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)

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

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

"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 the comprehensive “BASE+PRO“ Bundle 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 WATERCOLOR, BASE+PRO, 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

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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

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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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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.

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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!

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

© Olga Sorokina, 2024

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

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Blog archive: here

Perspective Drawing for Beginners: Welcome to My Perspective Series

Welcome to the culmination of our 3-Day Perspective Drawing Series, where we've delved deep into the art of creating depth and dimension on a two-dimensional surface. Over the past three days, we've explored fundamental concepts, practical techniques, and creative applications of perspective drawing.

Let's take a moment to recap the highlights from each day of this journey.

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Day 1: Perspective Drawing Basics

On Day 1, we laid the foundation for our exploration by diving into Perspective Drawing Basics. We introduced the concept of perspective, the visual illusion that allows us to represent three-dimensional objects on a flat surface. Two crucial types of perspective were unveiled: the frontal view (1-point perspective) and the oblique view (2-point perspective). Through step-by-step demonstrations, we learned how to draw boxes in both 1-point and 2-point perspective, mastering the art of creating depth in our sketches.

Day 2: Mastering Circles in Perspective

Building upon our understanding from Day 1, Day 2 challenged us to tackle the intricate task of drawing circles in perspective. We learned how to overcome common challenges and avoid major mistakes when sketching ellipses, crucial elements for rendering cylindrical objects realistically. Through detailed instructions and hands-on practice, we honed our skills in drawing circles and ellipses, unlocking new possibilities for adding depth and realism to our artwork.

Day 3: Drawing Cylinders in 1-Point Perspective for Interior Design

In our final installment, we ventured into the realm of interior design, exploring how perspective drawing principles can be applied to create immersive spaces. Focusing on drawing cylinders in a 1-point perspective, we discovered techniques for rendering cylindrical objects within architectural contexts. From furniture to decorative elements, we learned how mastering perspective drawing enhances our ability to design and visualize interior spaces with precision and creativity.

Unlock Your Potential with Perspective Drawing

As we conclude our journey, I invite you to continue exploring the endless possibilities of perspective drawing. Whether you're a beginner seeking to master the basics or an experienced artist looking to refine your skills, the principles of perspective offer a gateway to boundless creativity and expression.

Elevate Your Skills with "Perspective Drawing for Interior Design" Course

Ready to take your perspective drawing skills to the next level? Dive deeper into the world of interior design sketching with my online course, "Perspective Drawing for Interior Design." Learn in the most efficient way from someone who has actually done it – me!

In this comprehensive course, I'll guide you through easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions that fit your schedule. Whether you're a seasoned designer or just starting out, you'll gain the skills and confidence to win better projects, charge more than your competitors, and elevate your interior design game.

Don't just take my word for it – check out the rave reviews from students who have already enrolled in this course. Join us and unlock your potential with "Perspective Drawing for Interior Design" today!

One of the sketches from the course “Perspective Drawing for Interior Design“

Happy sketching!

P.S. Please share this article with your creative friend who might be interested in perspective drawing.

© Olga Sorokina, 2024

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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.

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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

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

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Blog Archive: 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.

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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".

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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

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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

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"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.

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“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.

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“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.

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“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).

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“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.

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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

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

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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

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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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Featured in:

Check out the recent Redfin article we were featured in:

11 Timeless Beige and Neutral Home Decor Ideas | Redfin

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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.​​

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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.

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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!

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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'

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My YouTube was awarded "Essential Design Voice" by @morpholio

Famous Morpholio announced the top YouTube creators for Architecture and Design, so honored my channel was also on that list.

You can read more about “12 Essential Design Voices“ on their blog: here.

Let me share with you my top three playlists from the channel:

1. Interior sketching with markers

2. Architecture sketching

3. Perspective drawing

My three most popular Shorts from the channel:

1. Top 3 exercises to train your hand

2. Interior drawing magic

3. Why it is important to sketch: 4 reasons

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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.

