Interior and Architectural Ink rendered Hand Drawings

Rendering, by hand, with Ink Marker Pens

Over the last few weeks, I have been creating a series of hand-drawn renderings for my Design Communications class. I always believe it is best to show students my work rather than pulling examples from Google, as it is proof that I can actually do what I am teaching, and it builds their trust.

In today’s fast-paced design world, we are often too quick to jump onto a computer to create polished images. While programs like Photoshop are industry standards, there is an undeniable beauty and value in mastering hand-drawn and hand-rendered work first. This tactile skill sharpens your eye for detail, helps you understand light and shadow, and brings a unique warmth to your drawings that software cannot replicate.

I am sharing these examples with you, walking you through my process, the materials I use, and tips so you can start creating your own architectural and interior design renderings by hand.

Ink Marker Pens for Interior Design Rendering

Over the years, I have built up a small collection of marker pens, from ProMarkers and Tria to my current favourites, Copic markers. I am not loyal to a single brand, for me, colour range and ink flow matter most. Whatever I have to hand often does the job perfectly.

If you are just starting, I recommend investing in 3 to 4 essentials:

• A light grey and a darker grey for shadows and depth

• A warm brown for wood tones

• A blender pen if the budget allows

You can also layer in details with coloured pencils over your marker work; it adds texture and subtle variation that brings an image to life.

Choosing the Right Paper for Ink Rendering

Working with marker pens can feel intimidating at first, but it gets easier with practice. My biggest tip is to always make multiple copies of your line drawing before you start rendering, that way you can experiment without the fear of ruining your work.

Paper choice can make or break your result. Poor-quality paper causes the ink to bleed, feather, or soak through, while thin sketchbook paper can warp or become semi-transparent. I have had the best results using:

• Thick card stock with a smooth finish

• Watercolour paper with light absorption, great for layering ink

• Marker pads, ideal but often pricey if you are not using them regularly

Look for a smooth surface to avoid streaking, and always test your markers on a scrap before starting.

Try It Yourself

If you have never worked with marker pens, remember, less is more. Build up your tones gradually. Add a wash of your lightest colour first, step back, then layer in mid-tones and shadows. Keep checking your work from a distance so you can see the balance of colour and contrast.

If you do not have your drawing to render, take an image from a design magazine, sketch it out with a fine liner or pencil, and start there. Begin with light tones, then layer darker colours for depth, adding texture and highlights last.

The hardest part is knowing when to stop. It is tempting to keep adding more, but sometimes the most beautiful results come from restraint, allowing the white of the page and the looseness of the lines to shine through.

Product Review: Ink Rendering Pens

I have been working with my rendering ink markers in preparation for teaching my students how to render their floor plans and perspectives with inks, watercolours, and pencils. With this in mind, and refreshing my rendering skills, I thought I would jump on here and do a mini-review of the ink markers I have and what I think of them. I do not have a huge collection, but one which has grown over the years. My collection is made up of what I feel are the major names in ink rendering: Letraset ProMarkers, Tria, and Copic (others are available).

1. Letraset ProMarkers (UK)

Great pens and very easy to use, the ink flows well and the colour is very vivid, although other colours are available from the image above. The pen has a twin tip (a nib on each end); an angled thick nib and a medium nib with a fine point.  The pen case is easily opened and refilled once the ink has run out; the lid has a small lip so the pen does not roll too far.  These ink markers are available in a huge variety of colours and have the colour number, along with a descriptive name, printed on the label of each pen with a strip of the colour, making them easily identified for use. 

2. Tria ink markers (UK)

Probably the first pens I ever bought whilst studying Architecture (quite a few years ago now)...and they have lasted!  Great pens to start with, although they are pricey, and are often sold in sets for a particular use, which makes it even easier for students to choose. The pen has three nibs: a medium nib with a fine point, an angled thick nib and a thin nib (inside the thick nib’s lid).  The pen case is easily opened and refilled once the ink has run out; however, the ink lasts a long time.  These ink markers are available in a huge variety of colours, the main body of the pen is coloured accordingly, and the colour number is indicated on a sticker on the main body of the pen as well as on the lid, so you can see this when they are stacked upright.

3. Copic ink markers (Japan)

Saving the best for last, I love these markers.  They work well, the ink flows and blends perfectly, they offer a great range of colours for Interior and Architectural drawings and, well, they look great!  The square shape of the pen means they do not roll off the drawing board, and the little diagram on the main body of the pen helps determine which end has which nib, making working with them slightly faster.  In my experience, the ink does run out or dry up faster.  Again, the pen has a twin tip (a nib on each end); an angled thick nib and a medium nib with a fine point. These ink markers are available in a huge variety of colours, and different types of pens (but I have not tried them yet) and have the name and number of each colour marked clearly on the lid, in colour, so you can see this clearly when they are stacked upright.