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.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Wet in wet and no lines



There is no doubt that the impact of my trip to Singapore over Xmas/New Year has been huge on  my art. I am working wetter and have been weaned off my inklines... but this sketch is almost one step further. I did do a few very basic setup lines in a lavender pencil but then just went for it with my paint. I was painting the lines. I could have done this entire sketch without any lines (oh! just ignore the fact that I used a watercolour pencil for the fence)

I am currently using a Stillman & Birn Beta book - it is very very nice  thick watercolour paper but the sizing on the paper means that the paint sits on the surface of the paper longer than I am used it. Combined with the fact that I was working quite wet this afternoon meant that I was really working wet in wet. I did have a momentary thought early on that I should slow down and wait for hte paint to dry,  but I quickly abandoned that idea...deciding instead to go with the flow (literally!) I was sitting in my car, half way home from the gym and not wanting to get caught in the traffic....there is always many reasons that I give myself for going fast!

What is really interesting about this exercise is how the hard edges of the building have still been expressed despite the bleeds left right and centre.I am really enjoying breaking away from my previous addiction to lines. At heart I am an architect, so that obsession will never go away.... but it is so much fun to explore new stuff!

6 comments:

  1. I'm finding your exploration of the medium very interesting. A question - is there a big difference working wet-in-wet on alpha or on beta? I've been using a Moleskine sketchbook and find wet-in-wet difficult to move the paint around.

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  2. Hi Ray- I do need to do some more study of it. I am finding the paint hard to control in beta - is it the paper? Or am I doing something different. When I did a test comparing it with alpha - the alpha turned out similiarly.I will keep you posted. I have found the moleskine watercolour was the easiest to work with- but I wasn't really doing a lot of wet in wet.

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  3. Hi Liz- I am relatively new to your blogs, but am thoroughly enjoying exploring them. Your posts on sketchbooks are especially interesting to me- I am still trying to find 'my' book. Was going to give the Beta a go, until I just read your comment about the paint sitting on the surface...did you find other S&B series more absorbent?

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  4. Is there supposed to be a sketch associated with this post?



    Thanks,

    DougN

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  5. Great post ! check out Grasshopper, IFC and RhinoPython for top notch sketching on www.rhino4you.com - interoperability rulezzzzz !!!

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  6. Very good. Nice site and I'm glad you are involved in this thanks .

    Architects Brisbane | Draftsman Sydney

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