Process Essay on how to produce an attractive sketch

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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.”