Architects and designers are under constant pressure to present design ideas quickly — and beautifully enough to move clients toward decisions. Hand sketches don’t cut it anymore, and 3D models often bog you down with too much detail, way too early.
But what if there were a way to blend speed, beauty, and precision into a single workflow — one that keeps your options open while impressing clients in real time?
👉 Click the image below to watch the full video on YouTube.
The Shortcut Workflow
In this lesson (taken straight from my Procreate Accelerator course, now also part of my Live Draw-Along Workshop), you’ll see how to transform a rough concept into a presentation-ready rendering in less than two hours.
The process starts with a site photograph, expands the frame, and locks in perspective lines with nothing more than a red pen. From there, you can:
Drop in plans and sections, align them in perspective
Block in color and texture with Procreate brushes that mimic vegetation, stone, and water
Layer shadows with Multiply blend mode for instant realism
Add entourage and planting details to bring the design to life
The result? Renderings that carry the warmth of hand sketching with the clarity of digital design. My colleague Don Nesmith and I used this exact workflow to prepare a backyard concept in time for a client meeting — and it worked.
Why This Matters
In today’s competitive design world, the ability to go from idea to polished presentation in hours — not days — is what sets you apart. This workflow not only saves time, it keeps your design process flexible and open-ended. Instead of getting locked into overly detailed 3D models, you’re free to explore, iterate, and still produce images clients can understand and love.
Download the Free File
To follow along, download the free Procreate file that accompanies this lesson:
👉 Download the Free File
Learn More
If you’d like to go deeper, my Live Draw-Along Workshop includes this lesson plus four more weeks of guided practice. You’ll also get lifetime access to my entire self-guided course library.
👉 Learn about the Live Draw-Along Workshop
Closing Thought
Whether you’re an experienced architect trying to stand out, or a younger designer looking to speed up your workflow, this shortcut gives you a competitive edge. It blends the speed of digital with the charm of hand drawing — and once you try it, you’ll never go back.