Today’s exercise was about seeing the major shapes of a building before getting drawn into its detail.
I made the preliminary in my architectural sketchbook using my Pilot Falcon and ArtGraf watersoluble graphite, reducing the building to its major masses, projections and areas of tone. The final was then drawn in my more friendly watercolour paper sketchbook.
I initially got slightly confused by my own preliminary. I had given too much emphasis to the main arch, while at the same time not giving enough definition to the lower section. I followed the preliminary rather too faithfully in the first attempt, which left the lower part of the building rather vague. A second look made the problem clear, and I added more definition to the lower section. The useful lesson turned out to be slightly different from the original exercise: the preliminary is a guide, not a prescription. It establishes the major masses, but the final still needs to respond to the reference photograph and my own judgement.
Score: 7.5/10 A good drawing with identifiable weaknesses, but an especially useful exercise in understanding how my preliminary and final should work together.
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