Key Takeaways
- The course is step-by-step and super easy to follow, even if you don’t think you have talent
- You can make money from it if you want to, almost immediately
- This course changed the course of my life forever and pulled me out of a dark place
A Year Ago, I Wasn’t An Artist
A year ago, I didn’t consider myself an artist.
Much less a recognized, paid artist.
I had no artist friends.
When I was stressed, I colored in coloring books with markers.
Today, I’m a paid artist.
People PAY me to sketch their homes and vehicles. (It still feels weird to say it out loud)
It all started with a $10 course called Expressive Architectural Sketching With Colored Markers created by Albert Kiefer (also known as house sketcher on socials).
>>You can find the course here if you’re impatient or busy.
In this post, I’ll explain how I went from almost zero talent as an artist to becoming a paid artist. And how it all started by taking Albert’s course on Domestika
Scroll to the bottom of this post if you just want to know about the course.
When you see a red dot on the art at a competition, it means it sold!
*This post contains affiliate links. I use all of the materials and courses I post about. I paid my own money for them, and I’m not paid by the company to have an opinion either way. I get a small commission if you purchase using my link. I never recommend something I haven’t paid my own money for.
Find Details of the “Expressive Architectural Sketching With Colored Markers” Domestika Course Here
How I Accidentally Started a Side Hustle as an Artist
I wanted to learn how to sketch homes. I didn’t know anything about perspective, textures, color theory, what style I wanted, how to get proportions right.
I knew NOTHING about sketching.
Not a THING!
I started Color With Kristi because I was coloring a lot and wanted to share it.
But I kept seeing this course come up on my Instagram.
I wasn’t sure I could ever sketch anything. I didn’t feel talented.
Every day this ad would pop up, I’d go check out the course, maybe even add it to my cart, then I’d bail.
*Find Details of the “Expressive Architectural Sketching With Colored Markers” Domestika Course Here
Why You Should Bet On Yourself!
One day, I was inspired.
I had been having a rough time. We had some losses in the family, and I needed to interrupt my pattern of sadness.
You know what that’s like. You go through a rough time, and it seems like you’re living in the movie “Groundhog Day.”
You wake up sad. You go to bed sad. Lather, Rinse, Repeat!
No more!
You don’t know what can happen when you bet on yourself!
*Find Details of the “Expressive Architectural Sketching With Colored Markers” Domestika Course Here
You’re Worth It!
I decided I was worth the $10 it cost to sign up for the course. Even if I never did much with it. I bit the bullet and bought the course.
I picked a local church and sketched it.
At first, I had no intention of sharing it.
But I read the book “Share Your Work” a few months before I started sketching and thought to myself, “Who cares?! If people hate it, they hate it!”
I thought it might be fun to share in my local Facebook group.
Here’s that post:
Lol. All I put was “Church” in the caption.
It makes me laugh to see it now. This was April 4 2023.
Overnight, My World Changed!
Suddenly, I started getting requests from people to sketch their homes.
According to a study conducted in 2016 about artists in Canada, visual artists only make around $20,000 per year. So I knew I wasn’t going to get rich from this.
But the thought of making a little side income from doing something that fed my soul had me bursting with excitement and joy.
*Find Details of the “Expressive Architectural Sketching With Colored Markers” Domestika Course Here
I Was TERRIFIED! I Couldn’t Believe People Wanted to Pay Me to Sketch!
I was sooooo nervous I’d mess up.
People were paying me to sketch their homes!
WHAT?!?!? It was so strange to me.
I decided to just go for it!
If I made mistakes, I could refund people their money or do their sketch over again until I nailed it.
I decided it was worth the risk.
My First Commission
A friend who had moved to Eastern Canada wanted me to sketch a home she had lived in.
They thought the home was haunted (something she loved about it).
But when they moved in, the house needed way more work than they could commit to as two people working full time.
So they had to find something that suited their needs.
They were devastated.
She asked me to commemorate this incredible home.
I’ll always be grateful to her for being my first ever paid commission.
*Find Details of the “Expressive Architectural Sketching With Colored Markers” Domestika Course Here
I Developed a Recognizable Style By Accident – How You Can Do the Same
I developed a style that was different than what people had seen before. And different than what was taught in the course,
When I sent my sketch to my first client, I went into the post office, and the lady at the counter said. “Oh, you’re that artist from Facebook!”
I started doing markets, and people would see me from across the street and say…
“You’re that artist from Facebook!”
Or
“I’ve been watching your art for a while!”
So, how do YOU develop a style?
There’s no shortcut.
You just have to follow what you like.
Use others as inspiration, but don’t try to copy.
Just keep doing your art and thinking, “I like that. I don’t like that.”
Your style will come.
My best advice is to stop thinking about it and just do your art. And make sure you LOVE doing it.
*Find Details of the “Expressive Architectural Sketching With Colored Markers” Domestika Course Here
How Expressive Architectural Sketching Transformed the Trajectory of My Life
Since I took the course, I’ve been sketching local homes, businesses, and even added vehicles to my custom commissions.
I’ve now done:
- 40 custom pieces of art
- Sold 3 pieces that weren’t custom
- Been in one art competition and sold a sketch
- Done 3 markets
As of publishing this blog post, I still consider myself a beginner artist.
Although I didn’t do EXACTLY the style in the course, I ended up with a very cool side business that I LOVE.
Why I Love Expressive Architectural Domestika Course So Much
The course is called Expressive Architectural Sketching With Albert Kiefer, and you can find it here.
The creator, Albert Kiefer, started sketching homes years ago.
Every day, he posts a new sketch on Instagram. It’s very inspiring.
I even scrolled back to his first sketches to be nosey and his style has changed DRAMATICALLY.
When I started sketching, I knew NOTHING.
In this course, you’ll learn:
- Basic perspective
- Some basic color theory
- Composition and thumbnails
- How to color your sketch
- How to line your sketch
- “Writing your lines”
The owner will walk you through a final project step by step.
This sketching course has everything you need to go from a blank sketchbook to a sketchbook filled with beautiful work.
*Find Details of the “Expressive Architectural Sketching With Colored Markers” Domestika Course Here
Should You Take The Course?
If you wait for it to go on sale, it’s only $10 or so. The stakes are so low.
I don’t know why you wouldn’t?
You’re worth $10, aren’t you?
YES, you are!
