Introducing My Interior Sketching App: A New Way to Learn Perspective

For more than a decade, I've had the privilege of teaching thousands of interior designers, architects, and creatives around the world. During that time, I noticed something fascinating. No matter where my students came from or how much experience they had, they often shared the same belief:

"Perspective is difficult."

Some were complete beginners who felt they simply couldn't draw. Others were experienced interior designers who had been working professionally for years, yet still lacked the confidence to put their ideas on paper. It was never a question of creativity. It was rarely a question of talent. Most of the time, they simply hadn't been taught through a clear, structured method.

That realization shaped everything I created afterward. It became the foundation of my book The SKETCH: Interior Design Drawing (paper-based on Amazon: here), my online courses, and now... my app.

Why I created the app

One thing I noticed over the years is that for many people building a consistent creative habit can be difficult. Life gets busy. The lessons feel long. Weeks pass…

I wanted to create something that felt different.

An experience that naturally fits into everyday life. A place where spending just five or ten minutes sketching feels achievable, enjoyable, and rewarding.

What makes the app different?

This isn't a smaller version of my courses. And it isn't a replacement for them. It has been designed with a completely different purpose.

The app offers its own guided ai-enhanced learning experience, helping you understand perspective and interior sketching through structured lessons, practical exercises, and daily practice.

Many lessons take only a few minutes. Others can be completed in around 15 to 20 minutes.

The goal isn't to overwhelm you. The goal is to help you return tomorrow. Because real progress isn't built through occasional bursts of motivation. It's built through consistency. Practice makes progress.

How is it different from my courses?

I often describe my courses as a university for interior sketching.

Programs like Base, Pro, and Procreate are comprehensive educational pathways designed for designers who want to master sketching as a professional skill. The core lessons are intentionally deep, often lasting 45 to 70 minutes, allowing us to explore concepts thoroughly and build a strong foundation.

The app serves a different stage of the journey.

It does not include the full Base or Pro programs, and it does not cover Procreate.

Instead, it features its own learning system, with a few carefully selected bonus lessons from my courses, while the complete curriculum remains exclusive to the courses.

In simple terms:

• The courses help you master the craft.

• The app helps you make sketching part of your everyday life.

Together, they create an ecosystem for learning.

More than an app

When I first started teaching, my dream was never simply to record lessons. I wanted to guide designers as if I were sitting beside them. To explain perspective in a way that feels intuitive. To build confidence. To make sketching something people genuinely enjoy.

This app is the closest I've come to bringing that vision to life.

Whether you're discovering interior sketching for the first time or looking for a simple way to practice consistently, I hope it becomes a creative space you'll look forward to opening each day.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

I can't wait to sketch with you.

Olga Sorokina

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Custom Interior Sketches for Clients: My 3 Case Studies in Procreate

This month, I want to talk about something very practical and exciting: how to turn your sketches into real commissions.

Procreate is an amazing tool not only for practice, but also for professional client work. Over the past few years, I’ve created a number of commissioned sketches entirely in Procreate: from concept drawings to interior design proposals.

In this post, I’d love to share three case studies with you. For each project, I’ll show the line version and the colored version, and explain how the sketches evolved into final results for clients.

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Case Study 1:

Sketch for a Designer Show House (Dallas, TX)

This commission came from a U.S. client preparing for a Designer Show House. Their request was very specific: “We need the rendering of our room to be more suggestive and less detailed.”

By the time I joined the project, the client already had a fully developed concept package:

• a detailed PDF with the floor plan, furniture layout, and action zones,

• a separate PDF with material selections,

• all furniture and textiles carefully chosen.

My task was not to design, but to translate all this information into a suggestive sketch, one that communicates the atmosphere without overwhelming detail. As always, I began with a line sketch to establish composition and proportions.

Interestingly, this project was also the first time I experimented with coloring in Midjourney. Of course, the final colored version will be fully created by me in Procreate, but I thought you might find it interesting to see some of my Midjourney experiments along the way: watch on my YouTube (3 minute tutorial)

Line version

Color version

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Case Study 2:

Police Administrative Building Concept (Florida)

The second commission was for a future administrative building of a police station. Since the architecture was still conceptual, the client needed a sketch that would suggest possible solutions.

Here again, I started with a line drawing. Because the building wasn’t yet constructed, we went through several iterations to adjust forms and space. I worked closely with the lead architect, we even had Zoom calls to refine ideas together.

The final colored version provided a clear and expressive visualization of the concept, supporting the architectural vision while keeping the design flexible for further development.

Line version

Color version

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Case Study 3:

Interior Redesign (Los Angeles)

The third project was especially exciting because I was both the interior designer and the sketch artist.

A client from Los Angeles wanted to completely redecorate their existing interior. I developed a proposal and presented it through sketches in Procreate. The process began with a precise line drawing, followed by a colored version that communicated the atmosphere of the redesigned space.

The client loved the result, and this project actually became a bonus lesson inside my Interior Sketching in Procreate Online Course, where I walk you through the entire process step by step.

Line version

Color version

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Final Thoughts

Each of these projects demonstrates how powerful Procreate can be for professional sketch commissions. Starting with a line sketch and then moving into a colored visualization not only helps structure the creative process, but also gives clients clarity and confidence in the design.

If you’d like to learn how to create sketches like these, renderings that clients will pay for — my Interior Sketching in Procreate Online Course will guide you through every step.

Inside the course, you’ll discover:

• How to build your interior sketch from scratch

• Line to colour: my techniques for coloring your sketch professionally

• Real client case studies and bonus lessons

Turn your interior sketches into commissions!

See program and sketches from the course:

Happy Sketching!

Olga Sorokina

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What is perspective in drawing, and 2 most important types of perspectives in interior design. (Perspective basics for interior designers)

Here, we will familiarize ourselves with the most extraordinary and most exciting field of descriptive geometry and will discover two main types of perspective – the most important skill in interior sketching.

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Fundamentals/Basics

Perspective is an area of descriptive geometry. Not many people are keen on learning descriptive geometry at school, and for many, it is synonymous with tedious technical tasks and dull routine. Perspective is an intriguing subject, full of surprising secrets, and is essential for interior designers. It is this knowledge that will let you work wonders on paper, allowing you to create impressive views of interiors and to reflect your ideas in the most effective way.

Perspective is the basic and most fundamental knowledge for sketching. It will help you deliver your projects expertly. Without it you will get nowhere – if you don’t know the laws of perspective, then you lack the foundations, which means you cannot move on, and no rendering technique or stylistic device will help you out if you don’t have a clear understanding of how to plot a space. The eye of a man has an admirable organization, and it is thanks to the laws of geometry that we can put down on paper or visualize the real world in the way our brain perceives it.

Types of perspective

What types of perspective are there, and which ones are of the most significant importance to interior sketching?

There are many types of perspective, to name but a few: aerial perspective, frontal perspective (or 1-point perspective), angular perspective (or 2-points perspective or oblique view), perspectives with three, four, five, and even six vanishing points. So, which ones are of the greatest value to interior designers?

First of all, it is the frontal perspective (it is sometimes called a perspective with one vanishing point). Secondly, there is an oblique view or angular perspective (with two vanishing points) and, finally, an aerial perspective (or tonal perspective). If the first two allow us to draw an interior correctly, the last one will enable you to fill your drawing with air and convey three-dimensionality of space. Once we master the basics, we can address more complex types of combined perspective – with three vanishing points and various three-dimensional effects. Latest are exciting perspective techniques that add more expression to a drawing.

