Welcome to the Venue Illustration Mini Course:
“3 Days to Better Architecture Drawing”
I’m so so excited that you are here and honestly honored that you would trust me to teach you at all! But enough chatting—I know that you’re a busy bee and are anxious to dive into these tips so that you can hustle to creating the architecture drawings of your dreams!
Step 1: A Foundation For Success!
Hopefully the video was clear, but just in case, here’s a review of the information and your homework for Day 1!
Horizon lines should fall:
Above the center of the page
Below the center of the page
Best angles for an architecture illustration:
Perfectly straight on (front view)
A 3/4 view
Your homework is to find a reference for our architecture drawing.
You can go for a walk (recommended) and take photos of buildings in your area following the rules that we listed above, OR you can search your computer or the internet for architecture that inspires you (be careful for copyrights—always ask permission if you plan to share!).
Study the horizon line, explore different angles and get ready for Step 2!
Step 2: An Old Art Trick That REALLY Works!
Here’s a review of the information and your homework for Day 2!
Your homework is to transfer the building from your reference photo to your page!
Using your pencil as a measuring tool, measure the sides and height of your building one at a time using your pencil and transferring that to your paper. This will help you to accurately transfer your building, keeping everything to scale and even speed up the drawing process as a whole! It takes a little time to get the hang of it, so don’t get frustrated if you have to start over at some point—it happens to the best of us!
Step 3: Details That Make or Break Your Illustration
Here’s a review of the information and your homework for Day 3!
Can you tell that this is something that I get really passionate about?? haha! I have seen this BREAK so many beautiful illustrations, just because the artist was too nervous to take the time to draw what was there and rushed the ending.
Your homework is to add the details of your architecture drawing.
Look closely at your reference image and study the foliage and details throughout. Take a careful look at the shape, the texture and the details—make sure that you are capturing THOSE details and not just adding quick-formula-based details, like a fluffy cloud for a bush or tree.
Good luck! I can’t wait to see the finished result—if you can, tag me in your posts on Instagram so I can see all of your hard work come together!
Hungry for more?
We’ve only scratched the surface of Architecture Drawing
Architecture, building or venue illustrations are are full and very unique art form. Due to their large and (usually) more geometric structure, there are rules and techniques that apply to architecture that simply don’t apply to other forms of art! If you’ve loved this mini course and are anxious to dive deeper into the world of venue illustrations, the techniques behind tried and true art formulas, and learn how to take your artwork to the next level, then the Architecture Drawing Course is for you! As usual
I only recommend my art courses for students who are ready to get serious—for those who want college level material with practical tips to help you use the skills you acquire in the “real world” or for your business!
It’s time to move past the overwhelm
and approach each piece with confidence.
If we haven’t met yet, my name is Katrina Crouch!
As a seasoned artist and arts educator for over 8 years, it has been my passion to teach the fine arts to students who are ready to take their work seriously. I’m not interested in “cookie cutter” formulas that will leave your work looking mysteriously like mine, or result in sketchbooks full of the same illustration over and over.
Instead, I have taken “wanna-be-artists” and turned them into working professionals,
giving them the tools that they need to draw anything that they want and to develop their own style.
My philosophy is simple: Dive deep into the foundations of the fine arts, then use this knowledge to explore different ways to “break the rules” well and develop your own style. I teach you the “why” behind the “how” so that you can implement the problem solving into your own projects.
