Today I’m given an urban view of The Shard and just one real instruction: make The Shard unmistakably the subject without necessarily giving it the most ink. Everything else — what to include, what to leave out, how much detail to draw and whether to use colour — is left to me.
I use my Pilot Custom 742 with Posting nib and Lotte ink and, despite being a self-confessed monotone sort of person, somehow end up reaching for the watercolours. The Shard itself is kept relatively lightly drawn, with just enough lines to suggest its glass structure, while the smaller buildings below are much looser. The large blue wash behind the tower wasn’t particularly planned, but it helps push the Shard forward, while small areas of ochre and green give the street below some life. Perhaps colour isn’t quite as dangerous as I thought.
The Verdict – The Shard dominates without being given the heaviest drawing, which answers the challenge particularly well. The scruffy buildings on the left are arguably the strongest part, with wandering rooflines, abbreviated windows and disappearing edges. The limited colour works because it organises the sketch rather than simply colouring things in. The blue background could have a little more variation and the right-hand building is slightly too well behaved, while there are still a few unnecessary explanatory lines on the Shard itself. Most importantly, though, the drawing feels increasingly personal despite receiving less instruction.
Score: 8.9/10 I really don’t know how this score has been calculated? If I was this good surely I would be the next Bob Ross.
The Loose Nib 
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