

“Perspective Drawing for Interior Design“

Read also related articles on my blog:

“What is perspective in drawing“

“Perspective Drawing Explained: 7 Types of Perspective in Interior Sketching”

“The 9 principles of one-point perspective in interior sketching”

“The 6 principles of two-point perspective in interior sketching”

P.S. Hope you enjoyed this article, please share it on your social media so more people can learn about perspective drawing and interior sketching.

© Olga Sorokina, 2023

---

See my blog archive: click here

Marker choice: my favourite marker sets for interior/architecture sketching from Amazon

This article will help you realize and select what exact materials you will need to start sketching, which brands of markers would be the best choice for you, I will share what I use in my sketching routine, you will get direct links here to my absolute favourites. You can use this list as a guide while shopping on the Internet. Also, you will learn which marker brands can be potentially damaging to your health.

Please note, links I provided here are affiliate; if you buy, I make a commission (at no extra cost for you!). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

---

Here I will recommend a variety of brands to choose from, but If I were to pick my absolute favourite marker brands, it would be Copic and Touch. They both have a vast array not only of colors but also of marker tips. In Copic, for example, these include ‘Classic’ markers, ‘Extra Wide’ ones, the thin ‘Ciao’ markers, and remarkable ‘Sketch’ (the last two have brush points). Copics are more pricy; Touch markers are more affordable. Here I also share Stylefile and Chartpak brands, which are quality and quite affordable.

I don’t recommend you use Touchfive, Touchnew, and Vista Artista markers since their quality not as good as their price (yes, they are cheap), not to mention that they can be damaging for your health, especially for the lungs. My students and I tried these markers, and unfortunately, we didn’t enjoy drawing with them.

Professional markers usually have two nibs: a wide one (chisel, wedge-shaped) on the one side and a thin one on the other (fine liner tip), or it can be a brush nib with the thin one. 

Side note: I’m a big fan of brush nibs; they are my absolute favourites.

Some markers are refillable (like Copic, for instance); some are not (like Promarker or Stylefile, for example).

YOU CAN DOWNLOAD MY PDF "MATERIALS FOR INTERIOR SKETCHING".

ENTER YOUR NAME AND EMAIL HERE:

Gray marker sets:

Grays go first. I purchase grays more often than any other colour. Why? Grays are the most important in interior drawing since they create tone and value, background and shadows in your sketch. A set of grays might be your first purchase when you get serious about interior sketching.

1. COPIC 5 grays at least are essential, but «the more grays – the better». 

Take a look at this 5 Sketching Grays Copic Sketch Set of Markers (5 markers + multiliner). Refillable markers and replaceable nibs: 

https://amzn.to/2LxdDGm

2. COPIC 12 grays is my favourite set of grays; it’s great if you’re serious about interior sketching or consider to draw sketch commissions in future, then check this Copic Classic set:

https://amzn.to/2RQL5J5

3. TOUCH 6 grays. It is an excellent alternative to Copic, Touch markers are really good, plus they are cheaper than famous Copic:

https://amzn.to/2LuPhgi

4. TOUCH 12 grays. Here is a nice set of warm grays, ShinHan Touch Twin Brush Marker Set 12WG Warm Grey:

https://amzn.to/2RTVbc7

5. STYLEFILE 12 grays. Stylefiles are also perfect quality markers for interior sketching. Double-ended with fine and broad nibs, but they are not refillable as Copic, for example. Look at this Brush Marker-Neutral Grey Set:

https://amzn.to/2LwcIWE 

6. STYLEFILE 12 grays. The same set but with wedge and fineliner tip, if you prefer wedge nibs instead of brush ones:

https://amzn.to/2KYnC8a

7. CHARTPAK Gray Set. There are 22 greys+3 blacks. They are not refillable, one-nibbed, but excellent quality. Chartpak is markedly different from the markers mentioned above. These markers have one very wide tip, that is highly convenient for interior sketching. The only disadvantage is that these markers have a rather strong smell of solvent. This 25 colours set contains 22 grays (warm, cool and neutral), plus three blacks:

https://amzn.to/2ROYykF

8. LETRASET/ WINSOR & NEWTON I like 6 Neutral Tones Set from Letraset (as I mentioned, grays are the most usable markers in interior sketching). These markers are not refillable. Recently Letraset ProMarker brand was renamed to Winsor & Newton ProMarker, but the marker quality stays the same:

https://amzn.to/2XrPurQ

Coloured marker sets:

When purchasing colored markers, focus on earthy, wooden tones. Yes, you will need some basic bright colors like red, yellow, green, etc., but you will not need five reds or seven violets, which are usually included in marker sets for manga drawing, for example. Our aim is an interior design and architectural drawing.

Here are some sets where grey colors are already provided, so you can purchase any of them and have it all: grays and colored markers all in one. Or maybe you prefer to buy gray and color sets separately. Here is the list of my favorites:

1. CHARTPAK Architecture Set, (25 colours):

https://amzn.to/2XnvZ3U

2. TOUCH Twin Brush Marker Set B (48 colours). NB: Grays are included here!

https://amzn.to/2J5ivkd

3. TOUCH If you want more bright colours check Touch Twin markers (60 colours) with fine tip nib on one end and a medium-wide chisel nib on the other:

https://amzn.to/2XjcVyL

4. COPIC ciao Set B. It was my very first Copic marker set. I remember at the time how pricy it was for me but at the same time how happy I was when I got it! This set was an excellent investment for my business. Copic Ciao is more affordable in comparison with Copic Classic or Copic Sketch.

https://amzn.to/2XvF6KQ

5. COPIC INK REFILLS They are available in all 358 colours of Copic palette, but I need only my top-frequently-used Copic colours such as grays, for example, this one:

https://amzn.to/2Xx1KCs

6. STYLEFILE markers (24 colours, grays are included here). If you are looking for your first and relatively affordable set, I would have started with them:

https://amzn.to/2xxuwZ9

7. STYLEFILE markers (24 colours), these are double-ended but with brush tip:

https://amzn.to/2LGfBEw

Side note: you can purchase markers one at a time to get familiar with a new brand, for instance, with Letraset:

https://amzn.to/2JjDVKD

P.S. Please share this blog article with your friends, thank you in advance.

© Olga Sorokina

---

Read other articles on my blog:

Top 5 books on perspective drawing: my personal choice

In this article, I will share with you my absolute favourite books on such a hot topic as perspective drawing for interior designers, architects, and urban sketchers.

Please note, links I provided here are affiliate; if you buy, I make a commission (at no extra cost for you!). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

P.S. Find your special gift at the end of the article.

“The artist’s business is to be able to draw an object so that it will look solid and not flat like the surface of the paper on which it is drawn. In so doing that artist employs a method that we call perspective.”

— From "Perspective Made Easy" book by E. Norling

---

"The SKETCH. Interior Design Drawing"

Olga Sorokina (click for a direct link on Amazon)

I'm happy to include my book on this list. I wrote it specifically for interior designers as well as interior design students who want to master perspective drawing and interior sketching with markers from scratch.

This is a very actionable and quick-read book that, if you would work with, will change your interior design project presentation and, possibly, even your whole creative life. I share my story in the book and how sketching transformed my life. I designed "The SKETCH "particularly for beginners in freehand sketching and for those who want to master a fantastic skill of hand rendering for better performance on the interior design scene. In case you want to make drawing commissions your new job (often called "sketch artist"), you will find inspiration here.

Here you will find a lot of tools, tips, and tricks for freehand sketching, examples of some of the masters of the craft, recommendations for materials. Students need to practice from the book with the step-by-step exercises. Richly illustrated, this little black and white book can serve as a source of great inspiration, and for some of you, it is going to become an excellent small table book.

My book is available in PDF version here

Paper-based from Amazon here.

---

“Drawing Perspective. How to See It and How to Apply It”

Matthew Brehm (click for a direct link on Amazon)

One of the recent coloured books on perspective, your hands-on guide to this tricky topic (big bonus: it's excellent polygraphy quality). It will be particularly valuable for urban sketchers and artists who love to do outdoor sketching since the majority of the examples featured are those drawn from location. No dry theory, but it does explain in a playful way how perspective works. Probably, one of the most straightforward books to read as it explains every type of perspective drawing so clearly.

I believe it will also be essential for beginners in general, actually, all levels will benefit from this book with its fun image quizzes (yes, you can draw right inside the book!), step-by-step schemes and diagrams, not to mention its «Perspective Chambers», which is really something special that I haven't seen in any other books on this topic. Definitely, those workbook exercises, in the end, are such a practical bonus for the reader (these worksheets for each task can be done in the book or downloaded).

