Today, sketching in Portland's Pearl district, I tried something different: I used Inma Serrano's method (from the Barcelona symposium) of sketching buildings by starting with paint first. I didn't care if the buildings were very accurate or not; I was going for an impression. I used Gail Wong's suggestion of using a bigger brush (in this case a flat one) for a looser look. After painting, I added the ink and some of the details.
I had a lot of fun sketching like this. I wasn't concerned with how many windows I was drawing or how precise the balconies were---or anything else. I wasn't really thinking very much, just adding paint and then lines, and it was very refreshing.
Portlanders, if you're in the mood for drawing construction, I'd suggest you head for The Fields. There are at least three blocks filled with cranes, drills, rebar and more. You may want to take ear plugs. Happy sketching!
