How to Simplify and Sketch Buildings (Art Tutorial)

This art tutorial shows how I simplify and draw buildings for my sketches.
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[@100yrsoldfetus8]

"drawing is not always about drawing everything that you see, one you leave out is actually as important as what you include" -Teoh Yi Chie, 2016 I'll put dat in mind.

[@dovy724]

this is good

[@JA-el3ml]

Very very helpful! Thank you. Love your sketching.

[@penglv1007]

what you leave out is as important as what you include. I like this sentence. in other words, simplicity is more.

[@chill3808]

Sometimes being perfection in sketching would stop us from doing what we like, thanks so much for this tutorial, it’s really helpful and changed my mindset on what sketching really is!

[@lemonbar77]

Your videos are not only informative and helpful, but they're also the most relaxing and peaceful videos I come across on KZbin. Your voice, your calmness, your pace, the birds in the background....I rarely draw, but I watch your videos all the time. Thanks so much for the work you put into them and the art you create.

[@teohyc]

+lemonbar77 Thanks for your support 😁

[@elsagrace3893]

Thanks so much for this. I have the hardest struggle with simplifying. I have not found any instruction on this until this video.

[@teohyc]

THanks :-)

[@OneTrueWord1988]

elsa Grace: I struggle with that too! This helped me so much. :)

[@oomf_irl]

@elsa Grace, YOUR COMMENT LOOKS SARCASTIC BECAUSE OF YOUR PROFILE PIC LMAO

[@PositivelyNice]

Sounds like it is drawing what you see, not what you think you see. Sometimes I think, maybe take off my glasses and draw will help me simplify better because I can't see much without glasses! 😅

[@teohyc]

+PositivelyNice Sometimes I do that too 😁

[@vima8680]

@@teohyc Please list supplies you use when doing a video; it would be helpful. Thank you

[@vinayyadav6574]

😅😅😂

[@stephenmbatia7825]

😆

[@andyoakley6861]

I love your loose free art style, Teoh. It has a real Quentin Blake feel about it. All your videos are so informative and I`ve learnt a lot from them.

[@teohyc]

+Andy Oakley Thanks 😁

[@PositivelyNice]

Omg this is super helpful! I have issues simplifying buildings because I like to be extra precise and accurate. I can simplify life forms because those are more arbitrary to me (they move around) but I find it challenging to ignore still lines.

[@isabellecade277]

Je ne sais pas combien de temps tu vas nous apprendre de trucs aussi simplement mais merci de le faire aussi bien chaque jour ! Bravo pour la clarté de tes explications. I do not know how long you'll also learn stuff we just thank you but to do both every day ! Congratulations for the clarity of your explanations.

[@teohyc]

+Isabelle CADE Thanks \ (•◡•) /

[@MH-ql4nh]

'Draw the longest line first.' Gosh, why didn't that occur to me? My buildings are terrible (proportions wrong, and I drive myself crazy drawing every last detail). Thank you for this tutorial!

[@ti_esse]

"What you leave out is as important as you draw" Great piece of advice, I'll keep it in mind! 👍👍👍

[@TheKapuzina]

17:35 looks amazing. It's so simple but it got so much life in it. LIke the lighter area in the back and the darker area in the front, especially right front makes you feel like you in the shadows of the tree right now, relaxing, while enjoying the wider and lighter area in the background. Got me hooked straight from the beginning.

[@barbhayes5613]

Brilliant tutorial! I'm so happy to see and hear exactly how you approach sketching a structure without getting hung up on the details. I am amazed how quickly you did the thumbnail sketch as well - great example of what you can get down in a minute or two if you don't have the opportunity to stop. Thank you!

[@teohyc]

+Barb Hayes Thanks 😀

[@karenvc8005]

This was an excellent tutorial. I was out sketching an old church today an see from this video all the pitfalls that I made by getting lost in the details instead of focusing on the basic elements. Thank you for helpful tips and suggestions!

[@ZeranZeran]

I feel like this is going to help me in a big way Thank you so much! I love the way you simplify complex things and note that you don't need to include every detail. That's something I struggle with. Perfectionist to the point of fault and overcrowding. I'm excited to try again with your method!

[@tarias_sketchy_adventures]

I love your style Teoh! You make me feel like i can achieve great results. All of your videos are great, thanks so much :)

[@teohyc]

+womblelife Thanks 😁

[@VampguyN85]

The videos are great and informative. It's just intimidating to practice. I'm still a real beginner where it can take me an hour just to draw the first couple of lines. I can tell you have a lot of experience from the speed and accuracy but also since you dive right in with pen. I'm not brave enough yet lol. I erase my pencil lines a dozen times at least.

[@deborahtaylor7902]

I have just found yr channel and cannot stress enough how important it is to me to see a reference photo as u sketch! Added plus is you explaining what u are doing. Thanks for the great instruction!

