Sketching a building from the street

You can sketch a building without being an architect. Start with its overall shape and the relationship between openings, rather than trying to draw every decorative detail. Work from a permitted public viewpoint and avoid blocking entrances or photographing private interiors.

Add notes about materials and shadows, clearly marking anything you cannot identify. Compare the sketch with the scene before correcting it. The aim is to understand what caught your attention. A rough drawing can preserve a sense of scale that a quick photograph sometimes loses.

Notebook exercise

Take ten minutes to record one detail from your own day. Include the date and setting, then leave the page open for a later observation. Keep any private information out of a version you share.