This book gives you heaps of fun, practical exercises, and encourages you to play with them while demystifying such a complex topic for the majority of artists as perspective. The book will help you develop a working knowledge of how perspective appears in the world, why it seems the way it does, and how to apply these understandings in your sketches, accordingly, the perspective concept is broken down into "seeing it", "understanding it" and "applying it», a great explanation! After reading it, you will see the world around differently, and you will actually understand perspective so that learning how to draw it becomes effortless and fun.

---

“Perspective Made Easy”

Ernest R. Norling (click for a direct link on Amazon)

This tiny black and white print is a perspective classic, a great introduction quick-read book and foundation to perspective for beginners. Just look at its stats from Amazon Best Sellers Rank (for the day of publishing this article): 

#4 in Architectural Materials

#46 in Pencil Drawing

#22 in Arts & Photography Study & Teaching

This book is simple, short, quite easy to understand, and really helpful. A concept of perspective that confuses almost every interior design/architecture student is demystified here, it starts very basic and builds on each idea. In my opinion, it is one of the best books I have found for teaching perspective, but, if you are hoping for something advanced, «heavy», with innovative ideas for teaching, clear instructions and step-by-step drawings with good quality coloured images then this book is probably NOT for you, plus there's not that much in terms of interior design.

This small-format book is a light reading, even though some parts of it may seem too advanced, but most of it is very simple and easy to understand. It covers so many essential topics: vanishing points, ellipses, cylinders and cones, shadows, and shades. Also, at the end of every chapter, there are highlights to note and assignments to apply the newly learned information. You can finish this book quite quickly, but the book is designed so that the concepts may stay with you as you read and practice the exercises. I believe for beginners studying from this lovely little book before going into something advanced can make learning perspective more enjoyable, and later it will be easier to learn the more complicated perspective concepts.

While I was reading Norling’s book, I had a feeling that a mature architect sits in front of me and explains perspective principles in simple words and with fun examples. I like the statement which opens the book: "The artist's business is to be able to draw an object so that it will look solid and not flat like the surface of the paper on which it is drawn. In so doing, that artist employs a method that we call perspective."

It was written originally in the 1940s, the language might seem outdated, but the rules of perspective don't change. Just to give you an antiquated example of wording from the book: "Imagine your wearing a diving helmet." What?! A diving helmet? Why it’s not a snorkel and mask? I see this old-fashioned language as an added entertainment feature, so have fun.

This book is a useful reference for drawing in perspective, and it's a good deskbook for anyone who has learned basic perspective techniques, most of this information has been taught in art classes, but it is a solid reference/reminder-book to go back to whenever someone needs to refresh on the concept. 

Finally, I will add that this is a timeless classic that I would recommend to anyone interested in learning perspective drawing. Definitely, this book is an excellent tool for learning the basic intricacies of perspective; small, clear, and concise, it will be an essential addition to any Creative’s bookshelf.

---

“Perspective for Interior Designers: Simplified Techniques for Geometric and Freehand Drawing”

John Pile (click for a direct link on Amazon)

A prominent author of numerous books on interior design and such topics as the history of the interior, color in the interior (a list of John Pile’s books is here) did not leave behind such a hot topic as perspective in interior sketching. I believe that this book will benefit any interior designer who wants to master perspective and draw in front of their clients.

The book starts with a section on the fundamental technique of a 2-point perspective, which is presented through 14 sequential steps. This black and white, quite small, and straight forward edition offers the most important types of perspective for interior designers (1- and 2-point) in a simplified, clear, and concise way. The book is quite extensive in content with clear visual instructions, and you can read it in just a couple of days, yay! 

The author covers special situations like reflections, views from above, case studies, furniture. You will learn how to draw to scale, how to place floor plan in relation to drawing, how to draw circles in perspective, as well as ellipses and stairs (oooh, a tricky topic, right?) from Pile’s book as well. Perspective for Interior Designers offers an easily accessible and quickly learned method that will serve every interior designer’s drawing needs.

Also, here you will find some specific techniques for drawing interiors, step-by-step demonstrations, analysis of floor plans, and a simple and accurate method to make perspective drawings from them. I can say that this volume is a complete and specific guidebook, which is easy to understand. I wish I would have it when I was a student at the St Petersburg Art Academy.

By reading it, you will get the joy of being able to make accurate, technical, and professional-looking perspective interior drawings to scale. This book will help you stop struggling with perspective, so I highly recommend John Pile’s work for all interior designers, interior design students as well as architects (for others, it might seem to be very comprehensive or too technical).

---

“Sketching for Architecture + Interior Design” 

Stephanie Travis (click for a direct link on Amazon)

This beautifully done book is broken up into three chapters (furniture + lighting, interiors, architecture) with multiple drawing techniques in each section that emphasize the process. Each chapter provides in-depth steps and examples to follow. Forty-five step-by-step drawing exercises take you from the simple forms of furniture to interiors, to more sophisticated building exteriors and cityscapes. Stephanie provides excellent "how-to" steps, which makes it easy to follow and try out yourself. With its simple approach, easy to follow instructions and plenty of drawing examples, I believe this book should be available in all the Art Schools and Design Universities’ libraries. Interestingly enough, this book explains and outlines sketching in a way that works both for non-professional and industry professionals like architects and designers.

Having grown up with computers, today's interior design and architecture students are extremely adept at creating computer imagery, but often lack confidence in their freehand sketching skills, or even do not know how to sketch at all. Sketching has almost become a "lost art”, and this book is perfect not only for students but also for design professionals, as well as for those who just want to learn to sketch and see things in a new light. Sketching, and the careful observation that it entails is essential for the successful development of the next generation of designers. We can’t underestimate the importance of being able to sketch out an idea on the fly and learning to see in a new way, especially for a visual industry.

You can perceive this book as an excellent masterclass in free sketching. The instructions are insightful and pointed, and the freehand sketching adds so much texture and intimacy to the book, its compactness is beneficial for travel and is comfortable to review. This book might potentially give you “new eyes” and to draw what you see instead of what you think you see. The playful exploration of line, form, shadow, pattern, perspective, and composition is broken into manageable steps that build upon each other without a lot of overwhelming technical jargon. Through simple, beautifully hand-drawn examples, you will learn how to capture and portray the unique qualities of a subject rather than just reproduce a copy.

Technical topics covered include tools, line weights, perspective, proportion, composition, shading, serial views, and context. Exercises are illustrated with beautiful sketches, specially created by the author. Sketching for Architecture and Interior Design is the number one practical guide for design students wishing to master the art of looking and drawing. Interior designers and architects might find themselves using this book on studio projects, especially in the schematic design stage, since the book helps with diagramming and processing conceptual ideas, which then translate into the architectural concept.

---

In terms of proportions and standard dimensions for interior design and architecture, check out classic Peter Neufurt book: https://amzn.to/31CUGZC

Links here are Amazon Affiliates, so if you buy any of these books, I get a commission at no extra cost to you.

What are your favourite books on perspective, and have you already read any of these books?

Let me know in the comments below.

P.S. Please share this article on your social media so more people can learn about perspective drawing and freehand sketching. Thanks in advance, and good luck with your sketches!

© Olga Sorokina

---

Here is your special gift!

Master 1- and 2-point perspective in 7 days or less:

---

Subscribe to my channel for weekly educational videos on interior drawing:

---

Read other articles on my blog:

Interior Drawing: My 3 Rules of Custom Sketches

Having honed my craft working with esteemed interior designers since 2007, I've distilled three essential rules for custom sketching.

These rules are the product of my experience, offering guidance for success in the custom sketching world.

Let’s dive deeper in this article.

---

Rule #1

The first rule of custom sketching is: "Never draw to order without prepayment".

It is best to draw on prepayment of 100% or 50%. With 100% it's clear, you get paid first, then you start sketching. So your nerves will remain in the most healthy state :-) Of course, the customer in this case needs some proof that you do not disappear, do not leave him and draw everything qualitatively and in time.

Rule #2

The second rule is, "Never draw for someone for free!"

If for someone this rule is not obvious, then know that drawing to order for free/for nothing/for the goodness of your heart/for a portfolio you thereby discredit yourself and other artists. It is interesting to note that when you offer to draw for free, your reputation and professionalism fall in the eyes of the customer. Incredible but true! By the way, I'll tell you in confidence that decent customers try to stay away from such sketchers-altruists, afraid that they may be let down or do not meet expectations for the quality of work and deadlines. For them it looks like just inadequacy, also it is disrespect for their labor, and often themselves from a professional point of view, plus insecurity.

Rule #3

Third rule: "Name a decent price for your sketches".

