Initially I thought about drawing the view out of my terrace door, but there’s only a single plant there and I interpret the instructions that there should be some more natural things included, more than just one medium-sized potted plant.
Indeed the view out of the window in my office seems to include everything we are asked to look for. There are some buildings, the street, several trees. Even a bit of water from the East River and the skyline of Williamsburg with the Williamsburg bridge to the right, which is far enough away to demonstrate a bit of aerial perspective. That is, if I am capable to do this.
I made two initial sketches in my sketchbook today during lunchtime to try out the idea. The first one is in portrait format and it includes the wall of the adjacent building to the right and the lower portion of the building on the other side of the street to the left as framing elements. Then the view extends over the trees on the UN area, then the East river, Williamsburg skyline and Williamsburg bridge. I think there are some size errors in the lower area with the street, but otherwise I like the drawing and how it captures what I like about the view.
The second sketch is in landscape format. I tried out the idea of including the window frames to establish a very near foreground, plus the adjacent building’s wall to the right. This sketch was drawing quicker and with less detail. I think the composition is less successful. The landscape format permits to include more of the framing elements without squeezing the inner area with the trees, but then the view seems to be cut off too close to the upper edges of the Williamsburg skyline.
I’m not sure what to make of this. Maybe even extend the width towards a panoramic format, and flatten the street and the trees to include more of the see and leave more of the sky above the Williamsburg buildings. Or maybe a square format works best. I think I will do some more sketches to try out some more options.
I’m a bit scared by the complexity of the task, in particular by having to draw trees. I practiced that again today but am still very dissatisfied with the results.
Some studies
I like the view out of the window but am very unsure whether portrait or landscape format works. The studies I made tested this out. Landscape format seems to squeeze the sky and give ample space to draw the trees in the middle. Portrait format squeezes the middle ground, if I include something of the wall of the adjacent building, but the effect is quite dramatic and corresponds to reality as I feel my views framed by high buildings, rather than having a broad and unrestricted visual field.
A4 drawing in landscape format, pencil and coloured pencils
Compositional sketch, pen, portrait format in A4 Sketchbook. Trying out the bolder medium for linear mark-making, in particular for the trees
A4 sketch in portrait format using coloured conté crayons on grey paper.
Mini-sketch in landscape format. The lower building to the right and the adjacent wall plus window frame to the right, and taking care that the horizon line is low enough to include a bit of sky
A4 sketch in landscape format, made after a photograph of the view. Pen and coloured pencils. I introduced the pen after having developed the broad coloured areas. I had in mind some basic elements:
– A gradation in the sky from very light over the Williamsburg skyline to more intense blue upwards
– Framing elements to the left and to the right
– The darkest areas below the trees
The final drawing
The final drawing was made using watersoluble coloured pencils, using a bit of water to create light washes. Drawing is A3 size in landscape format.