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There is one artist that I want to point your attention to whose mastery of perspective I particularly admire. I am talking about Dutch graphic artist Maurits C. Escher. His work is simply mind-boggling! My favourite is his extraordinary self-portrait (check it here), where he is drawing himself while looking in the mirror sphere, which also reflects the interior. If you remove the ball, the room appears in a 1-point perspective; interestingly, the interior is reflected in the spherical mirror surface of the ball, it causes incredible effects and distortions of the space.

Escher’s art is one of the brightest examples of mathematical laws of perspective, coupled with the author’s imagination. Escher published a book, “Impossible Worlds”, where he plays with geometric rules, planes, creating inconceivable spaces. Scientists are well-versed in the beauty of mathematics, and Escher shows all of us that beauty.

“We adore chaos because we love to produce order.           ”

— Maurits Cornelis Escher

Once you grasp the rules of construction of geometry of a space, you can start experimenting with them. I call it ‘playing with perspective’. All sketching masters have an excellent command of this knowledge. So let’s get going and discover it for ourselves!

1-Point Perspective (Frontal View)

In this type of perspective, we have a vanishing point, which is always on the horizon line. This vanishing point is where all the lines converge to (that’s why it is called a 1-point perspective). When we draw an interior, we see three walls: one that is parallel to the picture plane (frontal wall) and two side walls.

It is a linear perspective, and it comes into play when your line of sight is parallel to the horizontal set of lines that converge upon a single point in the distance and perpendicular to the other set of lines in the view. It is the simplest type of perspective because we deal with only one vanishing point.

We are forever indebted for this knowledge to the Italian Renaissance. In the second half of the XVth century, Renaissance artists and mathematicians developed the linear perspective theory and brought precision and mathematics into mainstream art. Viva Italia!

Before that, artists drew ‘by eye’ or used Inverted Perspective (Byzantine Perspective), which is an art form unique to pre-renaissance religious art and is full of embedded meaning. As an example, look at Andrey Rublev’s “Trinity” and observe how the space appears flat and converges towards the viewer.

Thanks to Renaissance and its masters, who were not only prolific artists, sculptors, architects, but also prodigious mathematicians, the laws of perspective were discovered. Brunelleschi, Alberti, Masaccio, Ghiberti, Piero della Francesca introduced the use of perspective, and, in doing so, forever changed further development of art.

Renaissance masters were so fluent in the complexities of geometric construction that they were able to apply their knowledge of perspective to perform most complicated tasks and solve quite challenging problems. For example, painting of a ceiling of a dome has to take into account a variety of factors: first, people look at frescos from below, which significantly alters their perception. They also had to take into account the curved shape of the dome and correct for distortions that arise. Apart from that, there is a host of technical aspects such as the erection of scaffolding, working at a high altitude, temperature, humidity. In the case of frescos, the humidity levels are very high, as painting is performed over damp plaster). The frescos technique of mixing colours, a problem of lighting, and even the position of a painter’s body, all these are challenging factors for a painter. For instance, Michelangelo almost completely lost his sight while painting the Sistine Chapel.

My drawing for the book “The SKETCH“

When should we use a 1-point perspective?

1-point perspective is an ideal choice for depicting public spaces: bars, cafes, restaurants, hotel lobbies, as well as spacious residential interiors: sitting rooms, dining rooms, halls, and lounges, etc. This view lets you represent your idea on a drawing by showing the maximum amount of space. Suppose, we have a restaurant layout, with a rectangular shell: it would be sufficient to draw two 1-point perspective views – in one direction as you enter and one in the opposite. If we were to use a 2-point perspective view to demonstrate the design idea, we would have to draw all four corners of the space, plus a general view, a view from above, or even make a model (at least five sketches in total). In contrast, the 1-point perspective view allows you to show the idea with only two drawings.

We can change the position of the vanishing point in relation to the centre of the picture plane, placing it anywhere on the horizon line. It can be right in the centre, or it can be shifted to the right or to the left. This will make the picture asymmetric, which adds dynamism to the composition and allows you to reveal one of the walls to a greater extent. However, when the vanishing point is right in the centre, both walls are shown to the same degree, and, thus, appear balanced. It is this placement of the vanishing point that is often used in classical drawings of interiors. Classics loves symmetry.

“Classics loves symmetry.”

2-Point Perspective (Oblique View)

Another type of perspective important for designers is the perspective with two vanishing points. It is often called an «Oblique View». In this view, the horizon contains two vanishing points, and the picture reveals two walls of a space. You can move these points on the horizon line, but it is important that the distance between them should remain the same fixed value (usually this distance equals to the diagonal of the picture plane). When you have understood all the most critical basic laws of perspective, you will be able to experiment with them, creating drawings with the most effective angles.

2-point perspective is a linear perspective in which there are two vanishing points on the horizon line. This type of perspective appears when your line of sight is at an angle to the horizontal sets of lines that converge upon points in the distance. Simply said, you are at an angle to the wall. In a case with a 1-point perspective, you face the frontal wall. That is why its second name is "frontal view", remember?

2-point is usually visually more dynamic compare to 1-point because we can see the volumes of objects.

My drawing for the book “The SKETCH“

In which case 2-point perspective is the best choice?

It is indispensable when we want to show a space containing one main object, a dominant feature. Easy example: in the bedroom, it is a bed; in the study, it is a desk; in the nursery, it is a cot. And so on.

This perspective is ideal for small spaces, or when we want to draw in detail a specific corner of an interior. Also, it is the oblique view that allows us to show furnishings and other separate objects. I often use it to specify upholstery. A picture is worth a thousand words, and it is way easier to send an image along with an order for a piece of furniture depicting exactly what I had in mind.

My drawing for the book “The SKETCH“

Resources

Read also related articles on my blog:

• “Top books on perspective drawing: my personal choice“: here

• “The 6 principles of two-point perspective in interior sketching “: here

Learn more about perspective drawing in my book “The SKETCH“ (Amazon paper-based version or PDF).

Well, my creative friend, I hope you enjoyed this article, please let me know your thoughts on perspective drawing in the comments below. Is it a tricky subject for you?

P.S. Please help me grow my blog by sharing this article on your social media. Thank you in advance!

© Olga Sorokina

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

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Which brands and colours of markers are the best choice for interior sketching?

So many questions arise when you start sketching, my students most often ask me:

• What materials do I need for interior design drawing?

• Which brands of markers would be the best choice?

In this article, you will get the answers. Plus, I will share what I love to use in my everyday sketching routine, what my favourites are, and how lucky we are to have these types of markers!

“Telling yourself you have all the time in the world, all the money in the world, all the colours in the palette, anything you want — that just kills creativity.”

— Jack White

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You can tell a story on paper even with very limited colour palette.

It’s actually even good in interior sketching to start with 7-10 colours if you are a beginner. Why? Because you don’t get overwhelmed with such a variety of choices (“Analysis paralysis” as they call it ), and really focus on what’s most important in drawing:

• Perspective

• Composition

• Light

• Volumes

Colours only close this list, beautifully though, but they go last.

I remember back in the days when I did my very first interior sketch commissions (it was 2007) clients asked me to do linear sketches. Pen on paper. No colour. That’s right.

If you are reading this blog post, the chances are that you are a newbie in sketching and hand rendering, or maybe you are a pro and simply want to learn more about the marker technique. In case you are going to buy your first set of markers, and now you’re asking yourself a question: Where do I start with so many options and offers?

Well, here is my strategy: Less is More.

