"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.

“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?

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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".

ENTER YOUR NAME AND EMAIL HERE:

Gray marker sets:

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

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

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

https://amzn.to/2LxdDGm

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

https://amzn.to/2RQL5J5

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

https://amzn.to/2LuPhgi

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

https://amzn.to/2RTVbc7

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

https://amzn.to/2LwcIWE 

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

https://amzn.to/2KYnC8a

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

https://amzn.to/2ROYykF

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

https://amzn.to/2XrPurQ

Coloured marker sets:

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

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

1. CHARTPAK Architecture Set, (25 colours):

https://amzn.to/2XnvZ3U

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

https://amzn.to/2J5ivkd

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

https://amzn.to/2XjcVyL

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

https://amzn.to/2XvF6KQ

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

https://amzn.to/2Xx1KCs

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

https://amzn.to/2xxuwZ9

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

https://amzn.to/2LGfBEw

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

https://amzn.to/2JjDVKD

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

© Olga Sorokina

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Welcome to Sketching Retreat 2023: The #1 Online Event for Interior, Architecture, and Landscape Sketching

Are you passionate about sketching, perspective drawing, architecture, or interior design?

If so, you're in for a treat! Imagine having the opportunity to learn from your favourite instructors, artists, architects, and designers during a six-day online event that's absolutely free.

Welcome to Sketching Retreat 2023, the #1 online event in the field of interior, architecture, and landscape sketching!

This year, I will be teaching perspective drawing: “1-Point Perspective Made Easy: Sketching the Iconic Neuendorf House”. I can’t wait to see you on the inside!

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What is Sketching Retreat 2023?

Sketching Retreat 2023 is a remarkable event that brings together creative minds from around the world to explore the art of sketching in various domains. This six-day online extravaganza is a treasure trove of more than 30 workshops, each tailored to enrich your knowledge and skills in architecture, interior design, and landscape sketching.

What Will You Learn from the Workshops?

At Sketching Retreat 2023, you'll immerse yourself in an abundance of knowledge and creativity. Some of the techniques and applications you'll master during the workshops include:

- Pen & Pencil Drawing: Unlock the secrets of creating intricate sketches with the simple tools of pen and pencil.

- Colour Markers: Explore the world of vibrant colors and learn how to bring life to your sketches.

- Watercolour Painting: Dive into the world of watercolors and transform your sketches into colorful masterpieces.

- Morpholio Trace: Discover the power of digital sketching with the Morpholio Trace app.

- Procreate: Unleash your creativity with the popular digital art app, Procreate.

- Concepts: Explore innovative sketching techniques and concepts that will elevate your skills to new heights.

These workshops will be led by a diverse array of instructors, including artists, architects, and designers, each offering their unique style, techniques, and mediums.

Meet the Host: David Drazil

Sketching Retreat 2023 is hosted by my friend, the talented David Drazil from sketchlikeanarchitect.com. David is architect, content creator, speaker, and book author. David's passion for sketching and design is incredible, and he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the event. I am sure, his expertise and vision will undoubtedly inspire all participants.

How to Register:

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to enhance your sketching skills and learn from some of the best in the industry. To register for Sketching Retreat 2023, simply follow this registration link:

Sketching Retreat 2023 is not just an event; it's an experience that has the potential to transform your creative journey. Whether you're a seasoned sketch artist or just beginning to explore the world of architecture, interior design, or landscape sketching, there's something here for everyone.

Embrace this opportunity, and join us at the #1 online event for sketching in 2023. Register today, and let's embark on this artistic adventure together. Unleash your creative potential like never before!

I can't wait to see you at Sketching Retreat 2023!

Olga Sorokina

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

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

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

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

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

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

Olga Sorokina

Top 10 mistakes in interior sketching:

Mistake #1: "I like everything equally"

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

Mistake #2: "Focusing on details"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Wrong“ sketch with all 10 mistakes in it

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

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

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

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

Mistake #6: "Drawing with ragged lines"

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

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

Mistake #7: "Applying marker inappropriately"

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

“Right“ sketch without those mistakes

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

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

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

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

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

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

What should you do? 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The biggest secret

Top secret of interior sketching revealed…

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

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

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

— Pablo Picasso

Finally, one more piece of advice: 

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

What was your biggest take-away from this blog?