No sketches for 15 dollars. Customers, who will appear in your life for such a price, most likely, will suck all the energy out of you, you will spend a lot of time/nerves on drawings, plus, you will be constantly asked to redo something, to make new and new changes in the project and in the end, for 15 dollars you will sit for sketches for days on end, without seeing daylight, working non-stop in the equivalent of one or two working weeks of an ordinary person with an average salary. There's a very good English expression for this: "The more they pay - the less they complain”. Your clients are your mirrors, how much you value yourself, your talent and professionalism, the higher your confidence in what you do — the better and more well’ paid your clients will be. Trust me, I learnt that the hard way.

To summarise:

• Rule #1: Never sketch without prepayment to secure compensation and reduce stress.

• Rule #2: Avoid working for free, as it can harm your reputation and professionalism.

• Rule #3: Set fair prices to maintain your energy and professionalism.

Now, if you're eager to delve deeper into the art of interior sketching, I invite you to join my online course on interior drawing. Let's unlock your creative potential and take your skills to new heights. Explore my course “BASE“ and start your journey to becoming a skilled sketch artist today!

---

"BASE": a Course Which Teaches All the Basic Techniques You Need to Implement Sketching in Your Interior Design Practice

---

Blog archive: here

11 Reasons Why Interior Designers and Architects Should Sketch

“When architects draw, they experience architecture, they are walking through the space in their minds.”

Interior design and architecture begins with an idea, and drawing is a fantastic tool to define it, to give form to this abstract concept that exists only in the designer's head for a while. Based on my experience, I can ensure you that sketching is the fastest way to design, yes, even though you've mastered all the design soft like 3DS Max, AutoCAD, ArchiCAD, Revit, and all other programs. Sketching is natural for designers.

11 reasons why we do it:

• to think,

• to discover,

• to express & manifest

• to understand ideas in our heads,

• to give form to something,

• to structure thinking,

• to communicate ideas and examine them,

• to present,

• to record and document, 

• to understand the world,

• to understand oneself (yes, I know it sounds quite philosophical, but that's true)

“Sketching is the process of discovery; it is like breathing, meditating, or exercising, just let it flow”

Most important, in my opinion, we do it to think, to evolve ideas during that process of freehand sketching. You transfer and translate your ideas into our world through the visuals. An experienced architect or interior designer make a drawing first thing almost automatically, instinctively. Well-made drawing establishes credibility with clients from the first meeting.

A professional dancer thinks through the act of dancing. His/her body literally «thinks» during that beautiful process, and creates choreography. It's thinking in motion. That can't be more true, that we, as designers, and architects think through the act of drawing to uncover and reveal and to draw something out that sits inside of our brains. 

“A good idea will generate a good drawing.”

What is the best drawing form for you?

Drawing may take many forms, and it's important you find your favourite, the most comfortable for you. It can be a freehand sketch on a piece of paper or digital drawing on the iPad in Procreate. Maybe it's a quick Photoshop concept sketch or a mixed technique that suits you best. For example, I noticed that very often interior design students create a hand drawing, then scan it and colour on a computer later. As one architect said: “Drawing is the first visible thing of the form of the thought, the changing point from the invisible powers to the visible thing. It's a special kind of thought, brought down onto a surface”.

“Drawing is the first visible thing of the form of the thought, the changing point from the invisible powers to the visible thing. It is a special kind of thought, brought down onto a surface”

Different stages in the interior design process require different kinds of drawing: expressive and quick early sketches are followed by more precise perspective views, layouts, and sections to scale. It all starts with a sketch first, even though very often these early, nearly abstract, exploratory drawings hold meaning only for its maker. It's the beginning of everything.

Remember, the best way to make good interior sketches by hand is to make a lot of them, quickly and spontaneously, until it becomes natural for you. Do you want to master interior drawing from scratch? Welcome to my Online School of Sketching.

P.S. Hope you enjoyed this article, please share it on your social media so more people can learn about perspective drawing and freehand sketching. Thanks in advance and good luck with your sketches!

© Olga Sorokina, 2023

---

"BASE": a Course Which Teaches All the Basic Techniques You Need to Implement Sketching in Your Interior Design Practice

(For Interior Designers & Architects)

---

Featured in:

Check out the recent Redfin article we were featured in:

11 Timeless Beige and Neutral Home Decor Ideas | Redfin

---

Read other articles on my blog:

How to Gain Admission to Your Dream Design University, Elevate Your ID Diploma or Become a Sketch Artist?

Exciting news awaits you at my Online School of Sketching today! 

As a sketch artist and experienced educator in sketching since 2015, I am thrilled to offer you my personalized coaching sessions to unlock your design potential and achieve unparalleled success.

In a nutshell, with my 1-1 coaching, you could gain admission to your dream Design University, elevate your interior design diploma project or become a professional sketch artist.​​

---

Here are the benefits:

1. Gain Admission to Your Dream Design University: With my personalized guidance and refined interior sketching and perspective drawing skills you'll acquire through the coaching, you can confidently apply to prestigious design universities and secure admission to the institution of your dreams. Let's turn your aspirations into reality!

2. Elevate Your Diploma Project: Enrich your interior design diploma project with breathtaking sketches that captivate and impress. With this one-on-one coaching, you'll master the art of hand rendering, enabling you to create outstanding presentations and set yourself apart from your peers.

3. Enhance Professional Opportunities: As you refine your sketching skills under my tutelage, you'll be equipped to pursue exciting career paths. Imagine becoming a professional sketch artist, collaborating with renowned brands, or even sharing your expertise by teaching interior sketching to others in your community.

4. Boost Confidence and Express Your Ideas: My coaching sessions will nurture your sketching abilities, allowing you to confidently express your design concepts and ideas. Develop a unique artistic voice that resonates with clients, colleagues, and collaborators, making your mark in the interior design and architecture world.

5. Unleash Your Creativity: Through personalized coaching, you'll gain the tools, techniques, and inspiration to unleash your full creative potential. Break free from limitations and explore new horizons in sketching, enabling you to craft even more beautiful, sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing environments for people to live in.

What people say:

​Here's what you will get from my 1-1 coaching:

1. Confidence and Guidance:  Gain the confidence to express your creative vision and receive expert guidance tailored to your needs. I will provide personalized feedback on your sketches or design projects, allowing you to showcase your design concepts with clarity and artistic flair.

2. Insights from a Pro:  Benefit from my extensive professional experience in interior design and architecture. I have collaborated with renowned brands, worked on award-winning projects, and shared my expertise at international events. With my guidance, you'll gain invaluable insights and industry-relevant techniques.

3. Accelerated Skill Development:  Experience rapid interior sketching skill development with practical exercises and personalized recommendations. Refine your sketching abilities and elevate the quality of your work.

4. Professional Perspectives and Tips:  Tap into my wealth of professional perspectives and insider tips. Learn sketching techniques, presentation strategies, and industry best practices to impress clients and colleagues.

​Pricing

Secure your spot in my coaching program today:

- Single Zoom Session: For those enrolled in my online courses ("BASE," "PRO," "Watercolour," or "Procreate"), a one-hour Zoom coaching session is $190 USD. For non-enrolled individuals, the price is $290 USD.

- Five Sessions Package: Dive deeper with a comprehensive package of five one-hour Zoom coaching sessions for $760 USD. The fifth session is complimentary. Receive continuous support to achieve your design goals. For those enrolled in the online courses I’ve mentioned above, a one-hour Zoom coaching session is $760 USD. For non-enrolled individuals, the price is $1160 USD.​

Spots are limited, so please complete this form to secure your spot asap.

​Wishing you boundless inspiration and, as always... Happy sketching!

Olga Sorokina

Founder, Online School of Sketching Ltd

Author of "The SKETCH. Interior Design Drawing"

My blog: https://schoolofsketching.com/blog-in-english​​

Artificial Intelligence and Interior Design: Good or Bad? What is the future of sketch artists and interior designers as AI rapidly advances?

AI and ID: good or bad?

OK, let’s address today that “elephant in the room”. 

Recently, a question came up from one of my students enrolled in my online course “BASE”:

“Olga, what is the future of sketch artists and interior designers as AI rapidly advances?"

Since this question concerns many people, I'll share my point of view here.

You are very welcome to share your ideas and insights on AI in the comments below. What are your thoughts? Please share them below. I’m really excited to read your comments.

Alright… Typically, professional interior designers study design for 4-6 years (in my case it was 6 years, year 6 was entirely dedicated to the diploma project).

Historically, the profession of an interior designer requires:

 Stage 1. Copying

Almost all art education starts with copying the works of masters: we learn by attempting to replicate what is already known. This is our nature. The initial stage is learning the history of interior design and architecture, and providing “recipes” for popular canonical styles, like classicism, modernism, minimalism, etc., allowing us to assemble them piece by piece.