Which colours?

First and foremost, buy basic colours, as you will need them the most. For interior sketching, it is better not to use pure, bright colours, but rather tones that are a bit ‘dusty’, ’noble‘ tones. What does that mean? With interiors, it is better to choose colours that people would feel comfortable living in. A typical interior sketching palette would include beige, grey, blue, olive, and woody tones.

You can buy the markers individually or in sets. There are even sets of ready-to-go colour combinations for architects and designers, which consist of marker colours that work well with one another.

“Less is More. A typical interior sketching palette would include beige, grey, blue, olive, and woody tones. That is 7-10 markers in total to start.”

Your first marker selection might be as follows:

• Light gray (NG 2, Neutral Grey #2)

• Mid-gray (NG 4)

• Dark gray (NG 7)

• Light beige (or vanilla)

• Olive

• Dark brown (chocolate)

• Black

As you can see, there are seven colours in all, of which three are grey shades. Greys occupy a special place in interior sketching. Firstly, they are used to give background colour to the entire sketch. Grey markers differ not only in tone, but also in warmth and coldness: there are Neutral Greys, Cool Greys, and Warm Greys. To start with, you will need a Neutral Greys. Usually, they are marked by ‘N’ with a number: the higher the number, the darker the tone.

What brand of markers to buy?

One of the first questions people often ask in my online sketching classes is about which materials they should use. What brand of markers is the best? How do various brands of pens differ from one another? 

Up until now, I have tested five brands: Promarker, Copic, TOUCH, Stylefile markers, and Chartpak. All of them are good. These firms make professional quality markers that are perfect for drawing and are non-toxic.

If I were to pick a favourite, it would be Copic. They have a vast array not only of colours but also of marker tips. These include ‘Classic’ markers, ‘Extra Wide’ ones, the thin ‘Ciao’ markers, and remarkable ‘Sketch’ (the last two have brush points). Maybe it is Copic Сiao that has influenced my technique most of all.

Here are my favourite Copic sets on Amazon: https://schoolofsketching.com/resources

For example, I did this drawing by using Copic Ciao markers. I’ve included this set in the list in “Best marker sets from Amazon for interior sketching” article on my blog.

Let’s talk more about Copic Сiao. Firstly, they have a thin body that is very convenient to hold in your hand; you will simply feel it instantly. However, the main difference is that on one side there is a wide/chisel tip (incidentally, a bit narrower than a Copic Sketch, Promarker or Stylefile). At the other end, there is a brush tip, also known as the ‘super brush’, which truly lives up to its name! It is the brush that lets you make photo-realistic effects and fantastic not only for sketching but also for landscape drawings, abstract painting, portraits, architectural sketches, and even for calligraphy. Copic markers can be refilled, that is their tremendous advantage over the majority of other brands. Although they are currently one of the most expensive markers available on the art market, in the long term, Copics are the most cost-efficient.

Promarker is also very good. They are quite similar to Stylefile, ZIG, and Copic Classic. But these are single-use markers, which are not refillable.

Chartpak is markedly different from the markers mentioned above. These markers have one very wide tip with bevels, that is highly convenient for interior sketching. The only disadvantage is that these markers have a rather strong smell of solvent.

Check more of my interior drawings in marker technique on this section on the website.

Behind the scenes of creating a new illustration for my book “The SKETCH. Interior Design Drawing“

A couple of more useful tips on markers

• Before buying a marker, test it in the art supplies shop and find the marker that suits you best. If you don’t have this opportunity, watch videos on marker brands on YouTube (f. ex mine is «schoolofsketching») – this will help you make a decision about which materials are most suitable for you.

• When you realize that sketching is ‘your thing’, be ready to invest in quality materials, training courses, and books. This way, you can develop your skills to become very good at sketching, and this will happen quite fast with regular practice. Sketching will be of great use in your work and will raise your professional skills level.

• It is recommended that you store markers horizontally – this will extend their service life.

• Storage and transportation: keep your markers away from the sun. If you are going on a trip, pack them into your hand-carried baggage because the low temperatures in the baggage compartment will have an adverse effect on the pigments inside the markers.

Learn more about markers from my book «The SKETCH», available on Amazon now. Here is the PDF version of the book: link.

Check my other favourite marker sets from Amazon in this article on my blog.

P.S. Please share this blog article with your creative friends.

© Olga Sorokina

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You can learn sketching from me with my top-rated online course on technical drawing and interior sketching.

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

(For Interior Designers & Architects)

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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.  

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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 BASE

Resources:

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

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!

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

(For Interior Designers & Architects)

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© Olga Sorokina, 2020

The 9 principles of one-point perspective in interior sketching

One-point perspective (also referred to as frontal view) appears when we look at the object, interior, building, or street straight on, we face it.

It is the simplest type of perspective since we have only one vanishing point and one of the most used in interior drawing.

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So, these nine principles of one-point perspective in interior sketching are: 

1. All the lines in your drawing are either horizontal, vertical, or recede to the vanishing point.

2. All horizontal lines are parallel to each other.

3. All vertical lines are parallel to each other.

4. The horizon line runs at your eye level, which is usually 1,5-1,7 m high.

5. All horizontal lines are parallel to the horizon line, and all vertical lines are perpendicular to the horizon line.

6. All diagonal lines to recede to the vanishing point, these are referred to as converging lines.

7. The closer the objects to us, the more details we can see.

8. All objects get smaller and smaller the farther away they are from us.

9. All objects along the converging lines (or the lines of convergence) become foreshortened, and their lines will reach the vanishing point if we prolong them.

With the last 3 principles, think about the railway: rails will recede to the vanishing point on the horizon line, and the space between sleepers will get smaller as they recede into the distance.

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.

“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

Resources:

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

My interior drawing in one-point perspective and frontal view grid from BASE

Read also related articles on my blog:

“What is perspective in drawing“

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

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

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!

© Olga Sorokina

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

(For Interior Designers & Architects)

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"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“.

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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 BASE and PRO courses at my Online School.

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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 Watercolur, BASE, PRO, and Textures.

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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.

4 Example

In the "BEFORE" photo, you'll find one of Heather’s very first interior sketches she made before enrolling in my online courses. Following her completion of my online courses in interior sketching BASE, FURNITURE, TEXTURES, PERSPECTIVE, take a look at the the outstanding "AFTER" result! I’m so proud of my students!

“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

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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

HAVE A QUESTION?

Email me at olga@schoolofsketching.com

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Theatre Interior Sketching in Procreate: Behind the Scenes of My 2025 Norwegian Project

In this article, I share the behind-the-scenes story of my final 2025 project, interior sketches for a theatre in Norway. I’ll show how I worked from photographs, designed the composition and costumes for the characters, and how Procreate helped me bring the stage atmosphere to life.

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“My theatre, my whim — and whoever steps inside becomes an actor.”

From Brief to Theatre Sketch

At the end of last year, I completed a project that felt like a quiet but powerful full stop to 2025: a commissioned sketch for a theatre space in Norway. Theatre is an endless source of inspiration for me. A place where space, costume, movement, light, and emotion merge into one living narrative. The moment this new commission from Norway appeared in my inbox, it felt like it had found its way straight to me.

The Brief: Clear Goals, Open Vision

The client reached out after discovering my work on Pinterest. They were preparing a presentation to pitch a real estate property in Oslo, as a potential theatre space. What they needed were not technical drawings or polished renders, but expressive sketches that could help their customer feel the potential of the space. There was no fully formed vision yet. Only a few references, a general direction, and a tight deadline. The brief invited interpretation and suggestion: atmosphere over detail, expression over precision.