[@nothanks166]

i struggle with perspective and buildings and this has been the only video ive come across that helps break down the concepts really easily; ive never been so excited to draw buildings until this video! Thank you!!

[@avlwnc13]

These are the best urban sketching tutorials on KZbin. Thanks! and keep up the good work!

[@OrnBJonsson]

I have seen 2 or 3 of your videos and like what I see. You give good instructions and have got the ability to make things simple and clear. Thank you!

[@forjazznjava]

You have the best sketching tutorials on KZbin. And you make me want to visit Singapore. Thank you for your videos

[@teohyc]

Thanks ヾ(⌐■_■)ノ♪

[@equesdeventusoccasus]

The name of the tooth-like structures in the arch (any molding, soffit, eave or overhang really) are called dentil. The support railing is called a balustrade.

[@xxxorg]

I NEEDED TO SEE THIS TUTORIAL! PERFECT! THANK YOU MAN, I LOVE YOU!! NO HOMO!! I STRUGGLE WITH LITTLE PEOPLE TOO, GETTING THEM TO LOOK LIKE THEY'RE MOVING AND EXPRESSIONS WITHOUT DETAILS!!! OK, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE FANTASTIC TUTORIALS!!!!

[@aspeechlessness]

I Love tge effort you put into every video. So informative. You really take your time. Thank you very much. Keep going!

[@teohyc]

+aspeechlessness Thanks. \ (•◡•) /

[@JimSaling]

Thank you for the instructional videos. I have been struggling with simplifying as i learn to sketch. I also like seeing you draw and seeing the decisions you make. Very helpful!

[@jcr1563]

Thank you. Your explanations and demonstrations are really helpful. I’m new to sketching and you’ve answered questions I didn’t know to ask. Will do as you suggest and try a sketch of a cottage I did the other day in 3 sizes.

[@teohyc]

+J Cr Cool. Have fun drawing 😁

[@deejcarter2003]

Thank you for this video, it is very helpful. I always struggle with where to start on a detailed building, and how to decide what to leave out.

[@teohyc]

+Dionne C Thanks ˙ ͜ʟ˙

[@charmde2008]

Very helpful tips. Thank you 😊 sketchbook book is so beautifully painted.

[@creationsceecee]

thank you so much for this video. i'm just starting to get into cityscapes and for now i've only done simple shapes, almost abstract. but now i feel i can attack more detailed sketches. your instructions are clear and easy to follow. of course, your talent is amazing. once again, thank you!

[@teohyc]

+creationsceecee Thanks. I am glad this video is helpful.

[@annehenderson9207]

Thank-you so much! Your approach is so liberating. I used to get lost doing details, and now I see how you can do a great sketch quite quickly yet effectively. What you leave out is INDEED as important as what you include. With gratitude, Anne

[@teohyc]

+Anne Henderson Thanks 😊

[@merebrillante]

I need to work more with pen and ink to conquer my paralyzing fear of making mistakes. You are so brave.

[@teohyc]

Think of drawing like learning to play a music instrument. You'll be playing wrong notes all the time until you get better. That's the learning process. Nothing to be afraid of. It's also like people who play basketball. They keep shooting the hoop until the ball goes in. They don't think about the times the ball didn't go in, they think about the times the ball will go in.

[@52linell]

I’ve watched this video three times. It is packed with information. I appreciate so much seeing the photograph as you draw. Very useful to me as I learn how to better draw. Thank you for your tutorials. They are just terrific. I’ve learned a lot from you. Very best wishes to you for 2018.

[@teohyc]

Thanks :-)

[@melissabridge5687]

I know this is an older video. But I had to tell you how helpful this is. I always try to dray too much details and try to make it "perfect". I'm trying to get looser with my sketches. Thanks for all you do!!!

[@dianedreyfus]

You are a brilliant teacher.. learned color theory after years of not getting it and this is just masterful Thank you.

[@stringologymchugh4245]

You are a true artist. Thank you for the lovely video and sharing your experience.

[@thesourorange6454]

I like you're style, because it's not 100% clean or 100% Messy, This inspires me

[@DebraDukes]

Teoh Amazing I Love watching your work I have one family member which used to drawer and sketch absolutely amazing.Also watching you draw this brought back memories.I really enjoy watching you Sketch ,Draw,etc very nice.Absolutely enjoyed Deb👍

[@teohyc]

Thanks \ (•◡•) /

[@Cyd1057]

Wow! You are a born teacher. I just found your channel and am transfixed by your high quality content and filming. I am so happy to have stumbled upon your channel. The way you break down your subject makes me utterly confident that my drawing skills will improve dramatically. Thank you!

[@teohyc]

+Cyd1057 Thanks. Check out my other tutorials from my playlist.