Stage 2. Blending

After mastering the history and understanding the basics, future interior designers can blend the knowledge they have acquired and mix it with other known elements to create new, more complex, and contrasting solutions that maintain a coherent and harmonious appearance. This is for instant, how some of the styles in interior design have emerged: fusion, boho, and contemporary classic, to name a few. You can break the rules when you know them, right? In other words, the educational system significantly expands on the range of interior designs that can be created.

Stage 3. Creativity

After mastering both canonical styles and the ability to break the rules of their formation, resulting in more intriguing visual outcomes, can we explore creativity. This means completely freeing up from the restrictive rules of specific styles and creating without being bound by existing conventions, while still adhering to the fundamental principles of design. This approach pushes the boundaries in every way.

Alongside with all that, there is a 1-1 work with clients, work with real three-dimensional spaces, sketching, considering dimensions, proportions, technical nuances, ergonomics, etc. By the way, clients in the majority of cases do not know exactly what they want. They see a picture on Pinterest — they want that feeling, ambiance, and emotion, they can imagine how they live in that interior. But they don’t know “How To”, this is our job as an interior designer.

In terms of visual work, AI learns from what is already known and created before 2021, specifically from publicly available images. However, it cannot distinguish between a good and a bad interior design or identify mistakes. You should give it very precise commands and prompts to receive proper feedback.

Interior design involves too many variables that exist in different planes. For AI to progress further, extensive training would be required. Moreover, the person responsible for training it would need to possess impeccable knowledge and understanding of these concepts. Therefore, achieving even the first stage is certainly not something that can be accomplished in just a few years.

However, even if we imagine a scenario where AI perfectly masters the first stage, not to mention the extensive work needed to go beyond standardised solutions, it would not pose a threat to skilled designers. 

The initial stage where AI enters the life of an interior designer is as a tool that can handle certain routine technical tasks to enhance efficiency. In my opinion, AI speeders things up, it saves time, it gives you more options and you can accomplish more in less time.

Even if we hypothetically consider the perspective of complete substitution, we can draw parallels with the fact that all work was initially done manually. However, the mechanization of labor and the subsequent industrial revolution with the transition to assembly line production led to the term 'handmade' being used as an advantage even after two centuries.

Therefore, it is unwise to rely on AI 100%. 

 However, my online course “BASE” can help you gain a deeper understanding of interior sketching and perspective drawing.

“BASE": a Course Which Teaches All the Basic Techniques You Need to Implement Sketching in Your Interior Design Practice.

(Perfect if you are a novice in drawing interiors, interior designer, id/architecture student)

The Limitations of AI in Interior Design:

AI has made significant advancements in various industries, but it also has inherent limitations when it comes to interior design. Let's explore these limitations:

1. Lack of Subjective Judgment:

While AI excels at analyzing patterns and replicating existing designs, it struggles to grasp the human touch in design decisions. Interior design often involves subjective judgment, cultural context, and individual preferences, which can be challenging for AI to comprehend.

2. Inability to Identify Mistakes:

AI's training is based on existing designs, making it difficult for it to differentiate between good and bad design choices or identify potential errors. The keen eye of an experienced interior designer is crucial in ensuring functional and aesthetically pleasing spaces.

3. Complexities of Three-Dimensional Space:

Designing interior spaces requires a deep understanding of spatial relationships, proportions, and technical nuances. AI's current capabilities fall short when it comes to working with real three-dimensional spaces, considering dimensions, and addressing ergonomic considerations.

The Synergy Between AI and Interior Designers:

Rather than viewing AI as a threat, interior designers can embrace it as a powerful tool that enhances their creative process and efficiency. Here's how AI can be beneficial:

1. Time-saving Efficiency:

AI can handle routine technical tasks, freeing up designers to focus on ideation, conceptualization, and personal interactions with clients. It expedites the design process, giving designers more time to delve into their creativity.

2. Enhanced Inspiration:

AI-generated design inspirations can serve as valuable references, helping designers explore new ideas and expand their creative horizons. By incorporating AI-powered tools, designers can access an extensive database of design elements and styles, enriching their design process.

The evolution of interior designers is a testament to their artistic growth and creative problem-solving skills acquired throughout their education and careers. While AI offers powerful tools and possibilities, it cannot replace the nuanced judgment, creativity, and expertise that interior designers bring to the table. By embracing AI as a collaborative tool, designers can harness its benefits while preserving the irreplaceable human touch in their craft.

So, if you're passionate about interior design or aspiring to be an interior designer, remember that your artistic intuition, ability to blend styles, and capacity for creative thinking make you an indispensable force in shaping remarkable spaces that resonate with people's lives.

You are very welcome to share your ideas and insights on AI in the comments below. What are your thoughts? Please share them below. I’m really excited to read your comments.

P.S. Hope you’ve enjoyed reading please share this article with your friend.

---

Watercolour Interior Drawing: Overcoming 3 Common Mistakes Beginners Make

Mastering Watercolor Interior Drawing:

Conquering 3 Common Beginner Mistakes

In this blog article, we will explore three common mistakes that beginner artists often make in watercolour, with a focus on interior sketching. By understanding these mistakes, you will gain valuable insights and learn how to avoid them. Additionally, we'll address the main fear beginners face and provide guidance on overcoming it. So, get ready for an enjoyable and inspiring read!

---

Watercolour - A Captivating Medium

The allure of watercolour lies in its ethereal qualities, its lightness, and the semi-transparency of colours. It can evoke various moods, from introspection and melancholy to vibrancy and joy. Watercolour resides on the boundary between drawing and painting, combining the best of both worlds. Even Leonardo da Vinci recognized its unique attributes and utilized it for his sketches.

Watercolour can be likened to an actress – spontaneous, free-flowing, and light, yet also capable of achieving balance and realism through techniques like glazing. It has captivated me and I consider it superior to other mediums such as oil, acrylic, tempera, pastel, and even markers.

“Watercolor, a captivating actress, dances between chaos and serenity, embodying both untamed spontaneity and balanced realism.”

— Olga Sorokina

Choosing Between Watercolour and Markers

A common question I receive is whether I prefer watercolour or markers. The answer depends on the purpose. Markers are excellent for quick interior sketches and are beginner-friendly due to their ease of use and control. They offer transparency and layering capabilities, similar to watercolours.

For travel and convenience, markers are my go-to choice. I always carry a couple in my bag for sketching on the go, whether in cafes, parks or during dance classes. However, when it comes to plein-air painting and more extensive academic drawings, watercolour excels. It is my preferred medium for courses like "Watercolour in Interior Sketching."

It is worth noting that my journey with watercolour began in childhood, whereas markers gained popularity relatively recently. So, consider your purpose and experience when selecting between these mediums.

Conquering the Fear of Water

One of the main fears beginners face in watercolour is the fear of water itself. The uncertainty of how to control water and achieve the right paint-water ratio can lead to frustration. However, it is essential not to let this fear discourage you. Let me share a valuable tip to help you befriend watercolour.

Embrace water and approach it with curiosity and openness. Fall in love with water! Often, beginners set high expectations for their initial watercolour attempts, and any setbacks can lead them to abandon the technique. Remember, nobody expects to effortlessly ride a bicycle without practice. Similarly, watercolour requires patience and practice.

Mistakes are not something to be avoided; they are gifts from the divine. Instead of striving for perfection, seek to understand your mistakes, learn from them, and grow. As Salvador Dali wisely said, "Mistake - a gift from the divine. Therefore, do not strive to correct your mistakes. Instead, try to understand them, delve into their meaning, endure them. And liberation shall follow."

“Mistake is a gift from the divine. Therefore, do not strive to correct your mistakes. Instead, try to understand them, delve into their meaning, endure them. And liberation shall follow”

— Salvador Dali

Drawing from my online course “Interior Sketching in Watercolour“

Let's Explore the Three Common Mistakes

Now, let's delve into the three common mistakes that often arise. By recognizing and addressing these mistakes, you can enhance your artistic abilities and improve your watercolour interior drawings.

Mistake #1: Fear of Water and Embracing Mistakes

This mistake stems precisely from the fear of water that I mentioned earlier. Let me emphasize that mistakes are wonderful! The more mistakes you make, the faster your growth and progress will be! It sounds strange, doesn't it? But consider this: the best way to learn something is to actually do it, isn't it? The same applies to watercolor. You just need to engage in regular practice without giving up at the first sign of failure. Embrace the process, let the colors flow if they wish to, and experiment fearlessly. Be open to making mistakes because you are learning! Find joy in the process, for you have embarked on watercolor to explore something new and infuse more creativity and happiness into your life. The most important thing is that through regular practice, you will reach a level where you can smile at your early works and see those mistakes, understanding that without them, you wouldn't have grown creatively. Art is a process, so enjoy it and stop judging yourself or constantly comparing yourself to others.