Here’s a glimpse of the brief:

The client prepared a PDF presentation that clearly outlined what they needed. What made this commission unique was that they included examples of my own sketches from Pinterest, both fashion and interior, that they loved. From the start, I had a clear sense of the overall vibe they were looking for, which made it exciting and inspiring to start sketching.

Theatre…

Theatre has always been deeply personal for me.

Opera, ballet, dramatic theatre — all of it lives somewhere very close to my heart. Beyond architecture and interiors, I’m endlessly fascinated by the stage, by storytelling, by the moment just before the curtain rises. I even attended acting classes in Auckland, which gave me a deeper understanding of presence, movement, and emotion in space.

One of the most joyful parts of this project was designing the people themselves, their clothing, their posture, their roles within the scene. Because alongside interior sketching, I also work with fashion sketching, and I even teach a beginner fashion sketching course.

For me, this project became a rare three-in-one pleasure:

• sketching interiors,

• developing a spatial concept,

• and drawing elegantly dressed people, each carrying a small story of their own.

Those figures were never just decoration. They were narrative anchors — connecting space, mood, and imagination into one theatrical moment.

So when this project landed on my desk, it felt like a meeting of two worlds: spatial sketching and theatrical emotion.

Working With Real Photographs

An important part of this project was the fact that I wasn’t drawing from imagination alone, the client visited the building together with a professional photographer. After the visit, they sent me a selection of photographs taken from different angles and invited me to choose two perspectives that I felt would work best for the sketches.

Working over real photographs made the process both efficient and grounded. I could rely on accurate proportions, real light conditions, and authentic spatial relationships, while still allowing myself freedom in interpretation, atmosphere, and storytelling. It’s a balance I really enjoy: reality as a base, imagination as a layer.

Initial photos

Working Under Time Pressure

The timeline was tight, but strangely energising. I remember feeling incredibly charged by this assignment. It felt like an ideal project for me, so much freedom, so much trust, and so much space for interpretation. For three days straight, I worked almost non-stop, fully immersed in the process. By the end of the second day, my drawing hand was genuinely sore, but in that satisfying way that tells you you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.

During those days, ideas followed me everywhere. I remember cycling through Auckland and thinking about the main colour of the sketch. Theatre interiors often lean into familiar clichés: deep wine reds, dark burgundy, emerald velvet. I consciously chose a different path.

I settled on a warm orange-brown tone, a colour with depth and nobility, but also warmth. I kept thinking about Norway, its cold climate, and how this colour could feel inviting, comforting, and human. It became the emotional backbone of the sketches.

I had to imagine the scenes:

• a lively foyer with elegantly dressed guests waiting for a performance,

• a backstage costume area with actors working behind the scenes

From Composition to Drama

Every sketch, no matter how expressive the final result, starts with structure. In the rough drafts you can clearly see that I began with composition. I treat the space almost like a stage set. I decide where the viewer stands, where the main focus sits, and how the eye moves through the scene.

At this stage, I work like a screenwriter or a theatre director. I assign roles. I decide who is in the foreground, who stays in the background, who becomes the main character, and who quietly supports the story (so much fun!). This is where the drama of the scene is built, long before colour or detail appears.

Only once this visual dramaturgy feels right do I move forward.

Backstage: Rough Sketch

Backstage: Final Sketch

Rough First, Clear Later

I always start rough. The first version of the sketches was intentionally loose and expressive. One scene was fully coloured to establish mood and direction. The second was shared as a line sketch only, a way to test composition, characters, and atmosphere before committing further.

This stage is crucial. It opens a conversation.

The client responded warmly. They loved the overall look and feel, but suggested small, thoughtful adjustments:

• making figures looser and less detailed,

• shifting costumes to feel more theatrical VS fashion,

• adjusting characters to better tell the backstage story,

• and pushing the linework to feel rougher, almost like charcoal (I actually really loved that suggestion!).

This is where sketching becomes collaboration.

What changed between the rough and final versions wasn’t the idea, it was clarity. The sketches became more aligned with the client’s vision while staying expressive and alive. Sketching is about communication, it’s a visual language.

Foyer: Take 1

Foyer: Take 2 (and the final one) with charcoal linework

Why I Use Procreate

Both sketches were created in Procreate. I love it for sketching client commissions because it allows speed, flexibility, and experimentation without losing the hand-drawn feeling.

Working digitally made it possible to:

• test ideas quickly,

• adjust line quality and mood,

• respond to feedback efficiently,

• and work confidently under tight deadlines.

It’s the same workflow I teach in my Interior Drawing in Procreate course.

What This Project Taught Me

This theatre project reminded me why I believe so deeply in hand sketching:

• It turns uncertainty into clarity.

• It allows ideas to exist before decisions are final.

• It helps clients imagine what doesn’t exist yet.

Again, sketching is a language. And sometimes, that language takes you to places you never planned (even to a theatre in Norway).

If you’re curious to learn how to build this kind of visual confidence yourself, my Procreate course is always a good place to start.

Thank you for reading and for being part of this journey.

Olga Sorokina

P.S. If you enjoyed this blog article, please share it with your peers. Thank you in advance!

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Christmas Gift Guide for Creatives: 10+ Inspired Gifts & A Christmas Martini Card You Can Draw

With Christmas around the corner, here is my curated Christmas and New Year gift guide for Creatives…

Every December, I put together a curated Christmas collection: a thoughtful selection of gifts that reflect the values I treasure most in my creative life:
Quality · Style & Aesthetics · Timeless Design · Education

Some of the items in this guide already live in my studio and home. Others are part of my personal wish-list — things I’ve been eyeing for months because they’re truly useful, and beautiful. Together, they form a collection I genuinely stand behind: pieces that support creativity, elevate your space, and inspire you to sketch, learn, and create with more joy.

This curated list is designed for artists, designers, architects, illustrators, photographers, and creatives from all walks of life — anyone who loves drawing, learning, exploring new tools, and surrounding themselves with design-forward objects. I hope you discover something special for yourself or someone artistic in your life 🎄

Olga x

Sketchbooks, Sketchbooks, Sketchbooks…

Trust me, any artist will always be happy to receive a new sketchbook. You can never have too many of them — there’s always room for another one that feels beautiful, stylish, tactile, with paper that inspires you the moment you touch it.

From tiny A6 notebooks for quick location sketches to larger A4 formats for fully developed ideas. Tiny A6 sketchbooks are especially magical: small, light, and fitting right into your palm. If you want to sketch more often (especially on location) start with a little sketchbook. You’ll be amazed at how much more you draw, and how much more joy, presence, and creative awareness it brings into your everyday life. Here are a few of my favourites:

Here are a few I’ve curated for this season:

• (Small) Moleskine Art Collection Pocket Sketchbook & Sketch Album: link (portrait), link (landscape)

• (Medium size, Portrait) Moleskine Art Collection Sketchbook (in various colours): Link

• (Medium, Landscape) Leuchtturm Sketchbook: Link

• (Big one) Canson XL Mixed Media Pad (for markers, watercolour, all things drawing): Link

Books for Creative Minds

Books open new worlds and shape our visual thinking.

