​Hi Reader, -- David here from SketchLikeAnArchitect.com​

Being a professional over-thinker, I have a love-hate relationship with this time of the year.

Review - reflect - plan - prioritize - be grateful - scratch that new idea - doubt yourself - burn everything down? - start all over - “don’t forget to get some rest, too” - and repeat…

Below, you can read about (arguably) the most important and relevant things that happened in 2025 under the Sketch Like an Architect project which I consider noteworthy.

Let’s start on a high note..

In my eyes, here are rather big things with lasting positive effect, first-timers, and things & experiences I consider wins this year:

​Urban Sketching Retreat in Prague​

My first-time experience teaching a multi-day, in-person event with people flying in from all over the world.

Talk about pressure.

But eventually? Flow, vibe, joy, and creative fulfillment.

It’s hard to put in words how positive this experience was - and not just for me, but more importantly for 12 brave sketchers who joined me and Alán Ramiro for a week in Prague.

I’ve shared some more photos (and footage) in a previous newsletter, this Youtube video (0:14) and on Instagram.​

Interested in joining us in July 2026?

Eric Reinholdt (30X40) Interviewed me on his 1M+ Youtube channel

I hope that I don’t need to introduce Eric to you but it’s worth repeating what an incredible honor and fun this talk was.

Presenting at the AIBD conference in the USA

It was a first time for me speaking in the USA (Asheville, NC). I was there to deliver a 2-hour Morpholio Trace workshop at the American Institute of Building Design (AIBD) Conference — showing how iPad sketching can fit right into a professional workflow.

Our brand-new Skool community rose to the Top 1% on the platform

This new private community space was one big experiment.

For our annual Sketching Retreat event we’ve moved away from a Facebook Group to this new platform Skool.

Since then it grew to 3,000 strong community and it’s become a very unique, safe, and supportive space for like-minded people on their sketching and drawing journey.

It’s also where I host LIVE workshops and draw-alongs, offer feedback, and where we have fun growing together.

So far, only my students and people on this newsletter (yes, YOU) can join, no outsiders.

New(-ish) thing that makes me happy - chess!

Recently, I re-started playing chess (I know how to play but I’m a newbie) on Chess dot com and love to learn advanced strategies and play strangers online!

Do you play chess? Hit reply and let me know.

Is it all rainbows and butterflies? A few setbacks

I don’t want these annual reviews to be just highlight reels because it’s not really true. My life is full of setbacks, I just don’t normally share them online (even though I appreciate when others openly do). So here are just a few of many:

• Cancelled Trip to Chinese Art Academy - I was supposed to teach a week-long (urban) sketching course for architecture students at NACAA. Unfortunately, I got sick and couldn’t travel.
• Knee injury - I injured my knee again (torn meniscus and ACL), requiring 2 surgeries (still 1 more to go). The first surgery in November slowed me down a lot more than I expected.
• AIA Conference proposal rejected + dozens of other professional rejections and personal challenges that are just part of the game. Every one of us has battles that almost no one knows about, right?

📚 Most popular trainings & events of the year

We’ve welcomed over 5,000+ new paying students this year inside:

• iPad for Architects Summit 2025 (March)
• Sketching Retreat 2025 (October)
• Perspective Drawing Made Easy
• Sketch Like an Architect: From Lines to Perspective
• Morpholio Trace Quickstart (*NEW*)
• Procreate Workshops 1, 2, and 3

​#️⃣ Community Growth in 2025

• 35k => 55k subs on Youtube + reached close to 3.5 million views​
• 282k => 294k fans on Instagram​ - IG didn’t get as much attention this year
• 18k+ new readers of this email newsletter (65k in total!)
• 5,000+ new students and customers in my online school​
• 0 => 3,000+ members in our private Skool Community​

Thank you for being so AWESOME, for showing up for yourself, doing the work, and making progress!

If you ever need a little nudge, a bit of motivation, check out your fellow tribe members for some encouraging words:

❓ What’s coming in 2026?

Despite being an indecisive Libra, I‘ve boiled down my gazillion ideas to “just” 3 priorities for the coming year (some of which I already asked you about and got amazing feedback on).

But before I unveil my cheeky 2026 plan (God must be laughing hard), I want to ask about your goals!

Have you set any art- or sketching-related goals for 2026?
Do you know what you want to improve at?

Hit reply and let me know - it can be a single word or a few sentences ;)

Maybe it’s about getting the drawing foundations finally right…
Maybe becoming confident in perspective drawing…
Maybe it’s digital sketching…
Maybe it’s the consistency and building a healthy drawing habit…

If you’re unsure what to improve, I’m preparing an awesome free gift that will help you clarify that… more on that later!

Meantime, happy sketching and talk soon,

David Drazil​ ​Architect | Content Creator | Author ​Student Login | Start Here | ​YouTube | Books | Courses + Downloads​

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PS. Invitation to those who are interested in the idea of working with me
1-on-1 in 2026! I'm at my full capacity until the end of January, but if you'd like to make awesome progress with your drawing skills in 2025,

please, let me know here asap!​