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Resources:

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

© Olga Sorokina

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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:

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3 most common fears novice artists have and how to overcome those struggles

Many beginners in drawing in general and interior sketching in particular have certain fears and concerns related to drawing.

Obviously, everyone has their own fears, but they are basically very similar to each other.

My next blog post is going to be about these problems of beginners in sketching, painting and drawing and how to cope with them.

Have inspiring and useful reading!

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GET MY PDF LIST OF MATERIALS FOR SKETCHING,

PLEASE ENTER YOUR NAME AND EMAIL IN THE FORM:

Many students write to me that they have never drawn before, so they are afraid to start. Some of them are nervous because they have no art education, while others were drawing 10 years ago and now they think it is too late, that they have forgotten everything, lost their talent, etc. In general, people who are creative by nature are often afraid to start, afraid to go back to drawing, afraid that nothing will work out.

On the other hand, they realize that time flies by without action being taken. It is also common for someone to think that they are not creative at all, but they draw, paint, create and design in their dreams.

What to do with all this and how to get things moving? Let's take it in order.

1. “I am afraid to start drawing as I have no art education”

This is the number one fear, based on my students' letters. Actually, this fear is one of the most popular and most paralyzing fears I've come across among beginners. Speaking specifically to it, I have a very strong and powerful argument. Have you ever heard of the fact that most famous artists didn't go to art schools when they were children, and many of them simply failed to enter the Academy of Arts at the first, second or even third attempt, while many who did enter were expelled from the same Academy for being “untalented” or “unsuitable”?

“Most famous artists didn’t go to art schools when they were children, and many of them simply failed to enter the Academy of Arts at the first, second or even third attempt.”

Names, surnames? How about these, for example: Salvador Dali, Ivan Kramskoy, Vasily Surikov, Konstantin Savitsky, Pavel Filonov, Mikhail Shemyakin... All these brilliant and genius artists were once expelled from the Art Academies. The list can go on and on, if you look deeply into the biographies of the famous artists.

And do you know the story of Auguste Rodin, for instance? He tried three times, three times (!) to enter the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, but each time he failed, which made his father furious and shouting that Auguste was completely untalented and would never achieve anything in art.

“Auguste Rodin tried three times to enter the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, but each time he failed, which made his father furious and shouting that Auguste was completely untalented and would never achieve anything in art.”

Do you really think that art school would have made an artist out of you if you had studied there as a child? That's not a fact. The fact is, you're the one who makes the artist out of yourself. That's all. Definitely art school gives you some basic knowledge and skills in using various materials, but it also depends on the teachers: some can inspire a child to create more, while others simply discourage them from drawing. Fortunately, I have been mostly lucky with teachers: at art school (Children's Art School No. 4 “Alexandrino”), at the Art and Aesthetic Lyceum No. 190 on Fontanka, at the Academy (Saint Petersburg Stieglitz State Academy of Art and Design).

To me, the most important thing about art school is that you practice, that you are surrounded by creativity and people who share your interests from an early age, and that is strength. What subjects did we have in art school?

Painting, drawing, sculpture and art history. By the way, at children's art school (I studied at the Children's Art School No. 4 “Alexandrino”), we only drew in watercolor. I remember that I first tried tempera, gouache and acrylic paint in grade 8 of the Art Lyceum No. 190. I did my first oil painting in 2011, after graduating from Stieglitz Academy, and I tried professional markers for the first time in 2012 (it was Copic and Promarker, as I still recall).

“Do you really think that art school would have made an artist out of you if you had studied there as a child? That’s not a fact. The fact is, you’re the one who makes the artist out of yourself. That’s all.”

Do you know what talents are revealed without any art schools? What bright personalities and amazing styles they have! You can start revealing yourself at 30 or even 40/50/80! I recall now how at my Lyceum (Art and Aesthetic Lyceum No. 190 on Fontanka Street 22) there was a termly review of drawing and painting and how everyone gathered around one girl's drawings and everyone was impressed by her work for its originality, creativity and strength, and our drawing teacher, who said: “This is what a child who is not spoiled by art school is like”. By the way, she is now a successful graphic artist and book illustrator.

