Travel Sketching: Conversations between Pen and Paper

St. Peter’s in Rome

To many, the small cafes spilling out upon the pavement and side streets of European capitals may seem like a nice place to enjoy a cup of coffee and pastry or partake in a spot of lunch. To me, however, these cafes are more than simple eateries. Carefully scouted cafes play host to creativity and are the special havens for sketching and admiring the local architecture. Usually for only the cost of an Americano (or in the case of the world famous Gritti hotel, a Bellini), one can sit all day absorbing the people and the views of cathedrals, castles, palazzos, and squares. Here you have everything you need for sketching and watercolors— a table to balance your sketchbook and avoid ink spillage, a chair to rest weary feet, refreshment to revive, plenty of water for one’s paints, and shade to block not only the sun but also eager onlookers attempting to catch a glimpse of unfinished work.

In Italy, take your pick of cafés perfect for hosting a quick sketch.

View of Santa Maria della Salute from the Gritti Hotel. Drawn whilst enjoying a Bellini!

More than lines and shading, sketching is the act of absorbing a building or landscape’s qualities and transferring it onto another medium. In this silent conversation between your pen and paper, insight is gained into the distinguishing characteristics of a building and the nuances of its ornamentation. Whether you realize it or not, the multi-sensory action of viewing with the eyes and then drawing with your hands ingrains within you those architectural details. Those sketched lines forming the building blocks of your drawing also build upon the cornerstone of your personal learning.

Sketching on the go in Toledo, Spain. Don’t worry if your sketch can’t be completed in situ. Get the basic positions down such as points of perspective and finish later with a photograph.

These sketches testify to my personal architectural journey. Early sketches show the hurried lines of someone absorbing as much information from the building as possible. However, later sketches demonstrate a precision and fluidity of line as I began to learn and absorb the tenants of classical architecture. Whatever your architectural journey – professional or enthusiast— sketching does far more than enrich your visual vocabulary and architectural knowledge. The art of sketching builds inspiration and cultivates an overall awareness of the world around.

St. Basil’s Basilica in Moscow

Watercolor completed in situ in a Roman alleyway.