Travel Sketching: Interiors in One and Two Point Perspective from Udemy

When we’re doing travel sketching or urban sketching, sometimes we forget about interiors. But when you travel, or even when you’re out and about in your own hometown, you’re inside all kinds of interesting spaces.

That could be your house, or the apartment or hotel you stay in when you travel, or maybe it’s an art museum, a cathedral, or the café where you have your morning coffee.

All of these are places you can capture in your sketchbook to just help evoke a sense of place and remind you of little moments in your everyday life or your vacation.

The trick with interiors is that you need to really understand perspective.

So in this class, we’re going to work on simple one and two-point perspective, which will help us build the room and place all the furniture within it.

You might be used to doing this outdoors, on the street, but we’ll work on applying those techniques indoors as well.

Once we work out how perspective works inside a room, we’ll get really creative and playful with ink, watercolor, markers, colored pencil, and any other mixed media you’d like to use.

Although we’re going to be working from photos in this class, the idea is that we’ll create quick, simple sketches that you can absolutely do on location.

What's inside

Learning objectives

How to measure perspective for indoor scenes
How to draw the room and establish major shapes such as furniture

How to add detail in ink
How to finish with paint and mixed media

How to measure perspective for indoor scenes
How to draw the room and establish major shapes such as furniture
How to add detail in ink
How to finish with paint and mixed media

Syllabus

Introduction

Desert Hangout - Mixed Media

Supplies

Learn how to draw an interior room using one-point perspective

I've attached one of the photos I used in this section so that you can download it and draw the perspective lines with marker. It's a good way to practice these concepts.

Here's the photo I used for this section.

Desert Hangout-Furnish the Room

Desert Hangout Ink

Desert Hangout - Brush Pen

Desert Hangout - Watercolor

Learn how to draw an interior room using two-point perspective

Two Point Perspective

Attached is the photo I used in this section.

Portugal Apartment -Furnish the Room

Portugal Apartment - Ink

Portugal Apartment - Brush Pen

Portugal Apartment - Watercolor

Portugal Apartment - Mixed Media

Learn to draw a popular travel sketching interior like an art museum.

Attached is the photo I'm working from in this section.

Museum Ink

Museum Brush Pen

Museum Watercolor

Museum Paint Pen

Learn how to sketch a complex scene like a coffee shop filled with people.

Attached is the photo I'm working from.

Coffee Shop Ink Drawing

Coffee Shop Watercolor

A quick review and final thoughts about interior sketching

Wrapping Up

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Focuses on interiors, which are often overlooked in travel and urban sketching, providing a unique perspective and expanding the range of subjects for artists

Breaks down perspective into simple one and two-point techniques, making it accessible for beginners to understand and apply to their sketches

Encourages experimentation with ink, watercolor, markers, colored pencils, and other mixed media, fostering creativity and personal expression in interior sketches

Emphasizes creating quick, simple sketches from photos that can be adapted for on-location drawing, bridging the gap between studio practice and plein air sketching

Uses photos as a reference, which may require learners to find their own reference photos or rely on the photos provided, potentially limiting subject choices

Teaches how to sketch complex scenes like museums and coffee shops, which may be challenging for absolute beginners without prior drawing experience

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Travel Sketching: Interiors in One and Two Point Perspective with these activities:

Practice Basic Perspective

Show steps

Reviewing perspective drawing fundamentals will help you grasp the core concepts taught in the course more quickly.

Browse courses on Perspective Drawing

Show steps

Find online resources explaining one and two-point perspective.
Practice drawing simple shapes in one and two-point perspective.
Draw a simple room using one-point perspective.

Read 'Perspective Made Easy' by Ernest R. Norling

Show steps

Studying this book will provide a solid foundation in perspective, which is essential for interior sketching.

View Melania on Amazon

Show steps

Obtain a copy of 'Perspective Made Easy'.
Read the chapters on one and two-point perspective.
Practice the exercises in the book.

Sketch Your Own Room

Show steps

Practicing sketching your own room will help you apply the perspective techniques learned in the course to real-world settings.

Show steps

Choose a room in your home or a familiar space.
Identify the vanishing points and horizon line.
Create a sketch of the room using one or two-point perspective.
Add details such as furniture and decorations.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Follow Online Interior Sketching Tutorials

Show steps

Following online tutorials will expose you to different approaches and techniques for sketching interiors.

Show steps

Search for online tutorials on interior sketching.
Select a few tutorials that focus on perspective and composition.
Follow along with the tutorials, creating your own sketches.

Create a Series of Interior Sketches from Photos

Show steps

Creating a series of sketches will help you refine your skills and develop your own style.

Show steps

Gather a collection of photos of interesting interiors.
Create a series of sketches based on the photos, experimenting with different media.
Share your sketches online or with other artists for feedback.

