{"id":828,"date":"2017-01-03T10:35:33","date_gmt":"2017-01-03T15:35:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mennosmartin.com\/blog\/?p=828"},"modified":"2025-05-15T15:34:43","modified_gmt":"2025-05-15T19:34:43","slug":"one-simple-sketching-course","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mennosmartin.com\/blog\/one-simple-sketching-course\/","title":{"rendered":"Back to School: One Simple Sketching Course"},"content":{"rendered":"

You might recall that I enrolled in a sketching course<\/a> last fall. I expected to learn about the technical aspects of drawing in perspective. I hoped to experiment with new drawing media, like pencil, pen, ink and charcoal. I hoped to get some feedback by posting my sketches on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
An afternoon sketch of my backyard on a sunny winter day<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I was completely unprepared for what I actually<\/strong> learned, which turned out to be so much more than the technicalities I expected.<\/p>\n

I’ve learned how to better observe my environment and to see the spatial orientation between objects & how they relate to each other. This a really important skill for designing living and working spaces that my clients envision. I’ve always known this, but brushing up on my sketching and drawing skills has been a gentle, but firm reminder: Even the most simple three-dimensional sketch or drawing helps people to visualize and better understand their ideas. I’ve been drawing flat two-dimensional technical drawings forever and I spend a lot of time explaining to clients what goes where and the mechanics of what it would look like in real life. A three-dimensional sketch or drawing eliminates these boring explanations & helps people to see themselves in the space of their imagination.<\/p>\n

I was in the middle of my course when I signed up for a sketching seminar led by Paul Backewich at IIDEXCanada<\/a>. Backewich is an architect at The Line I Draw<\/a> and his company specializes in architectural design and illustration for projects worldwide. Backewich outlined how he uses sketching as a form of active listening<\/strong>.Technical drawings, while very important, are rather stiff and lifeless. Paul uses a ‘back-and-forth’ sketching and communication process to refine a project for his client. His drawings communicate back to his clients the thoughts and ideas they’ve expressed verbally about a project. I completely agree with Backewich’s belief that sketching can better capture the energy of a building. I want to explore what this active listening through sketching<\/strong> means in my own design practice.<\/p>\n

My sketching course opened up another world<\/h3>\n

I followed a suggestion to start adding colour to my sketches. Now I’m taking water colour lessons with local artist Ralf Wall<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
Tom Nagy’s Christmas Experience at The Jazz Room, great way to get into the Christmas spirit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I joined the world of Urban Sketchers<\/a>. The Urban Sketchers manifesto<\/a> is to always draw on location, from direct observation and not from photos or memory. There are now over 100 local chapters including one here in Waterloo Region. I went to my first Urban Sketcher’s event in Cambridge Ontario in December. And, I loved it.<\/p>\n

I signed out all the books on urban sketching from the Kitchener Public Library.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Kitchener Public Library -afternoon of sketching from the upper floor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I discovered there are a LOT of YouTube channels dedicated to urban sketching. My favourite so far is Sketch with Teoh<\/a>  and I’m learning something new from every video.<\/p>\n

I participated in a Urban Sketchers postcard exchange. I sent a small drawing to someone in Malaysia and can’t wait to see what I receive in the mail in exchange.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
Sketched from the window of Melville’s Cafe – for Urban Sketchers Postcard Exchange<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I learned people are very particular about the tools they use. The pen choices alone will keep me busy for weeks. This will be a good excuse to make a trip to my favourite pen and paper shop in Cambridge, Phidon Pens<\/a>.<\/p>\n

While sketching in numerous KW coffee shops, I’ve come to understand how much people appreciate the simple art of drawing.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
Matter of Taste Cafe -coffee beans ready for grinding<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

See what I mean?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I had no idea that one simple sketching course would open a pandora’s box. As I practice, share and prepare for my next sketching course in early January, I realize I’m enjoying the journey more than if I had stopped as soon as I conquered those introductory technical skills.<\/p>\n

I find that I sketch in my mind even when I don’t have a pen in my hand. I constantly measure the world around me – shapes, angles and the spatial relationships between building. I observe how objects interact with each other and how people move and use places. Sketching teaches me to be a keen observer of the world and hopefully a better designer too.<\/p>\n

I’ll continue to post my sketches online and welcome your constructive feedback! Continue to follow my adventure on Instagram @rennosbymenno<\/a> and @trentbauman<\/a><\/p>\n

-Trent<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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