Chapter 13 Visual Communication: Drawings, Renderings, and Models 449 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. ■ Redraw over poor lines or just keep going, but do not erase. Erasing interrupts the process of learning to draw confidently. A few stray lines may only add interest and indication of process. ■ Sketch anything that appeals to you. While what you are sketching may not work for your current assignment, it is a resource for a future one. ■ Sketch for different lengths of time. You will have different results from a 10-minute timed sketch than one that is 45 minutes in length. ■ Move to a different position in the room if you do not like a scene’s viewpoint from where you are sketching. Find one that offers interest and variety to your sketch. ■ Use tracing paper to develop the beginnings of a sketch and then layer another piece of paper over it to refine and move forward. Layering is important to both sketching and rendering. Continue this process until your sketch is final. ■ Remember that positive and negative space within a sketch is important for the total composition. ■ Keep your sketches loose and easy. It indicates you are relaxed and confident. ■ Add the image of a person or group of people to the scene to indicate approximate scale within the imaginary space when you complete a sketch of an interior. The image can just be a contour of a person inserted into the scene. Human dimension is always interesting in an interior. ■ Sketch the exterior of buildings as well as interior spaces. Both offer different opportunities for capturing design details for use later. ■ Keep your sketchbook with you at all times. ■ Sketch often! Sketch everywhere! Sketch everything! Sketching Techniques Every design student develops his or her own sketching style. It is a type of signature. Some are more precise while others are carefree in nature. Some are bold and others are delicate. Do not worry if your sketches do not look exactly like those of another, even if you are look- ing at the same scene. Every designer’s sketching style reflects his or her personality through freehand lines, marks, and strokes, Figure 13-23. Digital Sketching There are a number of digital tools to use for sketching. A favorite that designers frequently use is SketchUp. SketchUp is a three-dimensional modeling program that can produce digital sketches or digital models. A designer can create conceptual sketches and revise them, adding shading, shadowing, and lighting effects. SketchUp (for non-commercial home, personal, and educational use) is free to use and easy to learn. SketchUp Pro has addi- tional features for professional use and has an annual licensing fee. If you need a few pointers, video clips are available on the web, Figure 13-24. Courtesy of Lydia Brown Figure 13-23 Every designer develops his or her own style of sketching. Which of the following images is more artistic in nature and which is more technical and precise? How do you know? Image by Jacqui McFarland