Read 'Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain' by Betty Edwards

Show steps

Reading this book will help you improve your overall drawing skills, which will benefit your interior sketching.

View Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain: The... on Amazon

Show steps

Obtain a copy of 'Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain'.
Work through the exercises in the book, focusing on observation and perception.
Apply the techniques learned to your interior sketching.

Create a Travel Sketchbook of Interiors

Show steps

Starting a travel sketchbook will encourage you to continue practicing your interior sketching skills and capture your experiences.

Show steps

Purchase a sketchbook and gather your favorite sketching supplies.
Whenever you travel or visit interesting places, sketch the interiors you encounter.
Experiment with different media and techniques to capture the atmosphere of each space.
Add notes and annotations to your sketches to document your experiences.

Career center

Learners who complete Travel Sketching: Interiors in One and Two Point Perspective will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Illustrator

An illustrator creates visual content for a variety of publications and media, often working with clients to realize their visions. This course is helpful for an illustrator, as the ability to render indoor spaces in perspective with a variety of media allows for greater flexibility in the environments that illustrators can depict. A grasp of one and two point perspective is valuable for illustrators working on book illustrations or marketing materials. This course also provides experience in working from photos, which is often the case for illustrators’ reference material. Furthermore, the course’s focus on working with diverse media like ink, watercolor, markers, colored pencils, and mixed media is beneficial because it expands the skill set of an illustrator.

See salaries and explore the career path for Illustrator

Game Environment Artist

A game environment artist creates the visual aspects of game worlds, including indoor and outdoor spaces. This course may be useful for a game environment artist, as it teaches the fundamentals of how to use perspective to draw interior spaces. Game environment artists often need to create immersive and believable settings, and this class provides skills in rendering rooms, placing furniture, and how to add details using several media. The course's approach of working from photos is also helpful, as Game Environment Artists are adept at capturing and using reference material. This is a foundational course for a game environment artist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Environment Artist

Storyboard Artist

A storyboard artist visually plans out scenes for films, television, or animation projects. This course may be useful for a storyboard artist because it teaches the fundamentals of drawing indoor spaces with one and two point perspective. Because storyboards often include interior shots, a storyboard artist needs to be skilled in rendering these areas accurately and quickly. This course, which teaches how to draw rooms, place furniture, and add details, provides the necessary skills. The content addresses working with ink, watercolor, markers, and mixed-media, all of which are useful for storyboard artists creating dynamic visual narratives. Working from photos in the course also provides relevant practice as storyboard artists often refer to images and reference material.

See salaries and explore the career path for Storyboard Artist

Concept Artist

A concept artist creates the visual design for a variety of media, such as video games, film, or animation. This course may be helpful for concept artists, as it teaches how to construct indoor spaces using perspective. It helps concept artists understand how to quickly render interior environments, which is a critical part of many game and film designs. The course content, which includes learning how to establish major shapes, add details in ink, and use paint and mixed media, also gives a concept artist a versatile skill set. Moreover, this class works from photos, which are often part of the concept design process. This is a valuable skill since concept artists must create environments that resonate with directors and project leads.

See salaries and explore the career path for Concept Artist

Architectural Drafter

An architectural drafter creates technical drawings and plans for buildings and structures, typically under the supervision of an architect. This course may be useful for an architectural drafter, because it introduces the fundamentals of perspective, which is foundational for the work of an architectural drafter. While architectural drafting uses computer software, this course teaches the foundational concepts of perspective. Architectural drafters need to be able to understand and create accurate representations of indoor spaces, and the course provides a good starting place. The course also includes instruction on how to create specific details within rooms. Because this course deals with drawing from photos, it can also help a drafter quickly capture and document existing buildings.

See salaries and explore the career path for Architectural Drafter

Set Designer

A set designer creates the physical environments for theatrical, cinematic, or television productions. This course may be beneficial for a set designer because it provides an understanding of how to use one and two-point perspective to draw interior spaces. Set designers need to visualize and communicate their designs to the construction crew. This course will help them master the fundamentals needed to represent spaces. The course includes instruction in drawing rooms, placing furniture, adding details with ink, and finishing with paint. This is helpful for a set designer because all of these elements are important in creating a set design. The course's approach to working from photos is also helpful because set designers often work from reference materials and conceptual images.

