Recording of Online LIVE Class
“Architecture Sketches: Watercolor and Mixed Media”
with Artist Sophia Rodionov ( CanotStopPainting)
and dive into the Art of Creating Architecture Sketches
Live Class took place on January 11, 2025
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Class Recording – 3.5 hours total
Includes 2 large artworks + visual exercises
This class is a complete guide to expressive architecture sketching using watercolor and ink. I walk you through "my full process - from reference to final artwork" and explain every decision along the way. My main goal is not just to show you techniques, but to give you a clear thinking path and practical tools so you can confidently create your own architectural sketches from your own reference.
 ✦ What’s Included:
 Total Duration: 3.5 hours
 We paint 2 full architecture scenes— each using a different creative approach.
 Part 1: Foundations – Sketching, Composition & Color (Approx. 1 hour)
 We begin by setting up for painting:
- Â How to decide what to paint and what to leave out when working from a busy or uninspiring reference.
- Â How to build a strong composition using simplified shapes.
- Â Choosing a color palette and identifying contrast types that help express what you feel about the scene.
- Â We sketch thumbnails, plan compositions, and make all the key visual decisions before painting.
 This part lays the foundation for everything—helping you understand how I think before I ever pick up a  brush.
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 Part 2: Scene 1 – Breathing Life into a Flat Subject (Approx. 1 hour)
 In this painting session, we tackle a subject that seems dull or flat at first glance:
- Â Learn how to choose and apply the right visual contrasts (light/dark, soft/hard edges, color accents) to bring energy into the scene.
-  I show you how to build mood and focus—even from a “boring” photo—using personal interpretation.
- Â Full Q&A recording included.
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 Part 3: Scene 2 – Simplifying a Complex, Detailed Scene (Approx. 1 hour)
 Here, we work with a very detailed reference—lots of architecture, visual noise, and overlapping elements:
- How to simplify without losing character.
- How to use unity of shapes, contrast of materials, and a looser watercolor approach to manage complexity.
- I paint the entire scene live, explaining my decisions throughout.
- Full Q&A recording included.
✦ Core Techniques You’ll Learn:
- How to sketch and paint architecture without perspective drawing.
- Using abstract shapes to build strong compositions.
- Blending loose watercolor with expressive ink lines.
- Identifying and applying visual contrasts to highlight what’s important.
- Managing complex scenes using shape unity and simplification.
- Creating a personal workflow to make your own painting process easier and more enjoyable.
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✦ My Teaching Approach:
I guide you through the entire thinking and painting process, just as I do in real life. Every step—from choosing references to final brushstrokes—is explained in context. My goal is to help you understand the “why” behind each move, so you can take these tools and apply them to your own creative path.
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✦ Who This Class Is For:
- Artists who feel stuck or intimidated by detailed architectural references.
- Anyone interested in expressive, loose, and personal approaches to urban sketching.
- Beginners who want to start painting architecture without complex drawing.
- Experienced artists looking to refresh their technique and learn new visual strategies.
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MATERIALS WE USE IN A CLASS:Â
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Paper
- Â 2 sheets of A3 (30x40 cm or larger) 300 gsm cold press, 100% cotton watercolor paper
- For sketches: loose sheets or a sketchbook for working with graphic materials
Paints
Your usual watercolor paints set
Colors - complete freedom of creativity, the class is not limited to specific colors.
All the colors that I use could be replaced with others.
I use French ultramarine, Opaque orange and Opaque red - for example cadmium orange, cadmium red.
I would talk about and explain my general approach to colors choice and explain why it is not so important to have exactly the same colors.
However for your convenience you will find colors that I use almost in all my paintings in class materials as PDF file after registration.
Brushes
- Hake brush with a wide soft hair for wetting the paper.
- Also your usual work kit: it is important that you have brushes that are convenient for you to work with in several sizes - both for large washes and for details
- It is advisable to have a liner brush with a small diameter and a long hair - it can be a classic rigger or you could use Chinese calligraphy brushes of different sizes.
For your convenience you will find PDF file with brushes I use in class materials after registration.
Other Tools
- Water bowl (x2).
- Spray bottle with clean water.
- Pencil: 2B–4B or charcoal for sketches, and a kneaded eraser or regular eraser.
- Fountain pen or liners in different sizes (3,5 will be good)
- Watercolor pencils and/or markers.
This setup ensures you’re fully equipped for exploring both watercolor and graphic techniques in architectural sketches!
 SOME ARTWORKS FOR INSPIRATION:
ENJOY PAINTING ARCHITECTURE !
I'M IN!ARCHITECTURE SKETCHES
$112
Recording of Online LIVE Class 3 hours
JOIN NOW with Credit Card / Apple PayPayment information
We have 2 options of payment now, via PayPal and via Credit Card / Apple Pay.
Option with PayPal gives possibility to add several products to the cart and pay the whole amount, also it allows to use coupons for special discount if you have it. It also gives a possibility to make several payments where it is applicable.
Option with Credit Card/Apple pay gives only option to pay one product, whole amount at a time.Â
Please, choose what is more convenient to you.
What we paint in Class
What my students say
Carl
What can I say about Sophia Rodionov, Artist and creative. Well I signed up for a 3 hour architecture course in January having followed her work for a short while on Instagram.
All the communication and instructions leading up to this were perfectly clear and understandable, showing plenty of care and diligence for her 'brand'.
On the day the tech all worked fine through Zoom and we all got started. I thoroughly enjoyed the first part regarding composition and framing. Sophia's work resonates with me as I paint a lot of architecture myself and needed to take my sketching and drawing on a level. I didn't realise this course would have such an impact. I am not a trained artist and could tell Sophia was. It really helped me understand composition better and reinforced some ideas already in my head but also gave me the tools to work with.
The explanations were clear with chances to ask questions. No pressure to show work or even have your camera on or join in. I did though and made it so much better for me.Â
Thank you Sophia for a wonderful insight into your creative world. Nothing was too much trouble and wish you the very best going forward. Hopefully I'll be around again for more, all things permitting.
I highly recommend Sophia's courses if your interested in improving your art and like her style. Relaxed, calm, knowledgeable and confident. All you need in a mentor and tutor. Thank you.
Anthony
I sat through Sophia's online Architecture Zoom session, but had to take a break in the middle, which was no problem as the course was recorded and I was able to catch up watching the full 3 hours in my own time during the following week. The course itself was very informative for me, as I have no formal training but so far only copied others to improve my skill. The difference with Sophia's approach was refreshing as she explained very well the thought process required to produce an attractive piece of artwork, but also to apply to any future projects. I am now looking forward to applying the principles she taught to produce work that I can say is in my own style, rather than a copy of someone else's. The session was informative and detailed and technically good, and source materials were also provided. I can recommend Sophia's teaching skills to anyone wishing to develop the thought processes required to develop your own approach to art.
Sewall
Dear Sophie, I just wanted to express my gratitude for the Architectural Painting workshop you hosted on Saturday. I was only able to stay "live" for the first painting, but have been watching and studying the recording, and will be putting your advice into practice soon. I very much appreciated your advice on composition and how to interpret a reference photo. I find myself trying to capture everything in a reference, and you really opened my eyes as to how to let go of some of that and express things more individually and uniquely and less photorealistically. You also showed me that proportion and perspective don't have to be as challenging as I tend to make them.
And your unique style of expression is so interesting. Your paintings are so beautifully rendered. Â
Parisa
Hey Sophia! It was a great class! I learned a lot in three hours and mostly your material was new to me! I'm so glad I gifted myself your class and I'm so excited that you have taught me exactly what I was looking for. I was feeling stuck for so long and this is now just a turning point to me.
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