Mistake #2: The Colour Conundrum - Embracing the Artistic Sweet Spot

When it comes to colour, novice painters often find themselves caught in two extremes: oversimplification or overcomplication. The former group tends to rely on bright, unadulterated hues straight from the tube or palette, while the latter muddle their creations with an excessive mix of colours, resulting in muddy tones. These polar opposites can hinder your watercolour journey. But fear not, for there lies a glorious middle ground, a harmonious balance to be discovered.

In watercolour, finding the "golden mean" is paramount. It can be achieved by following two essential rules:

1. "Don't settle for colours straight from the tube; instead, mix them on the palette" - this rule applies to those who tend to oversimplify, helping you infuse depth and nuance into your artwork.

2. "Limit your palette to three or four colours at most" - this rule guides those who tend to overcomplicate, allowing you to maintain clarity and coherence in your creations.

By embracing this delicate equilibrium of colour, you unlock the true potential of watercolour and set your imagination free.

Mistake #3: The Power of Water - Embrace Its Essence

One common mistake arises from a fear of embracing water in watercolour. This fear can lead to artworks that resemble gouache or tempera paintings, lacking the translucency and vitality that watercolour is renowned for. When the paint is applied too heavily, the paper loses its breath, resulting in a lifeless piece that yearns for the touch of water's magic. Remember, watercolour is the embodiment of its name, a celebration of water's fluidity and grace.

Let go of your inhibitions and allow the water to dance upon your canvas. Embrace its essence and infuse your artwork with life, air, and vibrancy. Grant yourself the freedom to explore the boundless possibilities that watercolour offers.

Now I'm eager to hear your thoughts: Have you encountered these mistakes and fears in your artistic journey? Do you recognize them in your own work? How does working with watercolour make you feel? Have you ventured into its captivating realm before? Share your experiences and insights in the comments below!

P.S. If this blog post has ignited your creative spirit and provided valuable insights, please spread the inspiration by sharing it with your fellow artists and friends on social media. Let's embark on this artistic adventure together! Thank you!

© Olga Sorokina, 2023

Check out the program and sketches from my online course 'Interior Sketching in Watercolor'

---

Top 11 struggles in interior sketching beginners usually have

Here are the most common struggles I’ve noticed throughout my teaching practice:

+ Perspective basics is definitely high on your "struggles list”, perspective drawing seems to look very complicated

+ You are totally new to sketching and need to learn about it to be comfortable where to begin with; you really just need some helping hand

+ Your biggest issue is the proportion of the furniture to the size of the room

+ Just getting started and know what to draw when you finally sit to draw

+ Scared of hand rendering textures and reflective surfaces, like glass, mirror, metal, etc.

+ Not sure if you are using the right materials for sketching

+ Struggle mostly with shading, highlights, and cast shadows in particular

+ Wish you are being able to use the right materials to highlight the differences in tonal variation

+ Feel very rigid while sketching structure and resistance while approaching 2-point perspective, despite practicing and following along the lessons

Maybe you are more experienced and have made rendered drawings you are proud of, but they were very time-consuming, so:

+ Getting in the habit of sketching project ideas quickly is your biggest weakness, and you feel the need to jump to Revit/AutoCAD/3DSMAX to get yourself started on ideating a plan, and you wish you could just grab a sketchbook to do the same (probably you even think it is a purely psychological issue :-)

+ Biggest issue is that you don’t know how to put multiple drawings on an A4/A3 page to present an idea. When using markers, it can be hard to plan out where everything will go and how the overall look of the page/s might be. Single drawings are easier, but when combining floor plans and a 2-point perspective interior and exterior plus a 1-point interior on the same page, you want to make it all look aesthetically similar

Let me know if you resonate with any of these or have your own struggles in the comments below this video on my YouTube, please.

---

Resources:

Check my free perspective course  and blog articles archive, it can really help.

© Olga Sorokina

---

If you want to dive deep into interior sketching and address those struggles, I welcome you to join my online course

"BASE": a Course Which Teaches All the Basic Techniques You Need to Implement Sketching in Your Interior Design Practice:

---

7 signs of "imposter syndrome" in sketch artists and interior designers

“Imposter syndrome” very often refers to women and over-achievers, who doubt their accomplishments or fear being discovered as a fraud. It is when you have a strong feeling that you do not deserve the success that you have achieved, and everyone around you is mistaken about you and sooner or later will realise that you are an “imposter”.

---

Funnily, “imposter syndrome“ is rarely associated with a real lack of knowledge and skills, much more often an incompetent person does not feel that he is doing something wrong. It usually goes hand in hand with perfectionism and/or lack of self-confidence.

I have noticed some particular signs-indicators that show that a creative person might have “imposter syndrome“.

7 SIGNS OF “IMPOSTER SYNDROME” IN INTERIOR DESIGNERS & SKETCH ARTISTS:

1. You find it hard to accept praise and/or criticism about your drawings/interior projects (even if the criticism is constructive)

2. You are nervous if you don’t know the topic at 100+ % and scared to make a mistake

3. You constantly feel like you lack some knowledge and you can’t pursue your dreams before you get through one more online course, and another one, and another… You see what I mean here :-)

4. You feel like you don't deserve your professional success and you think your success is just a fluke

5. You are constantly afraid that the “real you” are about to be discovered as a fraud

6. It seems to you that others would do the same things you do but quicker and more effortlessly 

7. Just the thought of you making a mistake (or worst, failure!) is simply unbearable for you and makes your stomach move

To be true, I had a very strong “imposter syndrome” when I had just graduated from St Petersburg Stieglitz State Academy of Art and Design, after studying Interior Architecture for 6 years, and #2, #6, and #7 used to be really strong in me back then.

If you can relate to two or more of those “signs” above, then probably it’s your thing. It does NOT mean that you are sick or anything like that, no! I see it more as a “social sensitivity”. We were conditioned to feel like that, and society incepted that thing in our minds (I hope my terminology makes sense to you). The good news is that you can work with it and change it if you are aware of it.

Surprisingly, statistics say that two out of five successful people feel like “imposters.” Can you believe it?! And stats show nearly 70% (I think it should be 99%) felt like an imposter at some point in their lives. So actually, it is quite normal :-) The thing is, it is not normal if you feel like it affects your life here and now.

A lot of people who go through my online courses or live workshops tell me something along these lines:

“I would love to take sketch commissions, though I am not entirely sure how to do that other than to plunge straight in! I have completed a course last year in Interior Design but I have no practical / “on-the-job” experience so am nervous that my knowledge of materials, lighting, fabrics, furnishings, wall, and window coverings, etc - the intricacies of interior architecture - are lacking even for sketch commissions. So a lot of exciting reading, exploring, viewing of interior sketches lies ahead.”

View fullsize

Well, I can tell you that some of my students became sketch artists without ANY interior design education or even any creative background at all. And the fact a person had completed an id course already puts her/him in the leading position. That is a great advantage for a sketch artist to be.

So you see, for some people, it is more of a mindset work. For some, it is more of a work with their emotions, and their past. For instance, if your parents over-praised or over-criticised you (or both), you may be more likely to have feelings of being a fraud later in life. But please do not criticise your parents for it, they did the best they could. Society's pressures add to that for sure.

In case you might be interested, I have two extra spaces for the coming month for my personal 1-1 zoom consultations where I help my students to pursue their creative goals and dreams. Also, I can give detailed feedback on your drawings and answer your questions. Please email me here schoolofsketching.com/contact-me

P.S. If you liked and found this blog post useful, please share it with your friends on Instagram or Facebook. Thanks a lot!

© Olga Sorokina, 2023

---

Want to become a professional sketch artist?

Check out my “BASE+PRO“ Bundle

---

Read other articles on my blog:

Open Doors Day in Online School of Sketching by Olga Sorokina

---

Welcome you to a very special day for me — an Open Doors Day in my Online School of Sketching!

So you could get a taste of what it’s like — to study interior sketching with me.