[@arya_crab955]

thx. i think ppl really overcomplicate things, but this was much simpler and easier to follow

[@cpen_and_ink6202]

Teoh, Great tutorial. Appreciate you simplifying how to look at detailed buildings.

[@sheripatson5787]

I like reviewing your tutorials they are always helpful to me as I practice " I find buildings intriguing " angles and dept of field are important as you show here

[@scottglasgow1752]

I enjoyed, and learned from, the entire video, but my most important takeaway might be your simple statement at the end, "Drawing is not always about drawing everything that you see; what you leave out is actually as important as what you include." Good advice. Thank you!

[@corikay]

Wow! Thanks so much Teoh for such a great tutorial! Please do more of these!! It really helped to slow down, see your reference photo, and have you explain where and why you started each line!!!! Love all of your videos,and I really loved this one! Hope you will do more of these!

[@teohyc]

+corikay Thanks (^o^)

[@SharonNolfi]

I really learned a lot from this tutorial. Thank you for sharing your techniques and explaining them so clearly. Your channel just gets better and better!

[@teohyc]

+Sharon Nolfi Thanks 😀

[@edenisok894]

Never been good at drawing buildings, usually just practiced people. Been loosely sketching people using the method you said and I’ve been trying to draw more buildings! Thanks for the advice!

[@CL-jf8qs]

Thanks for all the videos you have done. Very informative, inspiring, enlightening and enjoyable. Your tips are very straightforward and organized, making drawing a lot less intimidating to do. Love your style!

[@teohyc]

+Teresa Lee Thanks 😁

[@rasaeasels6905]

Jake from RASA Easels here: Your tips were greatly helpful, especially finding the longest continuous line and how to simplify information while remaining observant. Thank you!

[@bartholoclumpdink7246]

Brilliant lesson. More like this please Teoh.

[@teohyc]

+Bartholo Clumpdink Thanks :-D

[@fan9255520]

Mr Teoh your art is a great and you are very beautiful artist💕😍

[@wohohawa3471]

I really like you drawing style. It Helped me a lot.

[@teohyc]

+王好人 Thanks 😁

[@PositivelyNice]

王好人 yes agree. There is something about Teoh's style that is different from what I see all over journals (many of them look exactly the same).

[@cheerp7313]

@@PositivelyNice I absolutely agree!

[@sharonolsen6579]

Excellent lesson! And an extremely useful exercise for practice. I love that you emphasize the paper size aspect of drawing... Again, thank you for the time and effort you spend on preparing and posting these videos. I am finding them to be invaluable as I work to improve my skill set. cheers! :)

[@monica-NJ-123]

Love this, so helpful to draw the longest lines, skip the details esp when you only have short time, I also heard if you squint your eyes you don't see those details

[@minuscolochao1557]

I really like your frase ' what you leave out is actually as important as what you include' awsome!

[@teohyc]

+Minuscolo Chao Thanks

[@AB-gn8oh]

Thank you! Great instructional video that includes all the info I need for my drawing project..

[@purplefugue]

This is exactly what I needed - to learn how to simplify. I studied art in school and as such, always tend to draw what I see. It's been hard to unlearn those 'rules' for urban sketching. Thanks for this!! -- fellow Singaporean :D

[@Nat-dx3vp]

I'm so thankful that I found you and your awesome videos, you impart information in a really easy to understand format and I love your work..

[@teohyc]

+Natalie Hill Thanks 😁

[@OutsidetheBoxGraphicsVancouver]

Love this! A great lesson on keeping it loose. I get caught up in the detail then lose the overall flow.

[@christopheribogaroothome4823]

Another wonderful lesson clearly and succinctly explained. Great work and You make things look so easy! I noticed that you had a photo of the building on what looks like a tablet. Could you share with us how you use it in a future lesson? I see that you can zoom in to see the details more clearly and I was wondering if you could have put a grid over the image to help identify the positioning and angles of the things you sketched so easily freehand? I'm in remote area of Mexico but there are wonderful colonial buildings and churches to sketch. I always take photos for reference but want to upgrade to a tablet that suits sketching and watercoloring, two of my passions. Thanks again.

[@teohyc]

+christopher ibogaroothome The photo was taken for this tutorial. You can either draw from location or from photo reference. Both will require observation drawing skills, which will help you locate and position subjects.

[@remcomettrop6366]

After watching this video I got enspired and started doing some urban sketching myself. It became immediately clear to me that it is less easy then it looks. Next on my to do list is watching your video about sketching with the help of a perspective grid LOL

[@Ellaloveslofi]

Thank you for this video!! I think this is the best wisdom on drawing buildings that I've heard! I just found your channel and can't wait to watch more! I love your drawing style but have agonized over the details so have gotten quite frustrated. Hearing you speak about how you go about your drawings made it all click in my head!!