2. “I'm afraid it's too late for me to start.”

This is probably the number two fear in terms of frequency. It's a waste of time to think, “Oh, my time is gone, my parents didn't send me to art school as I was a child, now it's too late, I'm already 30/40/70 (insert your own) years old and time is lost, opportunities are lost...”

Of course, it's late, you're not 7 years old enough to enter a children's art school (by the way, I was accepted at 6; as always, I was the youngest everywhere: in art school, school, lyceum, university). Many of today's most famous artists started their careers in their 30s, 40s and later. Take Van Gogh for example, he started at almost 30 and created an incredible number of paintings in less than 10 years, a real legacy to the entire art world. And you're still wondering, "Is it too late to start?"

“It’s never too late to learn, it’s never too late to start drawing.”

I'm a little surprised by the comments "You draw so beautifully, I wish I could draw like you" or "I'll never learn to draw like you", and there are always ellipses at the end. I can't really understand people like that, why should they draw like me when they can express their individuality? Sure, copying is useful (especially the old masters) for training your hand and mastering your technique, but you have your own style, which you need to reveal and develop. Perhaps, sometimes you're just too lazy to spend time drawing and fill those minutes and hours when you could have been drawing by falling down the rabbit hole of social media, losing an hour or so there every day. Start drawing instead, you won't miss anything crucial if you don't look at the newsfeed. The key is to devote your time to drawing, you know? Take your time. Regularly.

You should take a sheet of paper and a pencil and immerse yourself in a different state, a state of art and creativity, rather than consuming an endless stream of information. Why draw like any other artist? Why be like him or her? It feels like something out of adolescence when you want to be like a certain actress or singer. Being yourself is the most interesting thing. Anyway, one day you will miss the real you and “come back” to yourself.

“The key is to devote your time to drawing, you know? Take your time. Regularly.”

I started drawing before I could talk. Just imagine what it would be like if you drew so much. For as long as I can remember, I have been drawing all the time, drawing when I felt bad or sad, drawing when I felt good or happy, drawing at art school, drawing in chemistry and physics classes, drawing when I was on the road. And there have been times in my life when I haven't touched a pencil or paper for a month or even two or three months (which happened, by the way, only after I graduated from Saint Petersburg Stieglitz State Academy of Art and Design) and I have focused entirely on interior design, on drafting or on 3D MAX. It used to literally get me down, physically and emotionally. However, when I feel really down, I start drawing and things gradually get better, that's the magic.

3. “I'm afraid I've forgotten how to draw.”

It is even harder mentally to go back to drawing than to start. The beginner's advantage is that they progress quickly and see their instant growth. But coming back is much more difficult because you used to draw really well, perhaps even went to art school, you were praised, admired and applauded as a talented child, and then, when you come back to drawing after such a "long break" (sometimes several decades), of course, you get enormous self-doubt. Trust me, all artists have a “fear of coming back” to drawing, and I am no exception. And the longer the period of "not drawing", the harder it is.

“And you have that chill all over the skin and a thought flashes through your mind: “Oh, is my talent really lost?!””

Here's a vivid example from my life, which I would call "The triumphant comeback after summer to painting classes at the Saint Petersburg Stieglitz State Academy of Art and Design”:

Oh, those summer days, the long summer holidays, two whole months, during which not many of students took up paints and brushes, except for pencil sketches and the occasional “scribble”.

And then, in early autumn, you go to your first painting class, confident, satisfied, full of energy, rested and tanned. They put on a beautiful performance with a model and draperies; you take up the brush to create a masterpiece and in the first minute you realize that the brush is somehow strange to hold and you get scared, scared of the feeling that you have forgotten how to paint. And you have that chill all over the skin and a thought flashes through your mind: “Oh, is my talent really lost over the summer?!” And such a chill runs down your spine and a thought flashes through your head: “Oh, is my talent lost over the summer?!” You start to panic, lose your heart in frustration, and nothing seems to be working out. You can barely draw before the break and as the new class starts, you muster up the courage to ask your groupmates, “Guys, am I the only one who feels like I've lost the painting skills over the summer?” And you hear the relieved exclamations and giggles around you: “Huh, I thought it was just me!”, “Yeah, it's me too!” It makes you feel better immediately, and by the end of the second class the brush is running faster and faster across the sheet, the strokes are becoming more agile and confident; the ‘talent seems to be returning”.