See salaries and explore the career path for Set Designer

Interior designer

An interior designer designs and plans interior spaces for a variety of purposes, from residential homes to commercial establishments. This course may be helpful, as it introduces foundational concepts of interior space rendering using one and two point perspective. An interior designer needs to visualize spaces and make them navigable to clients. The course not only focuses on perspective, but also on rendering techniques such as furnishing a room, adding detail, and finishing with paint and multiple media. This course may help interior designers with their initial concepts and sketching processes. The course’s approach to sketching from photographs gives the interior designer a way to quickly capture ideas for the spaces they design.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interior designer

Exhibition Designer

An exhibition designer creates the environments in which exhibitions are placed. These spaces may be in museums, galleries, or other institutions, and may include interior spaces. This course may be helpful for an exhibition designer because it provides the building blocks of interior rendering, including drawing rooms, and placing furniture using one and two-point perspective. An exhibition designer must be able to visualize spaces and be able to communicate that vision to others. The course’s focus on adding details in ink and finishing with paint and mixed media may be useful as well. The course’s approach to sketching from photographs helps exhibition designers explore and document existing spaces in the process of developing new exhibition designs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Exhibition Designer

Art Director

An art director is responsible for the overall visual style and image of a project, overseeing the work of artists and designers. This course may be useful for an art director. An art director is responsible for the visual aspects of a project, and perspective is important for a sense of space and depth. The course teaches skills of drawing rooms from one and two point perspective, as well as how to furnish a room and establish major shapes. These are all valuable tools for this career. The course also addresses various media such as ink, watercolor, markers, colored pencils, and mixed media. The ability to work from photos in particular is helpful to an art director as they often need to make quick decisions or sketches from reference material.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Director

Industrial Designer

An industrial designer conceives, develops, and designs products, many of which are meant for use in interior spaces. This course may be useful for an industrial designer, as it teaches principles of perspective, which are helpful in visualizing products within a variety of spaces. An industrial designer must be able to communicate their product ideas and sketches are a critical part of this process. This course, which emphasizes one and two-point perspective, adds detail in ink, and finishes with paint and mixed media, supports an industrial designers capacity to visualize and communicate conceptual ideas. The course's approach of working from photos is also helpful, as industrial designers often use reference images to develop and refine product designs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Industrial Designer

Product Designer

A product designer may work on physical or digital products, and they need to be able to visualize these products in a variety of contexts. This course may be useful for a product designer, as it provides a foundation of spatial awareness through the use of one and two point perspective. While a product designer may not always work with interior spaces, they need to visualize their products in use or within a given context. This course helps with rendering and envisioning those rooms. The course’s emphasis on rendering techniques such as furnishing a room, adding detail, and finishing with paint and multiple media also enriches the skills of a product designer. The method of sketching from photographs also gives the product designer a way to quickly capture details or ideas.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Designer

Urban Planner

An urban planner develops plans for the growth and development of cities and regions, and often needs to be able to understand the spatial relationships between buildings and properties. This course may be useful for an urban planner, as it provides experience with rendering and envisioning indoor spaces using one and two-point perspective. While an urban planner may not typically work directly with interior spaces, the ability to understand perspective can contribute to a more holistic view of how buildings are designed. The course’s emphasis on using different media may also help an urban planner communicate their vision to the public or to stakeholders. This course may also help urban planners record existing buildings when they visit them.

See salaries and explore the career path for Urban Planner

Graphic designer

A graphic designer creates visual concepts, using computer software or hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, or captivate consumers. This course may be suitable for a graphic designer. While a graphic designer may not always work with interior spaces, the course's emphasis on perspective drawing provides foundational knowledge for visual hierarchy, spatial arrangements, and compositions. When a graphic designer does work with interior spaces, this course is exceptionally relevant. The course content, including ink, watercolor, markers, and mixed media, may help graphic designers expand their toolkit for visual communication. The ability to work from photos also helps graphic designers use the world as inspiration for their projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic designer

Commercial Photographer

A commercial photographer takes photos for a variety of clients, and may need to stage or arrange products or personnel within a space. This course may be useful for a commercial photographer, as it teaches the fundamentals of perspective, which is critical for the composition of a photograph. This course uses one and two-point perspective, useful for arranging shots in interiors. The course teaches how to draw rooms, place furniture, and add details, which can be helpful for a commercial photographer envisioning different arrangements or different types of sets. Because the course works from photographs, it may also help commercial photographers see the world through a perspective based lens.

See salaries and explore the career path for Commercial Photographer

Fine Artist

A fine artist creates original works of art, often for exhibition or sale. This course may be useful for a fine artist. While a fine artist is not required to use perspective, this course provides a means by which to explore interior spaces, using one and two point perspective. The course also touches on various media, such as ink, watercolor, or mixed media, which are all useful in the creation of fine art. The course's approach to working from photos, may also be a part of a fine artist's process.

See salaries and explore the career path for Fine Artist

Travel Sketching

Interiors in One and Two Point Perspective

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Good to know

Save this course

Activities

Career center

Reading list

Share

Similar courses