[@teohyc]

+Laura Gonzalez Thanks. I hope you get more confident when sketching buildings 😁

[@Mesozoical]

This is very interesting. I am just learning how to draw buildings and it can seem like a pretty confounding feat, but I feel like this helped steer me in the right direction. Thank you very much for sharing!

[@nicks931]

9:15 "laying down an end point" Your perspective on the arches is very good. I need to work on ellipses!

[@PercyTienhooven]

Thank you! Learned alot (again) from you. Cheers!

[@julieoaks6954]

I love your videos!! Very helpful and easy to understand for someone new to sketching!! Keep them coming,I enjoy them very much!!

[@teohyc]

+julie oaks Thanks :-D

[@Geemeel1]

Wow this is SO helpful , i tend to draw and color everything and with that it becomes....nothing. 🤫 your explaining is so patience and at ease. Well done!! ✴️

[@cookingdownsouthwithcarol8909]

Your tutorials are so helpful! Thank you!

[@riverrunsfree]

wow. this is my first lesson on simplifying sketches. i'm always so caught up with the details that after i draw them, the final product looks really weird and doesn't really look like the original. thank you for this, Teoh! i just subbed. :)

[@richardsilva-spokane3436]

New sub. Thanks!!! Excellent presentation and technique information. Inspirational 👍

[@widowbike]

So much useful tips, thanks for taking time to help!

[@teohyc]

+Daniel Diaz Thanks 😀

[@TerrieJohnson731]

I want to be able to sketch like you one day. I will watch this again and again so I dont miss anything. Thank you for this video.

[@TobiasELee]

Love your stuff. That was great instruction, thank you!

[@nknana3]

Great video...very helpful. Thanks for sharing!

[@teohyc]

+nknana3 Thanks. I'm glad it's helpful 😁

[@melissajohnson4338]

Thanks Teoh, I’m learning so much from your tutorials.

[@iamaura1161]

really helpful tutorial. I love your videos!

[@chammikaiser7740]

Really nice one Teoh. I tend to be too 'precious' with my sketches. You simplify things so well. Thanks a lot.

[@teohyc]

+Chammi Kaiser Thanks :-)

[@anapaolamagana4480]

Wow! excelent video! Thankyou for sharing!!

[@teohyc]

+Ana Paola Magaña Thank you 😀

[@bluovalgal]

Great video! When I get home from a doctor's appointment, I will have to watch this again and try to sketch along with you. I also hope you make more like these. :)

[@teohyc]

+blueovalgal Thanks. I try to create 1-2 tutorials each week.

[@billriley6649]

Your tutorials are a real inspiration to me. Thanks

[@teohyc]

Thanks :-)

[@Delie123]

This is so helpful, thank you for the effort in making it!

[@mheredge]

Thank you very much for this. I'm a novice so your tips here were extremely valuable.

[@deejaytori]

I especially love your sketch of Marina Bay!

[@chinesetomcruise]

Thanks for making these videos, very useful and pleasant to watch!

[@teohyc]

+Bren Dan Thanks. 😀

[@graybryan9521]

Excellent video!. Thanks.

[@mateiesgabriela5932]

Thank you very much for this tutorial ❤️ it was really helpful and I will try to improve my skills with your advices. 💯

[@lindastarlandon]

Thank you Teoh. This is all very helpful.

[@pakokbral2]

this is a great video. Thank you for sharing!

[@LittleBlueDuchess]

Thanks Teoh! Very helpful. I don't feel as overwhelmed now.

[@teohyc]

+Cierra Grove Thanks for your comment 😁 I'm Glad it's helpful

[@AssassinatorScout1]

What matter is that you’ve tried! And it’s good!!!

[@noreenkellett3863]

Thanks , would have run a mile from such a detailed piece, but reckon I might give it a go now after watching this.

[@sowmyaj8928]

Your tutorials and reviews are extremely enjoyable and very informative! Thank you so much! :)

[@teohyc]

+Sowmya J Thanks for your support 😀

[@enpocaspalabras99]

Great video! 😊 I am learning to draw urban sketching and this video is perfect for me 👏🏼

[@박성실-t9d]

Thank you for your explanation.

[@beckyholt]

Thank you so much for sharing your technique.

[@teohyc]

+beckyholt Thanks ☜(˚▽˚)☞

[@patio87]

This is very helpful.

[@theseabeangallery5374]

Very good tutorial, thanks.

[@1elitegeek]

This was really helpful, like the scribbly, not too accurate look, it seems to capture the air of the building for me

[@zion-pikin5968]

You are an awesome teacher. Thanks for great video

[@kinslowrainer3982]

Wow! Thank you very much for making this video. I've watched several of your videos now, and this is the one I think helped me understand sketching the most. By the way, I love your style. It reminds me of the Penguin Classics covers of Graham Greene's novels published in the 1980s.