Did you notice any of these mistakes in your sketches?

Let me know in the comments below.

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

© Olga Sorokina

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

Free resources I mention in the video:

• MY FREE PERSPECTIVE CHALLENGE: here

• 10 EXERCISES TO TRAIN YOUR HAND: here

• MY 10 RULES OF SKETCHING: here

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

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

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

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

• What materials do I need for interior design drawing?

• Which brands of markers would be the best choice?

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

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

— Jack White

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You can listen to this blog article in audio format as a podcast

(6 min)

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

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

• Perspective

• Composition

• Light

• Volumes

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

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

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

Well, here is my strategy: Less is More.

Which colours?

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

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

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

Your first marker selection might be as follows:

• Light gray (NG 2, Neutral Grey #2)

• Mid-gray (NG 4)

• Dark gray (NG 7)

• Light beige (or vanilla)

• Olive

• Dark brown (chocolate)

• Black

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

What brand of markers to buy?

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

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

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

Here is one of my favourite Copic sets on Amazon, this is an affiliate link, if you use it, I make a small commission at no extra cost to you, so thanks in advance if you use it or share with someone. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A couple of more useful tips on markers

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

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

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

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

Learn more about markers from my book «The SKETCH», available on Amazon now.

P.S. Please share this blog-post with your friends. They would be glad you did. Thanks in advance, you're awesome!

© Olga Sorokina

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WATCH MY VIDEO ON MARKERS ON YOUTUBE:

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YOU CAN ENJOY IT NOW,

JUST ENTER YOUR NAME AND EMAIL HERE:

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

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

(For Interior Designers & Architects)

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What is sketching and the 4 most popular types of it

Your # 1 Online Course Which Teaches

All the Basic Techniques You Need to Implement Sketching in Your Interior Design Practice

In this blog post, I will explain what sketching is and what are its five most popular types.

P.S. I took this text from my book “The SKETCH“.

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You can listen to this article in audio format

(12 min)

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What is sketching?

Basically, it is about making a quick drawing, a study, which helps you to represent a design idea. And it has a plethora of applications:

Travel sketching (or sometimes city or urban sketching): expressive, energetic, and usually speedy drawings of architectural details, city views, restaurants, etc.

It can be made both in the open air (“pleinair” in French) and working from your memory – recollections of your trip when you are back at home, or using photos and creating compositions out of them. It includes “cafe sketching” as well.

Fashion sketching: people, fashion-looks, and accessories. It is used mainly for illustrations or magazines, e.g., for brand promotion. It helps designers during the first stages of the creation of their collections and helps to introduce changes.

Industrial Design sketching: probably the most known and popular branch of sketching. Obviously, it was created by industrial designers; a good example is car sketching. In this case, all sketches are made with great speed and confidence.

The type of sketching I teach my students via online courses, Instagram Lives, and YouTube tutorials is a little different, it’s an interior design sketching, and we usually start by creating a precise measured perspective with the help of scale rulers. This is followed by freehand rendering, which may take 1-2 hours, and for this stage, we will be using markers. Once you have mastered the construction technique, you will develop the ability to produce quick freehand sketches of interiors.

“Sketching is a fantastic skill that lets you transfer your design idea onto paper in the most fun, fast and effective way.”

Sketching is a fantastic skill that lets you transfer your design idea onto paper in the most fun, fast and effective way. In other words, sketching is a unique instrument for visualizing your concepts. Nowadays, it is associated mostly with such media as specialized professional markers, for example, Copic, Stylefile, Chartpak, Promarkers, ZIG, etc. Sketching “palette” is vast and versatile: you can start from scratch by using a pencil, charcoal, or black liner and end up by using different types of colouring techniques, for instance, watercolour, coloured ink and pastel or watercolour pencils. It is possible to mix various media, for example, markers + pastel or watercolour + coloured pencils. There are so many creative opportunities for you to test and explore! It is a good idea to try several and pick a couple of “favourites”.

Illustration from my book “The SKETCH. Interior Design Drawing“

A range of this kind of media in the art-shops can impress and confuse at the same time. But don’t worry, my friends, in this article on my blog I recommend you a nice and compact set of marker colours, which I use most of the time. But why do I recommend markers? In my opinion, markers are the most easy-to-learn-how-to-use and easy to implement technique for beginners (especially in comparison to watercolour) and, at the same time, sketches which are done with markers usually look more vibrant. As a matter of fact, in my interior design practice, I used to use watercolour and coloured pencils for my drawings, whereas now I opted for markers only because I simply see how much better they perform on paper for interior design purposes.