• Art history, creativity, design, and artist monographs (a couple of book title ideas you can check in this article on my blog)

• How about Harry Potter Box Set? The Complete Collection: here. You might also like this Golden Snitch bookmark: here

• My book “The SKETCH. Interior Design Drawing” — used in universities worldwide. The perfect gift for interior designers who want to master perspective drawing. Here is the Amazon link, and a PDF book

Workspace & Desk Organization for Creatives

Because structure supports creativity:

• Marker home/organizer — keeps everything visible, tidy, and easy to reach: example

• Pencil case — always handy: example

• Desk tech organizer — to keep that creative chaos a bit more tidy: example

• An easel or portable easel — for studio work or plein-air adventures. Example of portable easel for plein airs

• A big adjustable drawing table — perfect for sitting or standing during long sketching sessions: example

Fineliners & Inking Essentials

Classic, reliable tools that every artist will appreciate:

• Pigma Micron (Set of 6) — archival quality and perfect line control: Link

• STAEDTLER Liners for Sketching (Set of 6) — smooth, clean, and great for daily sketching: Link

• Copic Multiliners (Various Colours) — beautiful and expressive line work: Link

Art Supplies for Watercolour Artists

Well-chosen materials are the best kind of holiday cheer.

Here is one of my must-haves for this holiday season. If you love sketching on location, pleinairs, urban sketching, you will LOVE it:

• Winsor & Newton Pocket Box — lightweight, travel-friendly, and ideal for plein-air and urban sketching. Includes a handy travel brush: Link

• Hahnemühle Watercolour Sketchbook — with good quality 300 g/m2 paper, one of my long-time favourites; I’m ordering a few more for myself: Link

• Escoda Ultimo Brush, Size 10 — my trusted round brush for travel sketching. Soft, responsive, and beautifully made: Link

• Escoda Short-Handled Watercolour Brush Set — for those who take on-location sketching seriously. Comes in a stunning canvas case: Link

Tools & Creative Memberships

For the tech-savvy creative:

• iPad accessories — if you love drawing on an iPad, consider ProBundle from Paperlike. It is the original matte screen protector for creators that feels like you're using real paper when drawing with your Apple Pencil.

• Marker sets — I share my favourite marker sets in this article on my blog: here

• Memberships — Skillshare or Domestika, creative platform where you can learn new great skills

• Online courses — perspective drawing, interior sketching with markers “BASE“, fashion illustration, Procreate, you name it (in my Online School of Sketching you can get a course as a gift option). If you need help choosing the right course, email me at olga@schoolofsketching.com

Simple, Thoughtful Gifts

Sometimes the little things are the most meaningful:

• A gift card to your local or online art supply shop

• A museum shop card

• Skandinavisk “Hygge” mini candle — my absolute favourite, a cozy Scandinavian scent with notes of black tea, mint, dried apples, and baked cinnamon: link

• Roost V3 Laptop Stand — Link, recommended to me years ago by a graphic designer in an Auckland coworking space; it truly improved my posture. And after completing my yoga teacher training, I value it even more for long creative laptop sessions

• Skin Care for Creatives (My La Roche-Posay Favorites) — a duo I love for December-February studio days:
  Lipikar AP+ Triple Repair Cream — for deeply nourishing hands and body: link, and
  Thermal Spring Water Mist — to soothe and hydrate skin (and tired eyes) after long hours at the computer: link

• Tickets to The Nutcracker — a beautiful, timeless holiday classic and a magical experience for any art lover…

Final Notes

As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases — at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work and the School of Sketching!

If you found this guide helpful, please share it on your social media — it helps my creative business grow, and I appreciate it deeply.

🍸 BONUS: Christmas Martini Card — Live Zoom Replay

Watch on my YouTube: here

Early Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Let this holiday season be filled with creativity and joy for you and yours!

Olga Sorokina xoxo

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I welcome you to join my Xmas Drawing Challenge on my YouTube:

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Read more from my blog:

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check my podcast episodes

(MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS WITH ARCHITECTS, ARTISTS, AND DESIGNERs)

Guide "Top 10 Creative Ways for Architects and Interior Designers to Boost Their Income"

1. Sketch Artist and Commissions: Leverage your artistic skills by offering sketch commissions. You can create custom sketches of architectural designs, interior layouts, or even personalized artwork for clients.

2. 3D Architectural Visualizations: Use your expertise to create high-quality 3D architectural visualizations for real estate developers, builders, or individual clients looking to visualize their projects before construction.

3. Saatchi: Open an online shop on Saatchi, Etsy, or a similar platform, to sell artworks or prints or of your architectural or interior design drawings, creating a passive income stream from your art.

4. Public Speaking: Share your knowledge and experience by speaking at conferences, seminars, or webinars. You can charge speaking fees and even generate income from sponsored talks.

5. 1-on-1 Coaching: Offer personalized coaching services to aspiring architects or interior designers. Provide guidance, portfolio reviews, and career advice to help them succeed in the industry.

6. Group Mentoring/ Masterminds: Organize group mentoring sessions or mastermind groups where you can mentor a small group of individuals collectively. Charge a fee for participation in these exclusive sessions.

7. Online Courses: Create and sell online courses on platforms like Teachable, Udemy, Coursera, or your own website. Share your expertise on topics like interior sketching, architectural design principles, interior design trends, or software tutorials.

8. Admissions Consulting: Assist students in preparing their portfolios and applications for design universities. Many aspiring architects and interior designers seek guidance to secure admissions, and you can charge for your expertise.

9. Freelance Design Work: Take on freelance design projects outside of your regular job. You can work on residential or small commercial projects, helping clients with interior design or architectural planning.

10. Design Blog or YouTube Channel:  Start a design blog or YouTube channel to showcase your work, share design tips, and monetize through ads, sponsored content, affiliate marketing, or merchandise sales.

Remember that success in these endeavors may require some marketing and networking efforts to build a client base or audience. Additionally, staying updated with industry trends and continuously improving your skills will increase your earning potential as an architect or interior designer.

P.S. Please share this article with your friends.

By Olga Sorokina

Contact: olga@schoolofsketching.com

Instagram @schoolofsketching

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Learn more about my online sketching courses, book, and 1-1 coaching here:

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Top 5 interior design schools in Europe

Where to study interior design in Europe?

In this article, I will cover top 5 design schools to become a professional interior designer.

• Do you want to become an interior designer but have no idea which school to choose?

• Wondering what are the best interior design schools in Europe?

• Do you want to avoid making the wrong choice of school?

• Maybe you are over 25 and have decided to change your life direction?

• Do you dream to make your own conscious choice and follow the path you have always longed for but did not dare (by the way, very often just because of the inability to draw)?

• Are you worried about making the wrong choice of school?

• Wondering what are the most prestigious art schools for interior design?

Keep reading to find all the answers.

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Interior drawing form one of my online courses, learn more here

I will gladly share my findings on this issue here. I’ve decided to discuss this hot-button topic because a few years ago it also was relevant for me. As many of you know, I moved to Denmark in 2014 and lived there for almost 3 years. One day I got the idea to study for a Ph.D. (this is an analog of our postgraduate studies in Russia) at one of the universities in Copenhagen. In addition, I considered various options of studying in other European cities since in Old Europe everything is relatively close.

