This blog is devoted to my architectural sketching adventures and musings about the integration of architecture and sketching.
I hope not only to share my own on-location architectural sketches but provide tips and methodologies for sketching and understanding architecture.
Also, most importantly, I wish to explore ways in which, in a digital age, we can not only defend but
promote freehand sketching within the architectural profession.

Saturday, March 31, 2012

The 5 orders of Architecture

120330 The 5 orders of architecture
I am been intending to do this for years and years and years.
Despite a total lack of interest in Classical architecture as an architectural student, I did decide in my first year of working that I really should one day draw the five orders... well here is a pathetically loose and inaccurate sketch of all 5.

These orders (often just 3- Doric, Ionic and Corinthian) are used in classical architecture. Each one has its own proportional and special decorative system. If you want to sketch classical architecture it is good to have a basic understanding of these.
Stay tuned (you might have to wait a while) for more on each order and how the orders are used in buildings and how an understanding of this helps in sketching complicated buildings.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

How loose can I go?

120310_02 Colonial Mutual Life Building

On Saturday I went into the city (downtown) for a bit of sketching. I felt the urge to do some architecture sketching and that is what I ended up doing! This was how I started.... A very complicated building in Martin Place.


After a good cup of tea and some yummy scones I decided to sketch this little gem on George St in the Rocks. I have sketched it before but never had the sun on it like this. It is only a small building but delightfully complicated
I tried to draw the line work as loose as I possibly could – without any regard (well, without much regard) to accuracy. As I have sketched this building before I already have a relationship with it so didn’t really need to study it much before I started scribbling. I was rather pleased with how it turned out
120310_05 How loose can I go
I then splashed on colour. I am trying to get lively washes – particularly in the shadow areas- trying to capture the warm glow that occurs in the shaded areas of the Sydney sandstone. Although I am a little happy with the effect in the archway- overall I wasn’t that keen with the end result... Maybe I added too much watercolour and the excitement of the linework is lost.

Anyway... The process got me thinking and I am going to experiment a bit more..... Stay turned!

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