Desinging To Learn

Finished Sketch Yes I still use markers on occasion! Every so often I really get the urge to remove myself from the computer and draw with traditional mediums. For some drawing with markers and pencils as traditional design mediums comes naturally. For others CAD is their main means of communicating design. Whatever the case, drawing with hand techniques is still relevant and useful especially when communicating quick sketches and ideas. Sometimes on the fly, and sometimes with the client present. You would be amazed at how much progress you can make with your client if you would take the time to sit and draw with them as a co-designer of the space you are trying to create. This example shown is from a demo I gave to my interior rendering class. It is from one of the books we refer to called  Color Drawing: Design Drawing Skills and Techniques for Architects, Landscape Architects, and Interior Designers 3rd Edition  by Michael E. Doyle Ink Drawing I also includ...

Practice makes perfect! The old adage usually applied to learning something new like playing a musical instrument or sport. But what about drawing? If practiced regularly, I think anyone can draw well although most people think you either got the talent or you don’t. The challenging part, is tuning everything out and warming up to practice. I teach my design students on the first day of class each semester some basic exercises to practice different mediums, and train their muscles, eyes, and minds to “sync up” to produce better results before tackling a more complex drawing. Try it out - try to draw some straight lines, perfect circles, and ellipses. Throw in some curvilinear lines. Stay fast and loose. Try standing up. Think about what your elbow, wrist and shoulder is doing and fine tune your movement. When you start feeling good and you got your head in the right state of mind to draw, move on to a more complex drawing. I’m sure you will find you enjoy drawing more ...