In Copenhagen, there is the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, and I was lucky to have there an excursion. I had such an opportunity thanks to my friend’s friend Kai who got there a bachelor's degree in Furniture Design and after 4 years of studying founded his own company where he is successfully engaged in furniture design. I have 6 years of interior design training at Saint Petersburg Stieglitz State Academy of Art and Design. So I asked Kai for an excursion around his alma mater. We walked around the Royal Academy of Fine Arts and looked at the classes. At that time I didn’t know for sure whether I wanted to do a postgraduate course in architecture or art history, therefore, so to say, I was testing the waters. The first thing that caught my eye in the Academy was the gigantic white, neutral and huge spaces of the workshops that differed from ours so much (for example, in Saint Petersburg Stieglitz State Academy of Art and Design there are luxurious interiors in the eclectic style). On analyzing it, I came to the conclusion that that option wasn’t my cup of tea (but despite it I’d also like to note the excellent equipment from projectors and MacBooks to 3D printers – in general, it applies to all universities in Europe). After the excursion, I began to look for options in England and the Netherlands.

By the way, as a rule, everywhere in Europe you will see exactly such academies of art with similar light and minimalist interiors having lots of air and zero decor (perhaps, Italy and France are the only exceptions). There is an expression “walls can teach” which exactly reflects our Russian universities and above all my Stieglitz Academy since we studied being surrounded by incredible interiors, so all this beauty and harmonious proportions were perceived and stored on a subconscious level. Our academy is just our Russian Hogwarts.

Here is a selection of schools I have kept since 2014:

1. England. Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design in London / CSM (website)

In England, there is a well-known Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design. Don’t be afraid of the word “college”, it’s a traditional historical name but, in fact, it’s a university. The College is known mainly in the field of fashion design but interior design is studied there as well. An interesting fact is that even those who study interiors are taught topics related to fashion, for example, the creation of a podium and space for holding fashion houses’ fashion shows, salons, and boutiques, i.e., everything that is about the fashion industry, indeed. It is typical for interior designers who graduate from College to stay in the fashion industry. You may also have noticed that interior designers are often interested in clothing design. Sometimes these professions overlap: fashion designers become engaged in the interior and vice versa. I observe such cases all the time. By the way, lots of Russian furniture and interior designers, whose names are often heard, studied at this London College.

2. France. National School of Fine Arts in Paris / Les Beaux-Arts de Paris (website)

Oh, Paris and its École des Beaux-Arts! It’s a famous and one of the oldest Parisian schools of art. It’s perfect, but the only thing that may cause problems is that students are taught exclusively in French. That’s why I had to reject it at once. Although I do love languages and learn them with pleasure, I speak English, some Danish (I studied Danish for a couple of years when I lived in Copenhagen), a little Spanish and French, but I wasn’t ready to learn the language for another few years to do a Ph.D. course. Sure, it would be great to know the language of the French enlighteners perfectly, but it takes a great deal of time and effort and needs great motivation. For those lucky ones who speak French, this option is undoubtedly perfect.

3. Italy. Marangoni Institute in Milan / Istituto Marangoni (website)

This institution is the largest private Italian school of fashion and design. It’s based in Milan and is known all over the world. Admission to the Marangoni Institute is a unique opportunity for students from all over the world to get a design education within the walls of a world-renowned educational institution, from where such celebrities as Franco Moschino and Domenico Dolce graduated. By the way, in general, in all Italian universities, senior students are taught in English. Marangoni Institute is an exception: the same education program is provided in both Italian and English. It's amazing, isn’t it?

4. Bergen Academy of Art and Design (website)

Talking about the Nordic countries, Bergen Academy of Art and Design is worth mentioning. It’s much larger and more famous than the one in Copenhagen which I was going to enter. The Academy has high standards of education and is quoted all over the world. So if you prefer Northern Europe, you should consider this option.

5. Design Academy Eindhoven (website)

This is a famous Dutch Academy of Design. In comparison with a lot of major cities in Europe, Eindhoven is a tiny town but it has a huge number of world-class universities. In general, the town is quite popular for any field of study. It is astonishing how such a small country has had such an enormous impact on the world of art – it has created pleiads of artists and left a great mark on the history of art. A huge advantage of this Academy is that the education programs are run by renowned modern designers who directly share their experience and professionalism. 

Interior sketch form one of my online courses, learn more here

SOME ASPECTS REGARDING TUITION FEES IN EUROPE

Concerning payment, there are some interesting nuances. In some universities, foreigners may study for free. It is possible, for example, in German universities, even despite the large entry. But all the options I’ve listed here offer paid education and the price varies from 4,000 to 17,000 euros (for the year 2014 when I did this study, now prices may vary).

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Thank you so much for reading the article!

Do you have something to add to my list? Please let me know in the comments below.

If you enjoyed this article, please share it with your friend.

© Olga Sorokina

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Summer School + Drawing Modernism: Sketching the Red & Blue Chair by Gerrit Rietvild (Zoom Replay)

There are objects in design history that go far beyond their functional purpose. They embody an era, reflect its ideology, and become a language through which we understand the past. One such object is the Gerrit Rietveld’s Red and Blue Chair — a striking symbol of modernism and the focal point of our latest live Zoom session.

Watch the Replay

In this Zoom workshop, we explored the historical and cultural context behind the emergence of modernist design. The early 20th century brought radical shifts in art, architecture, and furniture, and this chair, with its clean lines, purposeful geometry, and uncompromising simplicity, reflects it all.

As I often tell my students: this chair is more than a seat, it’s architecture in miniature. A pure example of the modernist principle, “form follows function.”

We discussed how the political, social, and technological changes of the time shaped design thinking. The idea that design should serve life, not decorate it, was at the heart of the modernist movement, and it’s still deeply relevant in today’s interiors.

If you missed the live Zoom session, the full replay is now available. It includes the lecture, and the live sketching demo. Watch it today:

Watch here

Note: This video is time-sensitive and will be available only for the next few weeks. After that, it will be exclusively accessible to students enrolled in:

• Interior Sketching Summer School

• Furniture Drawing Mastery (online course)

A Book I Recommended During the Session

For those of you who love diving into the history of interiors, I mentioned a fantastic reference during the live session:

”A History of Interior Design” by John F. Pile 

You can find it here: https://amzn.to/437ImBb

This is a must-have for interior designers and students who want to deepen their understanding of historical context.

Sketching Materials We Used

Here’s a list of the materials featured in the live demo:

• A pencil (I love using Blackwing https://amzn.to/42ugCp5)

• A ruler

• A few coloured pencils (yellow, black, red & blue)

• A black marker

• A few sheets of paper A4 (Letter size)

Join the Summer School (Starting May 14th!)

My Interior Sketching Summer School is a 5-week immersive online journey into interior sketching, design thinking, and visual storytelling. You’ll develop the skills to sketch interiors with confidence — while drawing inspiration from design history and architecture.

Whether you’re a design student or an experienced interior designer looking to refine your hand-drawing practice, this program will support your growth with step-by-step lessons, a private WhatsApp chat, and personal feedback on your drawings from me.

Start Date: May 14, 2025

Format: Asynchronous lessons + group support

Note: If you’re already my BASE course student, Summer School is available to you at a special price.

New to my courses? You’re welcome to join too — we’d love to have you.

Learn more about Summer School 2025

Questions about Summer School or my online courses?

Simply email me at olga@schoolofsketching.com

Happy Sketching!

Olga Sorokina

These sketches below were created by my students after just one lesson.

Most of them had no prior drawing experience. Some were certain they couldn’t draw at all.

And yet — with structured instruction, a clear method, and the right guidance — they achieved results like this.

This is exactly what we do inside the Interior Sketching Summer School:
Build a strong foundation, develop clarity in perspective, and translate interior spaces into compelling hand-drawn visuals.

If you’ve been wanting to sketch — not casually, but professionally — this program is designed for you.

We start May 14, 2025. Join us.

