SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN

FOUNDATION IN NATURAL BUILD ENVIRONMENT

NAME: TAN SHEAU HUI

STUDENT ID NO: 0319235

WORD COUNT: 738

ENGLISH 1 (ELG 30505)

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT 1: PROCESS ESSAY

LECTURER: CASSANDRA WIJESURIA

SUBMISSION DATE: 2ND MAY 2014

Have you ever imagine yourself sketching on a white sheet of paper while

sitting on a green comfy field, with a perfect cup of Starbucks coffee by your

side? Cool breeze gently touches your face and plays with your hairs while the

warmth of sun slightly lifts up your spirit. It is not a cloudland simply appeared in

your childlike dreamy mind. Probably you are neither as talented as Leonardo da

Vinci nor as inventive as Pablo Picasso, but you can actually work out an

attractive sketch of anything or anyone you wish if you try to get the hang of

some effectual drawing steps.

Lately I have been working on a Colosseum sketch and it was utterly

satisfying. Well, since you have spent your lovely time leafing through this, I will

simply show you how. First and foremost, you will have to find some photo

references. Be it on a website, be it on a magazine or be it on a piece of old

newspaper, as long as it is clear and complete. Then, get ready with a few

different grades of wooden pencils together with a piece of drawing paper of any

size you would prefer. Now, start with a vertical line on the center of your paper

as the guideline. I recommend you to utilize a H or HB grade pencil as the lines

drawn will be easily erased later on. Next, draw two upward lines on either side

of the image area. These are the base for the walls. They should be slightly tilted

to show the perspective view from a person standing on the ground in front of the

building.

The second step is to come out with each level of the Colosseum. Here,

you may use the previous pencil or you may also shift to another pencil with a

finer lead to make your lines more precise. Draw some curved lines by referring

to the photo you have selected earlier. The combination of curved lines and

upward lines will end up forming a cylinder, as if a paint tin can. At this point, try

to imagine that you are a petty ant staring up to the can. Then, add more curved

lines parallel to the previous guidelines. These are the framework for the whole

structure of Colosseum. Now I am perfectly sure that you are reveling in your

sketch as your progress is well-organized, similar to the stages of building a

construction. Take your time at working out all those fine lines.

For centenaries of erosion and other natural causes, the building has

meager damages. Some parts are cracked while most parts are still in good

condition. Check your reference and start connecting the curves with the best

style of line. Be attentive at the thickness of wall as well. Then you will see a solid

form of shape. After that, lay down guidelines for the arched openings which are

a unique feature of Colosseum. Begin from the middle and move outward to the

left and right. Your lines should be slanting inward a bit as you inch from middle

to the side. After that, draw the inner part of the arches. Do not forget that all

receding lines go towards the center of the image.

Finally, erase all the unnecessary construction lines. Blacken all the lines

with a 2B grade pencil delicately and you are done. Anyhow, you can also add

more details on your sketch if you intend to make your sketch seems more

naturalistic and even could make your pals say “Oh my god, did you just drew

that?” Simply take out a mechanical pencil or a black gel pen with 0.3mm lead

and start your intricate yet appropriate textures and later on some shades on

your Colosseum sketch. Now do you see a perfect sketch of Colosseum in front

of you? You may try to recheck your reference to make sure the shade parts are

well drawn. You are done! Big applause for yourself! Therefore, here we can

conclude that everyone can be an artist. Whether your artwork will soon become

well-known or just simply kept as your own legacy, it does not matter. As long as

it shows your intent and the utmost important thing-it brings out your own style.

Lastly, I strongly recommend you to do more practices by simply sketch out

anything you can see from your surrounding as the saying goes, “Practice makes

perfect.”