---

What the program of the day looks like:

Q&A live stream on Instagram @schoolofsketching

Where I will be:

• Answering your questions

• Reading a chapter from my book “The SKETCH. Interior Design Drawing” (Amazon link) 

• Plus you will be able to watch free previews from my online courses on interior sketching

SAMPLE LESSONS FROM MY ONLINE COURSES:

From Online course “BASE”: click

From Online course “Procreate”: click

From Online course "TEXTURES": Essentials of Texturing with Markers in Interior Sketching: click

From Online course “Watercolour in Interior Sketching”: click

DIRECT LINKS TO MY COURSES ON INTERIOR SKETCHING:

“BASE": a Course Which Teaches All the Basic Techniques You Need to Implement Sketching in Your Interior Design Practice
(Perfect if you are a novice in drawing interiors, interior designer, id/architecture student):

click

"PRO": a Deep-Dive into Advanced Sketching Techniques
(For interior designers, architects, or if you've already mastered the basics of interior sketching in my course BASE):

click

“Interior Drawing Magic “: Master Perspective Drawing for Interior Design from Scratch:

click

"TEXTURES": Essentials of Texturing with Markers in Interior Sketching
(For Interior Designers, ID Students, and Those New to Sketching):

click

“PROCREATE“: Basics of Interior Sketching in Procreate in This All-in-One Online Course:

click

”WATERCOLOUR”: Master Watercolour Techniques for Your Interior Design Drawings:

click

Here are some of the drawings made by my students from my online course “Interior Drawing Magic”:

---

Top 10 factors that affect the cost of an interior sketch

I often got asked by novice sketch artists how much to charge for a sketch, what affects the cost of the sketch, and so on?

In this article, I will share with you ten factors that I see as important when pricing your interior drawing.

Happy reading!

My 5-hour long interior drawing. If you want to learn more about the drawing process, watch this video on my YouTube.

I have highlighted for you the top ten factors that I think about before starting on a new commission:

1. If a client orders a series of sketches VS only one sketch (I usually offer a 30% discount if there are more than 3 sketches in one order)

2. Format (most popular are A4 and A3 if you draw analog), the bigger — the more expensive.

3. Sketch in pencil or sketch in colour (to me, colouring part is the easiest since the perspective is done in the drawing part)

4. Drawing from a reference photo/3D model image or the need to build perspective from using furniture layouts/sections/any drafts with dimensions (as it takes quite a while!)

5. More than 3 major edits (that's why it is very important to correctly discuss brief so in a hand rendering nothing will be missed)

6. Interior style: it depends if we’re talking about minimalism/high-tech or Italian classics as the latest consumes more time due to profound details.

7. Urgency, if your customer needs the sketch «yesterday» or in 24 hours then you can add 30-50% to the cost of your sketch

8. Drawing of a fragment of an interior (for ex: a free-standing piece of furniture, curtains design) or a sketch of an entire interior in perspective

9. If your customer does not allow the publication of the final sketch on your social media or portfolio

10. Commercial use of the sketch: whether the designer will use the drawing for commercial purposes (for ex, booklets, magazine cover, etc); this is usually negotiated with each client individually.

Plus, I highly recommend jumping on a zoom/Skype call with your client (even a quick 15 min call will work!) to make sure you understand each other correctly, plus it builds beautiful personal relationships.

Please keep in mind these factors next time you do a sketch commission, Clients differ, with some the work is a piece of cake and with some, it might take too much of your time and energy. Know your hourly rate and never under-charge your services!

I dive deeper on the topic and showing you some examples of my analog and digital sketch commissions in my latest Instagram live stream, worth checking out: here

P.S. I hope these tips were of help to you, my dear creatives. May I ask you to share this blog article on your social media, please? Thanks in advance and good luck with your sketch commissions!

© Olga Sorokina

Want to become a professional sketch artist?

Check out my “BASE+PRO“ Bundle

---

In this video, I share with you the steps of how I created that yellow interior drawing:

---

Read other articles on my blog:

---

check my podcast episodes

(MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS WITH ARCHITECTS, ARTISTS, AND DESIGNERs)

Become a profitable sketch artist: my effective Instagram strategy for client search

Are you are an artist who loves making interior design sketches and wants to make a profit from it, or want to become one? In this article on my blog, I`m going to suggest you my Instagram strategy for client search.

---

Instagram

The number one thing is the great and mighty Instagram. Interior sketching is a visual content, it`s something that people see with their eyes. What platform is usually used for posting beautiful photos? Instagram and Pinterest, of course. This post refers to the first one.

Well, I`ve prepared for you a good strategy and a firm plan of actions:

A new profile

You make a new Instagram account especially for interior sketches and you never post anything else there: no lovely kittens, no food, landscape pictures, or photos of you lying on the beach. There should be only your sketches. Sometimes you can post your photos, but they must be on-topic photos. I mean in those photos you should be drawing your sketches, or for example, attending an interior presentation. All photos in this account must show that you are a professional sketcher but not a hot and beautiful girl or a young mother or an animal lover. You should focus on only one subject: interior sketching and you designing your interior sketches.

Profile description

Here is an example I made for you. Write something like this in your profile:

Profile name: sketchnazakaz ( I don`t know if there is any profile like this on Instagram)

Profile description: I draw make-to-order interior design sketches with markers. Price for a sketch: starting from USD 100. Lead time: 2 workdays. You can write your questions in the direct messages or via Whats up. Contact me today: +7921 1234567

Posts frequency

Post frequency in this account: 1 photo a day. Your stories and live streaming must be about one and the only subject: interior sketching. Tell about your make-to-order designs, your recent works, and what designs you made before, tell what project you are working on now. Tell your followers about your orders and clients and your favorite sketching styles, show your works, etc. I think you got the idea.

Posting Schedule

In a perfect world, schedule your posts at least for the next three days. However, it`s better to make a plan for the whole week. I know, it isn`t easy to make yourself do it, but it`s very important. It doesn`t matter how many followers you have. Even if there are only 16 people and 10 of them are your relatives, you shouldn`t give up. By the way, your posts should appear at weekends as well. Remember, there are no weekends on Instagram. Seven days = seven photos of your sketches. 

Posts with sketches and prices

As soon as you finish one or more make-to-order sketches, post photos or scanned copies of them in your Instagram profile, and don`t forget to mention the price in the description. I think it`s clear that it isn`t a good idea to draw make-to-order sketches for free. And still, if you are a kind and generous one, let me remind you once again: please don`t go altruistic, your time, work, talents, and knowledge must be paid and show a profit. Drawing interior design sketches for free is a discredit to all visual artists.

Light in the photo

One more helpful piece of advice: the photos of your works should be taken in daylight at the window or outside or you can scan them for better results. Use Instagram filters to add some brightness and contrast, but don`t overdo with them. 

Hashtags                                                 

If you want to get more eyes on your Instagram posts, I strongly suggest you to use sketching hashtags. Analyze the most popular ones and use from 10 to 20 hashtags with every post. The best 

Hashtags for you could be #sketches #interiorsketches #markerdrawing #maketoordersketching  #interiordesign

“Your new profile should be focused on only one thing: sketching and you working on your sketches.”

— Olga Sorokina from @schoolofsketching

And yes, obviously your Instagram profile must be set to public. Honestly, I was surprised to see too many private accounts where it was written “make-to-order designs” in their bio.  

What then? Who is going to work with those people if nobody can see their drawings?

Is everything clear about Instagram? Did you get inspired? Then go for it, and do it today, right now, don`t lose your longing or you will never get anywhere. As A.S. Pushkin said “the noble promptings of the spirit”. 

In the end, I want to wish you further creative success, new interesting projects, and a long queue of clients! Good luck!

Please let me know if this blog post was useful for you, share your thoughts and ideas in the comments. 

P. S. And what's the main, if this blog post was useful for you and you liked it, please share it with your friends on your social media. Many thanks in advance!

Olga Sorokina

In my online course on interior sketching for beginners (“BASE“, Bonus section) I go over two other magnificent and never-ending sources of eventual clients:

Check the course, click the button:

---

Learn more about my online courses on interior drawing with markers and on iPad:

Top 10 mistakes in interior sketching that can make your drawing look unprofessional

After more than 6 years of teaching interior sketching, I can tell you that I notice the top 10 common mistakes that beginners make that can ruin their sketches, and I’d like to teach you how to avoid every single one of them.

Please take a look at the image below. This is a drawing that I created specifically for this article to illustrate all of the ideas I’m about to share. Sketch to the right is OK; sketch to the left contains all of those 10 mistakes. Surprised? Keep reading and learn more.

---

I’ve been teaching interior sketching and perspective drawing since 2014, and I can tell you that I can see certain mistakes that not only beginners in sketching but also experienced interior designers make in theirs drawings. These mistakes compromise their professionalism, and I’d love to teach you how to avoid them in this article.

These are basic and very common mistakes that not only beginners in sketching but also interior designers make. Unfortunately, these mistakes can make your sketch look flat and unprofessional or even jeopardize your reputation as a designer.

As a bonus, at the end of this article, I will share my Top 5 free tips for detecting and fixing your mistakes and the biggest secret of interior sketching.

Olga Sorokina

Top 10 mistakes in interior sketching:

Mistake #1: "I like everything equally"

That is when you draw all the elements in your sketch equally detailed and with due diligence. You can thoroughly draw the things that are farther away just as carefully as the foreground objects. And this is a big mistake in interior sketching, as this approach neglects the aerial perspective, and, consequently, the sense of space and air in the sketch is missing. Such drawings can often look plain, "tortured", and overloaded.

