Call me an 'interior sketch artist'....

Jess: the interior sketch artist – woo!

I wanted to share with you a little something that made my week this week, after having no joy with job hunting or even securing work experience, I was feeling pretty glum. However, a chance browse on Linkedin has led to me getting my first little job hand drawing interiors for someone who in her own words is a “hopeless drawer” thanks to the networking power of Linkedin.

I’ve been attempting to learn how to utilise Linkedin to the utmost recently, as like most people, I have had an account for a while now but am not really sure why or how to use it effectively. I am gradually getting to grips with its purpose and have already benefitted from regularly browsing the groups I have joined – scrolling through the various discussions and questions from group members one evening, I come across a London interior designer asking for help with hand-drawn interior sketches.

My interest is instantly piqued and I comment on her post asking her to message me if she is interested.  Hand drawing interiors is on my current list of ‘things to do’ (as well as learn SketchUp and Photoshop) however I haven’t really begun to tick this item off my list in any way. Soon enough however, I receive an email from Gabrielle asking to see some of my work!

Gabrielle explains her current predicament: she doesn’t think CAD drawings will demonstrate the effect she is trying to create to her overseas client as the style she is developing is swags and tails, corona beds, refined furniture etc. She wants some hand-drawn sketches as she feels these will be able to better communicate to the client what they will be getting.

I promised to send her some of my work and searched through all my stuff from my Diploma hoping that there was something I could use. I couldn’t find anything that I had done during the course that I felt comfortable showing Gabrielle, however we were given some great hand drawn examples of rooms, furniture etc in our handouts in a similar style to the one Gabrielle was after, so I decided to copy one of these to show her what I can do.

What do you think?

I will confess that I did trace the perspective of the room – this is something that wasn’t covered during my course and is something I have yet to master (my first attempt was rather poor!) However everything else I have drawn in myself – the bookshelf, chairs, fireplace. I have omitted a few items of furniture such as extra chairs and added the rest of the fireplace and a mirror.

I emailed Gabrielle the sketch and she loved it “this is exactly what I am looking for…the style is perfect, both technically and also of the period”

I was so happy – my first little job sketching interiors! This has been a great little confidence boost for me as it is something I can now add to my CV, and it has also given me the motivation to practice sketching more interiors. I will also need to work out charges – another alien concept to me – do I charge hourly? Or per drawing? How much do I charge? Argh!

Gabrielle is still finalising her design at the moment, however when this has been done and they have been drawn up in a CAD program, she will send me the drawings so I can work from these. So excited!

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