Exercise 🎨 - Practicing house details (Patreon)

Good morning everyone!! 🤗

For this month’s drawing exercise, we’ll focus on practicing house details. You will learn how to break down detailed reference photos of little houses into small elements, so you can practice before you add them into a whole illustration.

1. Choose your references

I’ve included a selection of 7 references for you to use, which you can download below. You can choose the images from the selection, or find your own if you prefer.

If you want to search yourself, try:

Cottages

Nature homes

Little homes

Tip: Don’t pick something too detailed at first. Simpler images make the exercise easier and more fun!

2. Choose your subjects

To make the practice useful for you, I want you to choose the details you struggle with most. Some of you might struggle with drawing rooftops, while others struggle with doors or windows. Choose the ones you'd like to practice.

Here are some ideas:

Windows

Doors

Rooftops

Chimneys

Greenery around the house

Little flowers around the house

3. Practice shapes using multiple references ✏️

Use different reference photos and dedicate one sketchbook page to one specific subject (for example: only rooftops, or only windows).

Instead of drawing full houses, focus on drawing as many variations as possible of that one element.

Keep it simple:

Break everything down into basic shapes (circles, squares, ovals, rectangles, triangles)

Draw the essence of the object, not every tiny detail

Focus on the biggest shapes first

The goal is to explore as many different forms and variations as possible.

Helpful tips:

Squint your eyes to reduce details

Fill your page with small studies instead of one big drawing

4. Finish with colored pencils

Last but not least, finish your sketches with a pencil layer to add details, shading, and depth to your illustrations. Again, keep it simple:

Only add details that support the overall shape

Don’t overwork it, less is more!

Sharing

As always, I’d love to see your results! Post your sketches in our group chat or in the comments below. I can’t wait to see what you create! 🤗

Happy drawing!

Celyn 🌸