Sokolov was born in Moscow,[2] and between the years of 1800 to 1809 he attended Imperial Academy of Arts where he studied with Alexei Yegorov and Vasily Shebuyev[3] who both were very famous and respected artists.

In 1809, Sokolov painted "Andromache Mourning Hector" ("Андромаха оплакивает убитого Гектора") for his institution's competition, receiving a minor gold medal as well as the title of "Artist".

[4] As part of the Academy's offerings, the students who won the major gold medal were also awarded a stipend to go abroad to enhance their education.

[5] Sokolov wanted to continue his education in Italy, so he stayed in school for one more year and participated in the contest again, but he did not manage to achieve this goal.

[6] Sokolov was one of the first to employ a special watercolour technique where emulsion was not utilized,[7] In addition to that, he was the person who has started the genre of the aquarelle portraiture in Russian art.