July 10: Virtual Sketching Seminar with the Association of Licensed Architects

The Canal Street bridge on the Chicago River by Instructor Joel Berman

We taught a two-day seminar to members of the Association of Licensed Architects (ALA). We guided them through sketching practices and taught tools to enhance compositions, demonstrated the utility of value and contour lines, and simplified the fundamentals of one- and two-point perspective.

Participant's thumbnail study and sketch of Goose Island

Students used thumbnail sketches as a tool to improve composition. They captured scenes by creating a quick iterative series while observing a video of Downtown Chicago.

Participant's thumbnail study of Downtown Chicago

ALA members highlighted various aspects of each scene and explained how they refined the composition as they progressed.

Participant's value sketch of Goose Island rail bridge

During the second half of the day, members focused on the use of line and contrast via shading to depict the landscape of Goose Island. The video above captures a behind-the-scenes tutorial of the sketching process.

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