Mistake #2: "Focusing on details"

It is especially typical for girls. We can depict, for instance, the texture of velvet with markers so perfectly that it seems realistic. Meanwhile, all the proportions in the drawing go wrong, the composition is far from perfect, and the perspective is completely distorted. But we stubbornly refuse to see the overall picture and continue to draw beautiful copper rivets on the back of our velvet chair.

Mistake #3: "I don't get along with Her Majesty Perspective"

I have already mentioned the critical importance of proper perspective in sketching in my "10 Rules of Sketching", where it even takes the first place.

Distorted perspective works well only for cubists, while in interior sketching, you must know its basics (at least frontal and angular ones) "like the back of your hand". Look here, the lines of the bed, closet, and walls in the "wrong" sketch now converge at some completely different vanishing points, while all the lines in the "right" sketch converge at the vanishing point either on the left (A1) or on the right (A2), or they are just vertical to the heights of the objects. 

In interior sketching, everything depends on the fidelity of construction, so if you were good at perspective and shadow projections at school, it is a great virtue. But if you did not like or study it, I invite you to my free challenge on the basics of perspective for interior designers available here: click.

Please, analyze how the ovals open towards the horizon line in the scene. You can compare the lampshade ovals in both sketches.

In addition, keep an eye out for perspective reduction, as shown in the sketch by the cushions and the middle of the cabinet: the farther the object is, the smaller or narrower it should be.

“Wrong“ sketch with all 10 mistakes in it

Mistake #4: "Drawing on the wrong side of the marker paper without realizing it"

It is a purely technical mistake that is very easy to avoid. Before you start drawing another sketch, try to draw a line with a light gray or any soft beige marker somewhere on the side of the sheet and immediately run your finger over it. If the paint gets smeared, this is the wrong side of the marker paper; if the color is absorbed instantly without being smeared, this is the right side. Why is it so? Manufacturers of marker paper put a special coating on one of the sides, which keeps the marker from seeping through that paper and, thus, saves the consumption of the markers themselves.

Mistake #5: "I'm so terrible at this, please, go easy on me, it's my first time”

This mistake lies in the person's approach to learning new things. And who managed to create something brilliant for the first time? Perhaps it could be Pushkin or Mozart. Oh, how often have I heard that phrase, particularly, by the way, when I held a marathon on the basics of perspective for designers (Instagram hashtag #marafon_olgaart888). Guys, but where is this coming from?! It is so great that you decided to learn something new and were not afraid to "take your first lumps". In such cases, you have to encourage yourself and realize that you'll certainly succeed in it, but not immediately. Far from “immediately”. Be persistent and keep learning.

Mistake #6: "Drawing with ragged lines"

It's a very common mistake. Because of insecurity, the hand trembles, the pencil barely touches the paper making the outline of objects broken, with one long line made up of dozens of shorter ones if you take a closer look. Such sketches just scream: "I'm not a confident sketch! I was drawn by a beginner with a fear of drawing!" What should you do? Develop your skills. This 10-minute video on hand placement exercises can be useful to you: watch.

Have you ever noticed how kids are drawing? They press down very hard on the pencil and draw confident, albeit curved, lines. They're the ones you can learn from for being fearless in learning new things!

Mistake #7: "Applying marker inappropriately"

For the interior sketch to look more realistic, the marker (or any other material, such as a pencil or crayon) should be applied "in shape". For example, in the "right" sketch, the green marker is applied to the walls as if each line tends to a vanishing point (A1 or A2). In the "wrong" sketch, the marker is "hit or miss" which immediately makes the sketch look cut-out, collage, and unnatural. This mistake of hatching "at sixes and sevens" or "in a straw-witted manner" is one of the most common ones made by beginners, many of whom have not yet learned the advantages of a wide marker tip and fail to use its strengths hatching large areas of the drawing with a thin tip.

“Right“ sketch without those mistakes

Mistake #8: "Oops, some problems with textures"

A common problem for beginners in sketching is having difficulty rendering textures (especially wood, glass, and stone): they either work too intensely in this case, ignoring the source and relying on their imagination or depict the texture pattern out of scale, usually by making it very large (see my "wrong" drawing for the parquet as an example: I have depicted a too large wood pattern for this room, in comparison to the "right" drawing). In addition, beginners often draw textures that look unrealistic. For example, a person wants to depict a tree, but it looks more like marble veins or even "ragged worms". In such cases, it's necessary to develop observation skills, do some research on the Internet, and get inspiration. It's essential to have a visual experience. So instead of taking textures from your head and drawing using your imagination at the beginning, use pictures (Pinterest is a good choice) as they can be really helpful. You can find the most popular textures in interior sketching here.

Mistake #9: "The view outside the window in the drawing seems more important than the drawing itself"

If there is a window in the sketch, newbies often start to draw actively the crown of trees using a bright grass color marker so that when someone looks at the drawing, they see nothing but "garish" trees. In such cases, we should remember that what's outside the window is in the far-far background, and in our sketch, we must focus on the foreground subjects. In addition, the thickness of the air outside the window softens all colors and makes them translucent, pale, with a cold grey shade.

Mistake #10: "Your tonality fades: everything is equally grey"

Here it is required to highlight the lightest, darkest, and most middle objects according to the tone in the sketch. It is called "tonal parsing" of the sketch. In this case, it is advisable to train on the monochrome sketches, for example, the ones which are drawn exclusively with grey markers (you can just use three of them: light gray, medium gray, and dark gray). Thus, you will get used to distinguishing the tonality of the scene, for example, a color drawing can turn out bright, all markers will have different colors but the same tone, and as a result, there will be no contrast in the drawing, as if everything is blended into a single spot.

What should you do? 

Here are my Top 5 free tips for detecting and fixing your mistakes:

1) A good idea is to print out your sketch in shades of grey using only a black cartridge and see if you have this problem. If yes, everything will be equally gray on the printout.

2) You can also take a photo of your sketch and judge the result, as this mistake is pretty visible in the pictures in a small format. 

3) You can stand in front of the mirror with your sketch, and the reflection always reveals mistakes better. 

4) Alternatively, you can turn the sketch upside down. The thing is to change the point or angle of view at the sketch since while you are drawing, your eyes "get blurry", and you become blind to your mistakes, repeating them from one sketch to another. 

5) You can squint and look at your sketch, and if everything looks like one single spot, equal in tone, then it's high time you fixed the situation.

By the way, these five tips will work for almost all mistakes since it's just easier to notice them using these techniques.

The biggest secret

Top secret of interior sketching revealed…

The moment you know about all those mistakes, guess what? You can break them!

Take a look at my sketch above. It took me about 5 min to make it; I was drawing almost unconsciously while knowing that I was breaking the rules of perspective. If you take a closer look, you might notice that the convergence lines do not meet in one vanishing point, which would be correct. This is more of a freestyle sketch to quickly express an idea.

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”

— Pablo Picasso

Finally, one more piece of advice: 

Try to gradually move away from the ruler and eraser and focus on drawing by hand. You should train your hand, while the ruler and eraser are like "crutches" you get used to very quickly and develop a habit of constantly drawing with the ruler. Hand sketches look incomparably more attractive, professional, and lively.

What was your biggest take-away from this blog?

Did you notice any of these mistakes in your sketches?

Let me know in the comments below.

P.S. If you enjoyed this article, please share it, that would mean the world to me.

© Olga Sorokina

---

Check this video, where I go over 7 of those mistakes which I mentioned here:

Free resources I mention in the video:

• MY FREE PERSPECTIVE CHALLENGE: here

• 10 EXERCISES TO TRAIN YOUR HAND: here

• MY 10 RULES OF SKETCHING: here

---

SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER

Join the 20,000+ readers who get my most popular blog articles on interior sketching, art, and interesting links delivered to their inboxes every week.

AND GET MY 15+ PAGES SKETCH-PLAN PDF WORKBOOK AS A BONUS:

---

If you wish to deepen your interior drawing practice, you might be interested in this online course:

"BASE": a Course Which Teaches All the Basic Techniques You Need to Implement Sketching in Your Interior Design Practice

---

read more from my blog:

My story: how and why I came to interior sketching?

In this article, I would like to share with you my story on how I came to interior design drawing and what is the main aim of this blog.

---

How I came to sketching?

