How to learn to draw architectural structures:
Selecting the subject of the image

Table of contents

Selecting the subject of the image

What to draw?

A good drawing is more than a refined technique; it comes to life thanks to your feelings. Everything can become a suitable subject of the image. what you like, what echoes in your soul, is an old building or the wild beauty of the monastery ruins.

When you hone your skills, you will want to try a power swap on some complex buildings, such as the cathedral depicted in this spread or an old manufactory building on the banks of the river.

How many parts do you need?

When you find a suitable nature, you have to decide what is most interesting in it and what place it should take in your composition. This moment should be carefully planned - if the rush is too big, you will leave unnecessary and distracting details or build an inexpressive composition with a shifted focal point. There are many ways to change the focal point of a picture - one of them is shown in these two works. The foreground is underlined on the bottom sketch, and the background is highlighted on the opposite page.

Add some architectural details that, in your opinion, will convey the feeling of a particular building. They should be noticeable enough. You can only outline the factor. For example, a brick wall can be shown by drawing several bricks on an empty space - this saves time, and the drawing will look light and less overloaded.

Frame and composition

Choosing what to draw, you may be dumbfounded when you encounter the complexity of the physical world and the abundance of parts of different levels in it. Therefore, always think over the composition of your work, regardless of whether you are drawing from nature or from a photograph, buildings or a landscape. A large picture may contain several smaller compositions, as shown in the figures on the right and in the picture of the coastal village.

To facilitate the selection, try to isolate some part of the picture. This is done using a frame that can be cut out of cardboard or simply folded from your fingers. The frame acts as the focusing mechanism of the camera, cuts off all unnecessary details that you do not want to include in the picture.

When using this frame method, remember that the focal center of your composition does not have to be in the middle of the picture. You will create focus using hatching, making some places darker than others: the darker the place, the more it will attract the viewer’s eye.

Cardboard frame

It is easy to make a frame - just cut out two rectangular corners from cardboard (1). Connect them and point the image at your subject - and you will be able to select its various parts and watch how each of them will look in the picture. You can also change the size and shape of the frame, which allows you to look at the nature and see how the same object will look, say, in a tall and narrow rectangle or in a square.

In addition, the cardboard frame can be made the same size as your drawing surface (2).

Finger frame

You can also frame your subject with the help of your fingers (3). Stretch both hands in front of you, setting aside your thumbs, which will become the bottom of the frame.Then, as in the previous case, isolate with their help the various parts of your subject image. Like the first frame (1), the frame of the fingers can be folded in different shapes and sizes.

Indoor work

Working indoors imposes less restriction on the draftsman than working outdoors. Here you do not have to worry about adverse weather conditions, and you can devote more time to each drawing. And this means that you will become more careful in choosing the subject of the image and visual means, and because of this, perform more complex and detailed drawings.

Work at home

Your own home is the most suitable place to learn how to draw interiors. To get started, experiment with foregrounds and backgrounds to achieve the correct proportions and relationships between objects. Adjust proportions using the pencil measurement method. You have to find a comfortable position for yourself - sitting or standing behind an easel - with which your intended subject of the image is clearly visible. Choose a time when natural light is the strongest.

Practice drawing the same subject from different perspectives - standing, sitting on a chair or on the floor. Your gaze level will change with each new position.

Do not be afraid of interiors full of details. First, identify the main forms and general feeling of this space. Details will be added later.

Image of more complex interiors

Complex constructions and interiors of churches and ancient buildings will undoubtedly make you want to capture them. Relive your drawing and help it gain scale by putting people in it.

In this case, good lighting and a convenient place for drawing is very important - after all, your work will take some time. Find a place where no one will bother you. Use simple and convenient drawing accessories, as spilled ink or paints can lead to scandal.