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Read more from my blog:

Blog Archive: Read Here

Interior Sketching Essentials: Tools, Paper, and Markers

Materials You Will Need for Interior Sketching

To get the most out of my online courses and achieve high-quality sketching results, you’ll need the following materials.

I’ve also included sample links from Amazon for your convenience.

1. Markers and Paper

• Alcohol-based markers such as Copic, Molotow, Winsor & Newton Promarker, Zig, Chartpak, Stylefile, or TOUCH (any professional marker brand will work). More on it below.

• Marker paper, size A4 or Letter (at least 70g/m2): This lightweight paper helps preserve your markers’ pigment and makes blending easier.

  Example: Canson marker PAD

Tip: Regular paper will also work for practice.

2. Grey Markers

• At least three shades of gray:

• Light (e.g. N2 / C2). Example: Warm Grey #2 (Chartpak)

• Medium (e.g. N4 / C4)

• Dark (e.g. N6 / C6)

Examples:

Here is a nice Copic grey set of 5 + liner: Copic Sketch Alcohol Marker 5 Colors + Multiliner SP Set, Sketching Grays

Set of 6 from W&N: Winsor & Newton ProMarker Set, 6 Count, Neutral Tones

3. Coloured Markers

• At minimum, please prepare these 5 essential colours:

• Beige, Sand, or Light Brown. Example: Potato Brown (TOUCH) https://amzn.to/4iU4VPh

• Dark Brown or Chocolate

• Olive

• Deep Red

• Deep Blue

Example: Here is a nice set I like: Copic Marker 12 Piece Set - Architecture Colours

4. Highlighting Tools

• White pastel pencil (e.g. Caran'd’Ache) https://amzn.to/42kv5Vp

• White ink gel pen (e.g. Gelly Roll, Sakura) https://amzn.to/43uVeC3

5. Linework Tools

• Black liner or waterproof fineliner (e.g. Copic Multiliner https://amzn.to/3T03Iuf, Uni Liner, Faber-Castell)

• Pencil (I use Palomino Blackwing https://amzn.to/42ugCp5), eraser, and ruler

• Optional: Architect’s ruler (ideal for precise measurements and drawing to scale). Example: Architect's Scale Ruler (Inches)

Happy Sketching!

Olga Sorokina

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Want to Sketch Interiors Like a Pro?

Check out the Program & Sketches from My Online Course
"BASE": a Course Which Teaches All the Basic Techniques You Need to Implement Sketching in Your Interior Design Practice

Professional Interior Drawing Online Training for Designers & Interior Design Students

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My Procreate Workshop at iPad for Architects and Designers Summit 2025 (IFA25)

I have a secret project that I haven’t told you about yet…

A few months ago, my friend David from Sketch Like an Architect asked me if I was interested in teaching a workshop at the iPad for Architects & Designers Summit this year. Lots of work and behind-the-scenes communications went on for months and now I’m excited to finally let you know that…

… iPad for Architects & Designers is officially open for registration!

Click here to register for free

iPad for Architects & Designers 2025 (IFA for short) is Free 6-day Online Event with 20+ Video Workshops Focused on Helping Design Professionals Make the Most of their iPad.

I’m excited to be one of the 20+ amazing instructors in the event – in my online workshop, I’ll be teaching/sharing with you my behind-the-scenes of making an interior sketch commission in Procreate.

What you’ll learn from my session:

​
+  My full Procreate workflow – from underpainting to final details

+ How to use the right brushes and techniques to create textures like wood, velvet, and reflections

+ Time-saving methods to optimize your process and work faster

+ How to present your sketches professionally for clients

​Check All the 20+ Instructors Here

Oh, and the most important thing… this online event is totally FREE from March 25-30. That’s right, 20 workshops, one week only (March 25-30), all for free!

But, pssss, you have a secret option to enroll today wish you choose a VIP ticket during the registration.​

Can’t wait to see you there!

Olga Sorokina

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Want to master interior sketching in Procreate from scratch?

Check also my “Interior Drawing in Procreate“ online course:

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How to Draw Interiors Fast?

If you want to speed up your sketching, here are some of my key tips to help you draw faster without losing quality:

1. Practice Gestural Drawing:

Quick, loose sketches help capture the essence of your subject. I love practicing with live model drawings—it’s a fantastic way to improve speed and fluidity.

2. Master Marker Techniques:

Learn how to use different marker widths. For example, a wide chisel nib is great for covering large areas quickly, while a thin nib is perfect for finer details. Rotate the marker in your hand to create lines with varying thicknesses.

3. Leave White Space:

Don’t feel the need to color every single detail. Leaving white space gives your drawing air and makes it feel more alive. Let your sketch breathe!

4. Use What I Call “Enlivenings” in My Book “The SKETCH. Interior Design Drawing”:

These are quick fine-tuning touches—add accents or a few design objects to bring your sketch to life in seconds.

5. Time Yourself:

Set a time limit. Often, working under pressure forces you into your creative brain, bypassing overthinking. Quick sketching is liberating!

6. Use a Limited Color Palette:

Choose a palette of 3-4 colours and stick with it. Test your colours on a scrap of paper to make sure they work well together—keeping it simple speeds up the process.

Check the bonus tip, watch my today's video on YouTube: click here to watch

In that video, you can see 3 quick sketches I teach how to draw in my brand new lesson in PRO online course.

Learn how to draw interiors like a pro, master advanced sketching techniques, and take your skills to the next level. Check out online course PRO details here: click

Check my blog archive: here

Happy Sketching!
Olga Sorokina

Teaching at Sketching Retreat 2024

...Once upon a time, there was a little girl and a little boy who loved sketching and drawing.

They would sit for hours, sketching everything they saw—from the trees in the park to the cozy corners of their home. Every line they drew told a story, and their imagination knew no bounds.

As they grew older, their passion for sketching deepened. They decided to pursue their dreams and enrolled in architecture school. They honed their skills, mastering the art of design and architecture.

Eventually, they opened their own design firm, where creativity flowed through every project. But as time passed, they became wrapped up in the demands of daily routines, meetings, and client deadlines.

The joy of sketching, which had once sparked their creativity, began to fade. Sketching felt like a distant memory, replaced by endless tasks and schedules. But one day, they realized something important: the magic of sketching still lived within them. It just needed to be brought back to life. And so, they made a vow—to bring the fun and spontaneity of sketching back into their lives and their designs.

Now, it’s time to do the same for you!

Honestly, we, adults, are simply overgrown toddlers. The more I watch creative people in my life (myself included :-) — the more I come to this conclusion. We need fun, we need creativity in our lives.

Join the Sketching Retreat 2024, where we’re putting the fun back into interior design and architecture!

This October, we’re opening the doors to a completely free retreat with over 50 amazing workshops led by top instructors from around the world. I’m truly honored to be teaching one of these sessions, where I’ll show you how to draw interiors quickly using markers.

Let’s rediscover the joy of sketching together!

Here’s the link to join the fun:

I hope you enjoyed my little fairy-tale, my dear Creative :-)

See you on the inside!

Olga Sorokina

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Read more from my blog:

My 5 tips if you want to draw architecture sketch commissions in Procreate

Linear drawing for my session at iPad for Architects & Designers Summit 2025:

In today’s article, I simply welcome you to watch this quick 16 min live stream I did on Instagram:

🤓✍️ “My top 5 tips if you want to become a sketch artist and draw architecture/interior sketch commissions in Procreate”.