In fact, I have never parted ways with it. Drawings, plain-airs, designs, sketches, outlines, drafts – all these have been my close companions all my life. Throughout my education first at the Arts School for Children “Alexandrino” (St Petersburg, Russia), followed by four years at the Arts and Aesthetics School on the Fontanka River and finally six years at the St Petersburg Stieglitz State Academy of Art and Design (Interior Architecture), I was always drawing, perfecting my technique, honing on my skills and hand confidence. I have been studying sketching all my life, and even now, I am continuing to refine my skills almost every day.

Russian Art Academies provide solid foundations, and exceptional old school education, particularly in academic drawing. In Russia, we are very proud of our cultural traditions and systematic in-depth, comprehensive approach to arts education.

“Russian Art Academies provide solid foundations, and exceptional old school education, particularly in academic drawing.”

Contemporary methods, marketing, and brand-building are what I call “complementary options”, something that a designer can learn on his own using the information on the Internet, books, or short courses.

Technology is developing at a very fast pace, new teaching methodologies continue surfacing, but always remember that no skyscraper can be built without proper foundations so the core skills must be solid and comprehensive.

What are the core skills? These are the necessary skills, the understanding of the essence of the subject, acquisition of the faculty of fast learning. For interior design, for instance, it is important to know the history of arts, design principles, ergonomics, materials science, colour theory, understanding of materials, perfect command of perspective and shadow projections, and drawing techniques. If it is fashion design, we need to know surface anatomy, materials, stylization techniques, sewing basics and pattern cutting, etc.

“For interior designers, it is important to know history of arts, design principles, ergonomics, materials science, colour theory, understanding of materials, perfect command of perspective and shadow projections, and drawing techniques.”

Interior sketching is one of the critical components of successful and productive design practice. Masterful command of perspective, rendering, and stylization are the three main skills that you will need to develop to be successful at it. The sketching practice boils down to a certain sum of knowledge and skills, which are essential to professionalism and expertise. Do not be put off if you have never held a pencil in your life. Sketching is a skill that is entirely possible to learn and improve upon. Always rememberer if there is a will — there is a way. 

During my six years at the Stieglitz State Academy of Art and Design, majority of our time was spent on disciplines such as architectural drawing, perspective, academic drawing, designing, modeling (creating paper models of our design projects, “maquettes“), composition and colour series. As you can see, the program was very intensive. That is why the course takes six years to complete, the sixth year being allocated to work on a student's work diploma.

“Interior sketching is one of the key components of successful and productive design practice. Do not be put off if you have never held a pencil in your life. Sketching is a skill that is 100% learnable and teachable!”

In my online courses, I give you the absolute essence of the knowledge required to become a successful practitioner of interior sketching. I adore the aesthetics of freehand rendering. In my opinion, it is a much more natural, fluid, and more vivid way of visual expression of an idea compared to a static dead-looking 3D model that took a vast amount of your time and your nerves to produce.

All painters and designers are, in essence, visual artists, as we constantly work with images. That is why it is so essential for designers to have the ability to create the desired image on paper by hand in a fast and efficient way to demonstrate an idea simply and effectively. Nothing captures your client’s imagination than when you start drawing right before their eyes. 

“Sketching is a natural, fluid, and more vivid way of visual expression of an idea compared to a static dead-looking 3D model.”

My story

I was in my third year at the Art Academy when computer programs invaded our academic life. As young creatives, we were all completely fascinated by 3D Max, Photoshop, AutoCAD, and it seemed impossible to ignore them when we were preparing our projects. We were given some basic instructions to use these software packages at the Academy, and then some of us kept studying these programs with the help of books and specialized courses. On the whole, a lot of time, effort, and money were spent to master this software.

Incidentally, many students were left dissatisfied when after having spent their money, they felt they did not acquire professional command of the software. It is hardly surprising. This software suits a particular mindset that is characteristic not so much of an artist, but of a technical professional, programmer. Have you noticed that most 3D Max professionals, visualizers, and CAD operators are chiefly men? Perhaps, it is because men are more technically minded.

“Have you noticed that most 3D Max professionals, visualizers, and CAD operators are chiefly men? Perhaps, it is because men are more technically minded.”

Over time, these programs started to supersede hand rendering. During my last year at the Academy, I was working on my diploma, and in parallel, I was freelancing as a designer for a prominent firm. I regret to admit that I found myself drawing less and less, increasingly becoming a manager of my project rather than a designer. I felt let down, and I was questioning if my chosen profession was no longer the right thing for me. Luckily I was well-trained, and I quickly rediscovered the link between my heart, my mind, and my hand; since then, I went on to uninstall all computer-assisted design software. Incidentally, most of my students come to me with this exact problem. Interestingly enough, 80% of my students are women. The fact that you are reading this blog probably indicates that you are at the same crossroads. I am delighted to say that there is a way out, so let’s get on and look at the profession of an interior designer.

At one point, I noticed that I had given up on drawing. One not so fine days, I realized that I was almost perpetually seated in front of my computer, embroiled in a battle with 3D and AutoCAD, that all the time I was googling some sanitaryware, analyzing business proposals and quotations and had completely given up on the creative side of things. It just hit me: “Did I spent six years at the best Russian Art Academy for nothing?! What was the point of it all? Was it even worth it? And what about my talent, my artistic flair?” I had a feeling I was betraying something fundamental within myself. And at that moment, I clearly saw that this was a problem that I had to address immediately.

“ It just hit me: “Did I spent six years at the best Russian Art Academy for nothing?! What was the point of it all? Was it even worth it? And what about my talent, my artistic flair?””

About the same time, I received a call from a friend of mine who asked me if I could give her a few interior drawing classes (Tanya, thank you!). That’s when it dawned on me that lots of designers felt the same way: a desperate lack of free-hand drawing skills which was a key creative component of their work that was missing. I realized that I was not the only one tormented by the problem of being constantly seated in front of a computer.

That was how my first interior sketching course “BASE“ came to life. Soon after, I started to give classes to individual designers from different cities and countries, offering them training on sketching and rendering. After that, I began to give drawing workshops to groups of students, and my online courses were accompanied by live seminars in Moscow and my home town St Petersburg. At the present moment, as I am writing my books, I want to systematize a plethora of information on interior sketching that I am going to distill down to the essential knowledge, to the gist of it all, and represent the material in a clear, understandable and exciting way.

“Lots of designers feel the same way: a desperate lack of free-hand drawing skills which is a key creative component of their work which is missing.”

Little summary

The main message of this article is this: “You Can Do Professional Drawing”! Sketching is a new skill that can be learned and mastered with frequent practice. It is no different from learning a new language or a dance.

You can excel at sketching even if you have never held a pencil in your hands!

This is because interior sketching is 50% mathematics and 50% learnable techniques. In my other article, we will look at various techniques used by some of the best sketching artists, discover what they are and why they are so effective.

My dear Creative, I hope my story inspires you, please tell me yours in the comments below (but first please save your text before posting).

P.S. Please share this article on your social media so more people can learn about sketching. Thanks in advance and good luck with your drawings!

© Olga Sorokina

---

CHECK PROGRAM FROM MY ONLINE COURSE ON INTERIOR SKETCHING WITH MARKERS FOR BEGINNERS:

---

Read other articles on my blog:

The 6 principles of two-point perspective in interior sketching

In my previous blog article, I covered the principles of one-point perspective in interior sketching.

Today we will talk about the second most used and popular in architecture and interior drawing — the two-point perspective. It is also referred to as an oblique view since here we are viewing the object, interior, architecture from a corner, we literally see that corner.  

---

So, these 6 principles of two-point perspective in interior sketching are: 

1. All the diagonals in your drawing recede either to one or the other vanishing point.

2. All vertical lines are perpendicular to the horizon line

3. There are no horizontal lines except for the horizon line and the lines of the objects which are precisely at its high

4. The closer the pieces of furniture or decor elements to us, the more details we can see.

5. All objects decrease in size as they recede into the distance.

6. All furniture and other interior design elements along the converging lines (or the lines of convergence) become foreshortened.

“Perspective is the key to what you see in our 3D world. Mastering perspective will improve your sketching skills and make your drawings look professional. ”

— Olga Sorokina

My interior drawing in two-point perspective and oblique view grid from THE CLUB

Resources:

• I covered the basics of one, and two-point perspectives in my free course, learn more about it here.

• If you want to dive deeper and become a professional in interior drawing, join my online course BASE.

• In this lesson of my educational membership platform for interior designers THE CLUB, I cover one-point perspective: link

Read also related blog article: “What is perspective in drawing“.

P.S. My dear Creative, I hope you enjoyed this article, please share it on your social media so more people can learn about perspective drawing. Thanks in advance!

---

"BASE": a Course Which Teaches All the Basic Techniques You Need to Implement Sketching in Your Interior Design Practice

(For Interior Designers & Architects)

---

READ OTHER ARTICLES ON MY BLOG:

© Olga Sorokina, 2020