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The reason why sketching became so popular today among designers of all kinds not only in Russia, Europe, the USA, Asia, and the rest of the world is that artists nowadays tend to be overwhelmed by computer programs such as CAD, Revit, Sketchup, 3D Max, and Maya. In the old days, artists were earning their bread by, literally, their hands, and now they are desperately wishing to go back in time when ideas were transferred through hand drawing, which is far more natural and organic way of doing it.

Take a look at what is happening right now in our creative lives: we rarely, if ever, write with a pen, and mostly type on a computer, iPad or iPhone. We do not send handwritten letters and cards anymore – the epistolary genre is almost gone for good – and even our thoughts and ideas we capture in “Notes” on our iPhones. It seems that we have forgotten the meaning of “handmade”, handcrafted, which is precious because in creating it, you include a piece of your heart, love, and memories. Do you remember what we were told as children: “The best present is the one that is made by hands”. There is a profound meaning in that.

Just observe that we no longer “create” on paper but “work” on a computer, in Photoshop, Word, or AutoCAD. The words we use, especially verbs, bear deep meaning. With that in mind, ask yourself, is it better to render or to hand-render; to work or to create? They say that 3D Max was invented by those who can not draw. Clearly, there is a number of advantages in using 3D and computer-generated imagery, I used it myself a lot back in the days, but let us not lose the command of our hands and the link between the brain and the heart that hand drawing fosters.

4 main types of sketching 

As I mentioned before, there are different types of sketching, and here I would like to talk about each one in a little bit more depths. Let’s take a quick look at the main features of the most popular of them by splitting them into key concepts and keywords.

1. Interior sketching

For this kind of sketching, it is highly important to understand the laws of perspective and train your eye to judge scale and proportion. It is always good to be able to execute your drawings within different time frames because sometimes you will need to draw your idea quickly in front of your customer. As an interior designer, you should have an eye for beauty, a feeling for harmonious colours, and a perfect palette. And, as in other types of sketching, you should be able to render a variety of materials such as fabric, wood, stone, and glass. Check my video courses on interior design drawing.

Interior drawing from my ecourse PRO. Check other sketches here.

2. Fashion sketching

For this type of sketching, it is crucial to have a good understanding of human proportions (face and body). You should know how to stylize figures in your drawings. More often than not, body proportions are elongated in fashion sketching. For example, the total height of the human body in fashion sketching is 10, 11, or even 12 times the height of a human head as opposed to real-life proportions of only 7.5 to 8 heights of a human head. The most important aspect of fashion sketching is to be able to capture a design idea in the best possible light. Hence a facial-portrayal of a human figure is usually not significant. In this case, it is critical to be able to deliver the idea of the designed collection to the best advantage. In fashion sketching, it is essential to bring the clothing design into focus, and a life-like portrayal of the figure is usually unimportant. You will also need to know how to convey through hand-render the look and feel of such materials and textures as skin, hair, different types of fabric, metal, etc.

3. Industrial sketching

You will need the ability to draw objects in 3D, clearly showing their structural design and volume. To be able to render a professionally looking arrangement of component part on a piece of paper, you will need a firm grasp of the principles of composition. You will also need to perfect your technique and speed in order to develop an assured line and confident hand. The most common materials that need rendering in industrial sketching are metal, plastic, and glass.

4. Travel sketching

In this type of sketching, the most crucial skill is to manage to convey the feel, the ambience of a place, to capture the flitting moment and, at the same time, to deliver the correct scale and proportions of the object. More often than not, you will also need to be able to perform at high speed, as you will be sketching while travelling, while on the road, when you do not have several hours at your disposal the way it would have been the case with "plein air" sketching. In this type of sketching, it is important to grasp the intrinsic traits of the place you are observing and afterwards graphically stylize it in your drawing.

Check the process of creation of this sketch on my YouTube here.

P.S. I hope you enjoyed this article, let me know what is your favourite type of sketching in the comments below. Please share this article with your friends on social media. Thanks in advance!

© Olga Sorokina, 2021

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