1. SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN FOUNDATION IN NATURAL BUILD ENVIRONMENT NAME: ARVINDHAN S/O BALASINGAM STUDENT ID NO: 0319753 WORD COUNT: 726 ENGLISH 1 (ELG 30505) WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT 1: PROCESS ESSAY LECTURER: CASSANDRA WIJESURIA SUBMISSION DATE: 2ND MAY 2014

2. PRODUCING AN ATTRACTIVE SKETCH. Got your tongue tied as you gazed at some of the most spectacular buildings in the world? Have these masterpieces of architectural talent leave you in awe? The Great Pyramids in Egypt, the Burj Dubai in well- Dubai and the upcoming Shanghai Tower are only the tip of the iceberg among the variety of wonders of the world. But have we ever come to mind on how these buildings first came about? Well, it all began with the classic pen-on-paper :- sketching. Majority of us misinterpreted the idea that the ability to produce a simple yet an effective sketch is only presented to the minorities but that statement is indeed false. Everyone has the potential to hone their sketching skills but it takes the right steps to get yourself ahead of the game. Before you begin, do equip yourself with the right tools. The sketching tools play a fundamental role in ones process to sketch. Be sure that you have an A4 sized sketchbook that has pages that will not crumple easily as you erase onto it. The point of the pencil is deadlier than the sword. In architectural terms, the pencils used to sketch are vital and should always be sharpen in case the tip of the pencil gets blunt. Provide yourself with a variety of pencils ranging from H pencils to B pencils. H pencils are the most challenging pencils to use as the tip of the pencils tend to break easily. The sole purpose of the H pencils are to help produce fine, straight and non-blendable lines. This pencil is vastly used in the architectural line. It is also advisable to purchase a set of H pencils that include 6H, 4H and 2H pencils. B pencils are the mushiest and are ideal for producing blurry lines during the process of shading. Many architects fancy the use of B pencils as it also comes in assortments of 6B, 4B and 2B pencil. For beginners, it is advisable to start off small. You can either sketch an everyday object such as an apple or a chair rather than using your imagination to create a vision to draw. You can also try sketching something you feel mesmerised with or uncomplicated just to get yourself in the mood of doodling. It is alright to take your time to study the subject prior to the sketching process. Pay close attention to details as they prove significant in resulting of a masterpiece. Finding the perfect light source is one of the few details you have to keep your eyes peeled for. Locating the primary light source will ascertain which area you sketch the lightest and the darkest. Apart from lighting, observe any sudden movement whether it is an actual movement from a real-life object or perceived movement in an image. By ascerting these movements, you will be able to determine the shape and direction you are to make with sketch strokes. Apart from that, one should bare in mind to not sketch too heavily. A sketch is purposive to plan out a draft of the object. Therefore, it is advisable to sketch using light hand and a vast amount of short and quick strokes. This will make it a piece of cake to test out various methods of sketching specific object. This also allows you to erase any mishaps with ease without crumpling the paper. Moving on to posture, people underestimate on how vital practicing good posture really is, It is recommended to sith with your backs straight to avoid straining of the back muscles. Comfortability is also crucial as it helps you to sketch for a longer period of time without any exasperating scenarios. We would not want to be interrupted with intolerable situations now, dont we? As a whole, we should never look at sketching as a burden. Better yet, accept it as a fun and enjoyable task. By patronaging these simple yet effective steps, sketching will be a walk in the park. Practicing inevitably makes you better, As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. Who knows, there could be a Picasso in the making!