What is the lesson here? Well, it is important to go back, it is important to start drawing again, to just start, to take the first step and to do it without criticism, without self-condemnation. Indeed, this is always the hardest part, but afterwards it will immediately get easier and you will be surprised to notice how quickly your rusty wheel of creativity speeds up.

“All artists have a fear of coming back to drawing. And the longer the period of “not drawing”, the harder it is.”

My God, there are so many fears and doubts like this:

The fear that ‘it's not time yet”, the fear-excuse “later, later, when we move in / when my daughter passes her exams / when summer comes and I start drawing”, etc. Fear of comparison and judgment from others is also highly popular. There's one answer to all these fears, and it's both simple and complex - just start drawing and never stop at the first failure. Just keep doing it all the time.

It's really dangerous to put creativity “on hold”, to put your interests and yourself on hold because the further and longer you put it off, the weaker your belief in yourself gets, but the stronger your fear becomes and the harder it will be to overcome later.

“There’s one answer to all these fears, and it’s both simple and complex - just start drawing and never stop at the first failure. Just keep doing it all the time.”

One last point I want to make in this blog post:

Every aspiring sketcher has his or her strengths. Everyone does. The challenge is to develop them. One has a natural talent for painting in watercolor. How many times have I noticed among my students that even if a person has never painted in watercolor before, when they do their first work in watercolor, it is obvious that they have a good feel for the proportions of water and paint and feel this technique instinctively. In others, I've often noticed an amazing sense of color and coloristics. Perhaps you have a special talent for composition, don't you? And what about your innate sense of proportion? Otherwise, you may be a hidden master of watercolor or markers. 

You will never know until you try! Reveal yourself, explore yourself! If you're afraid that you don't have any of that and still suffer from not having an academic education, try to look at your situation from a new perspective: you are not "spoiled" by art school or any other educational system, you are an individual, you are a natural genius. Not having an academic education can also be a strength, depending on how you look at it.

I just recalled the words of my favorite Dali: 

“Even at an early age, I acquired the vicious habit of thinking of myself as different from everyone else and behaving differently from other mortals. It turned out to be a gold mine!”

— Salvador Dali

Creativity shows your identity, your uniqueness. No one will ever draw like you. It's definitely good to copy the masters, to know the techniques, to be surrounded by other creative individuals - that's what classical art education is all about, and that's its strength. The most important thing is not to think about what you've missed or what opportunities you've lost in your life at the moment, but to focus on all the wonderful things you have to discover and learn! Especially nowadays it's so easy to do and you are well aware of it: how many courses both offline and online exist, how many master classes, drawing challenges and contests are held! Get involved in all this! Immerse yourself in creativity.

By the way, join my Free Perspective Drawing Challenge: here

“Every aspiring sketcher has his or her strengths. Everyone does. The challenge is to reveal them.”

It’s important for you to discover your uniqueness, to be who you are by nature, to develop the things that are in you and above all you need to stop focusing on this thought that keeps replaying in your head: “Why didn't I start studying earlier? Why didn't my parents enroll me in an art school? Why did I decide to enter the wrong university? Why? Why? Why?” Just change your mind and allow for another thought: "Maybe it's all for the best? Is it even better for me?" And once you have that idea and mindset, attend courses, read art books, join marathons and master classes. Certainly, you don't want to find yourself at the end of your life as someone who has buried their talents in the ground and never used them.

What fears do you have about drawing? What do you think about this post, was it relevant to you, what ideas and thoughts have you come up with? Please share in the comments below, it will be useful to all of us.

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

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