WATCH NOW (16 min)

Here is my latest architecture sketch commission I did for my client from the U.S.:

✍️​ Quick links to my latest resources:

1. Online course on Procreate interior sketching for beginners: here

2. THE CLUB, my membership platform (Bringing sketching back to interior design)​, here

Interior Sketching Series: A Recap of My 1-,2-,3-Point Perspective Demos

Welcome back to the blog!

Over the past few weeks, we've embarked on an exciting journey through the world of interior sketching. Our three-part series covered essential techniques to help you create stunning interior sketches with confidence and ease.

In case you missed any of the sessions, here's a comprehensive recap of what we learned.

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Day 1: Understanding 1-Point Perspective

On the first day, we dove into the basics of 1-point perspective with a practical sketching demo focused on a bathroom.

Key Takeaways:

- Vanishing Point: The concept of the vanishing point and how all lines converge towards it.

- Horizon Line: Placing the horizon line correctly to establish the viewer's eye level.

- Drawing a Bathroom: Applying 1-point perspective to sketch a bathroom, emphasizing depth and proportion.

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Day 2: Mastering 2-Point Perspective

Building on our foundation, day two was dedicated to 2-point perspective with a focus on sketching a dining room.

Key Takeaways:

- Two Vanishing Points: Understanding how to use two vanishing points on the horizon line to draw objects at an angle.

- Drawing a Dining Room: Moving beyond simple shapes to sketch a dining room, capturing its dynamic angles and interior elements.

- Practical Applications: Using 2-point perspective to sketch furniture, room corners, and various interior elements from different viewpoints

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Day 3: Exploring 3-Point Perspective

Our final session introduced the advanced technique of 3-point perspective with a focus on a wardrobe interior.

Key Takeaways:

- Three Vanishing Points: Adding a third vanishing point, below the horizon line, to create a sense of height and depth.

- Drawing a Wardrobe Interior: Understanding how the addition of the third point distorts the objects, making them appear more three-dimensional.

- Applications: Practical demo of using 3-point perspective to sketch tiny interiors like wardrobes, home offices, etc.

Mastering 3 points allows you to bring a new level of dynamism and drama to your sketches, making them truly stand out.

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Additional Resources

Materials Used: Sketchbook, Markers and Fineliners

For all days of the series, I used markers and fineliners to create the sketches. These tools are essential for achieving clean lines and vibrant colours in your interior drawings. Here are the Amazon links to the materials I used:

- Markers: I use Sketch&Art Terracotta in the videos, but here is an Amazon set of 60 Colours https://amzn.to/4bu1aLZ

- Sketchbook: I used similar to this one, Hahnemuehle size A5 https://amzn.to/4bt1Elq

- Fineliners: I used Milan Sway fineliner on Day 1 https://amzn.to/3zrs9KZ , for Days 2 and 3 I used a waterproof fineliners from UniPin https://amzn.to/4f9YBBT

Instagram Live Stream: Perspective Drawing

Between Day 2 and Day 3, we had an insightful Instagram live stream where we delved deeper into perspective drawing. We discussed tips and tricks, I answered your questions, and provided additional information on my online course BASE. Watch the replay.

Live Q&A Session: Final Thoughts and BASE Course Introduction

To wrap up the series, we held a live Q&A session on Instagram where I answered your questions and provided further insights into interior sketching. During this session, I also introduced my online course, BASE, which offers comprehensive lessons, community support, and exclusive content designed to take your interior sketching skills to the next level. Watch the Q&A replay here.

Wrapping Up the Three-Part Series

Throughout this series, we've covered the essential perspectives that form the backbone of interior sketching. From the basics of 1-point perspective to the complexity of 3-point perspective, each session built upon the last to enhance your sketching skills.

I hope you found these sessions both informative and inspiring. Sketching interiors is not only a valuable skill for designers but also a rewarding creative outlet. Remember, practice is key! The more you sketch, the more confident and proficient you'll become.

What’s Next?

If you enjoyed this series and want to dive deeper, I invite you to join my online course, BASE. It offers structured lessons, and in-depth exclusive content to help you master interior sketching. Learn more about the course here.

Thank you for following along, and I can’t wait to see the incredible sketches you create! Use the hashtag #SorokinaStudents on Instagram and tag me @schoolofsketching so I can see your drawings.

P.S. Enjoyed the article? Please share it with your creative friend, let’s spread the word about interior sketching together.

© Olga Sorokina, 2024

"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)

Interested in the topic of perspective drawing?

You might like to check these articles from my blog:

• 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”

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Read more from my blog:

Blog archive: here

The short story "You're in Florence"

The short story "You're in Florence."

Author: Olga Sorokina

You are in Florence. Or better - in Firenze... How delicious it sounds in Italian! 

You live with two friends two minutes walk to the Duomo in a 13th century stone house. This flat is rented to you by a classy Italian woman of about 45, she smells strongly of expensive perfume and you really like her large earrings. In a white trouser suit and heels, she shows you around this chic apartment and casually mentions:

- You even have your own access to the roof. Behind this door, up the stairs to the top.

The flat still has historic wooden beams in the great hall with three huge windows and even two stone fountains with lion masks built right into the wall. The view from your bedroom is like a postcard: hundreds of terracotta roofs of the hot daytime city, pigeons cooing just outside the window, and you already imagine waking up early tomorrow, sitting in a silk shirt by the window, putting your elbows on the sill and watching the city wake up, listening to its sounds, soaking in the colours.

It's a very hot summer this year, +40 C, you and your friends even seriously considered switching to living at night and sleeping during the day. Climbing Giotto Tower this morning up the narrow endless stairs was a challenge for everyone (you were really worried about the old lady who bought tickets after you) but the view from the top was worth it. There's a reason they call Florence "the stone bag." It's also hot.

My friends say:

- We're going to go buy bread, wine and slices.

You close the door behind them and run to that door.

Climb a few steps up a very narrow and short stone spiral staircase, open the heavy old door, hear the sounds of dozens of wings of disturbed pigeons and say on an exhale:

- Wow!

In front of you is a mosaic of the city in all shades of terracotta and ochre. You suddenly understood why these colours have Italian names: siena, umber... And the main thing is the dream view of the Palazzo Vecchio. You drew it in the second year of the academy in perspective classes, and now you see this tower, these proportions with your own eyes. It's like you're in your old art history book. It's breathtaking.

Your feet are already touching the warm and rough tiles and your mind is flashing :

- I hope it's not as old as this house, just as long as it doesn't go!

You tread carefully on it. You sit down, enchanted by this moment and stare at the city for a long, long time. You want to paint, but you don't want to go anywhere, not even for a moment to lose this view. You're alone with the city. It's as if you were in a Vrubel painting now.

It's evening, the heat of the day is gone. You think of the Renaissance, of all those old masters who lived here. They were young, they loved and they created. History was being made in this city in the 15th century: the kind of culture and painting that would influence art for centuries to come. And you are here now. 

Painting like the old masters... friends barely got you out of the Uffizi Gallery yesterday. The bells of the Palazzo Vecchio are ringing, the long diagonal feather-like clouds are coloured apricot pink. 

You squeeze your eyes shut:

- It feels so good!

You suddenly realise that Florence is your favourite city in Italy. You hear the front door open, the voices of friends and the rustle of packages and, anticipating the taste of ciabatta with salt and olive oil, you run downstairs.

From my Italian memories. 

Olga Sorokina, June 2024

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Please write your feelings, impressions from this story in the comments below and let me know if you want more such short stories from me in the future.

© Olga Sorokina

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