Expressive Architectural Sketching with Colored Markers
A course by Albert Kiefer, Digital Visualization Artist
Learn to create expressive sketches of buildings and landscapes filled with color and practice drawing by hand
For many of us, precision is demanded at our workplace. When we open a sketchbook, however, we can throw the rules out the window and create something unbound, free, and evocative. This was the thought process of visualization artist Albert Kiefer, who sought freedom from the realism of his daily work and found it in his childhood passion for sketching. He creates energetic architectural drawings filled with color and has built up an online presence under the name Housesketcher.
In this online course, he teaches how to play with perspective and the contrast of light and dark. Learn how to create the foundations of your drawing with black ink before layering it with color and adding the precise details that bring it to life. Discover how to draw inspiration from your surroundings to create your own vibrant sketches.
What will you learn in this online course?
14 lessons & 25 downloads
What's included in this course?
Begin this course by getting to know visualization artist Albert Kiefer as he takes you on his journey from sketching as a young child to becoming a professional artist. Learn about his influences from past and present and how they shape his work.
Gather your materials and practice your drawing technique with some simple warm-up exercises. Explore the basic notions of perspective and how they can influence, but not define, your work. Discover the power of light and dark, and what the function of color can be in a sketch.
Explore your neighborhood or browse the web to find an inspiring building, before deciding whether to opt for a faithful reproduction or an interpretation of a building. Plan out your sketch by making very small sketches to discover the importance of composition, then create your first black and white sketch with a pencil or fine liner.
Tackle color by working from light to dark and building depth through layering, then add the final touches. Learn the best ways to photograph your sketch for sharing on social media. Finally, to end the course, Albert shares tips on how to store your artwork and keep the colors from fading.
- 99% positive reviews (2.6K)
- 95,467 students
- 14 lessons (2h 3m)
- 25 additional resources (11 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: English, Spanish (Latam), French, Indonesian, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish
- English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish · Indonesian · Romanian
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Create an expressive sketch of a building with playful linework, volume, and lots of color.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anybody who wants to learn to sketch buildings in a quick and expressive way.
Requirements and materials
No previous experience is required.
In terms of equipment, you will need some alcohol-based colored markers, some waterproof black fine liners, a white acrylic highlighter, and a good sketchbook.
Reviews
Albert Kiefer
A course by Albert Kiefer
Digital visualization artist Albert Kiefer enjoyed drawing from a young age, taking inspiration from what he saw on TV to create fantastical alien spacecraft and superhero suits. He studied drawing and art history at the Maastricht Institute of Arts and, after graduating, began working at a computer graphics firm, where he learned techniques like 3D modeling and rendering. With over 35 years of experience, he now works as a freelancer in the field of visualization, taking ideas and concepts and transforming them into pictures or animations.
Albert later began to miss more traditional art forms and returned to his love for sketching. As the years passed, his style evolved into the expressive and colorful one that we see today. He has published Au Japon!, a collection of sketches of Japanese buildings, and created a series of workshop videos for Gerstaecker. He also showcases his work on his website and social media under the name Housesketcher.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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About Me
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Influences
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U2
Getting Ready to Sketch
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Materials
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Warm-up Exercises
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Basic Notions of Perspective
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The Value of Color
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U3
The Sketch of the House
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Inspiration and References
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How to Approach the Sketch
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Composition and Thumbnails
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The Black and White Sketch
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U4
Colors and Final Steps
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The Coloring Stage 1
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The Coloring Stage 2
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Final Details
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Storing and Showcasing the Artwork
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FP
Final project
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Expressive Architectural Sketching with Colored Markers
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
PlusIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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Watch professionally produced courses
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FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for beginners and covers foundational skills in sketching, marker techniques, and digital visualization, starting from basic concepts and materials.
You'll need a sketchbook, markers (such as Copic or Winsor Newton), fineliners, basic colored markers, and optionally a digital drawing tool like Photoshop. The course also guides you in choosing the right paper and materials.
You'll learn daily sketching habits, marker rendering, perspective drawing, material selection, digital workflows, color theory, and techniques for both expressive and architectural sketching.
Yes, the course includes modules on urban architecture sketching, applying perspective, building textures, and techniques for both realistic and expressive building drawings.
Absolutely. The course emphasizes developing a daily sketch practice, offering strategies to build consistency and overcome creative blocks.
Yes, you'll learn marker blending, layering, glazing, shading, and how to use different marker tips and paper for best results.
Yes, the curriculum covers traditional sketching with markers and fineliners, as well as digital painting workflows using software like Photoshop.
Great course 👍👍👍 love his style of work
Me ayudó a soltar más la mano
its a great course. Really adds a great value in your knowledge
Me fascino este curso, muy bien explicado y claro. super recomendado!!!
loved this course, literally you learn his technique! very happy with the outcome