BASIC SKILLS
BASIC SKILLS
w Figure 2-1
石 2 Drawing his chapter's focus is on the basic representa- The knowledge that drawing and thinking are tion skills helpful to graphic thinking methods important to architecture is not sufficient.Natura as presented in the remainder of this book. drawing talent is not enough.To sustain the neces Developing freehand drawing skills is neces- sary lifetime effort of learning and perfecting graphic sary to the attainment of graphic thinking and per- thinking,we need to find pleasure in drawing and ceptual skills.Some might say,"I really admire good thinking.We must be challenged to do it better than drawings and those designers who have a quick those architects we admire do.Morse Payne of The hand,but I have accepted the fact that I will never be Architects Collaborative once noted the influence of that good."Bunk!It just is not so!Anyone can learn Ralph Rapsin on many talented designers:"To watch to draw well.If you don't believe me,take the time to Ralph knock out one of his beautiful perspectives in talk to people who draw very well.You will find that fifteen minutes was truly inspiring.It set a goal for us their first drawings were tentative.They probably that was very challenging."Fortunately,there is still took every opportunity to draw.With time and hard a lot of respect within the architectural profession for work,they gradually improved and never regretted high-quality drawing.The person who can express the effort they made. himself both graphically and verbally on an There are two important conditions to keep in impromptu basis is highly-valued.When hiring, mind when trying to develop any skill: offices often look for ability to communicate over ability to be original.They know that your ability to 1.Skill comes with repetition. develop ideas with them is much more important in 2.The surest way to practice any skill is to enjoy the long run than the idea that you initially bring to what you are doing. them. Because of the heavy emphasis on rationalization It is possible to be an architect without having in formal education,many people mistakenly think well-developed graphic thinking skills.A barber or a that they can master a skill,such as drawing,simply bartender can surely cut hair or serve drinks without by understanding concepts.Concepts are helpful,but being able to carry on a conversation.But the job is a practice is essential. lot easier if you enjoy talking with people,and you will probably do more business.I believe that graphic The orchestra conductor Artie Shaw once explained thinking can make design more enjoyable and more why he refused all requests by parents to audition their effective. children.He felt that the worst thing you can do to a talented child is to tell him he has talent.The greats in Four types of basic skills support graphic think- the music business,regardless of natural talent, ing:observation,perception,discrimination,and became successful through hard work and a commit- imagination.Although these are considered to be pri- ment to their craft.They believed in themselves but marily thinking skills,in this chapter I have tried to knew they would have to struggle to prove themselves show how graphic means may be used to promote to others.The focus of energy,sense of competition, these skills and attain a fundamental integration of and years of hard work are essential to becoming a fine graphics and thinking.The sequence in which the musician. skills are addressed reflects my assumption that each thinking skill supports those that follow. 17
2 Drawing T hiS chapte r's focus is on th e ba sic represen tation skills help ful to graphic thinking meth ods as prese nted in th e rem ainder of this book. Deve loping freeha nd draw ing skills is necessary to th e att ainmen t of graphic thinking and perceptual skills. Some might say, "I really admire good draw ings and those designers who have a quick hand , but 1 hav e accepted th e fact tha t 1w ill never be th at good." Bunk! It ju st is not SO l Anyone can learn to draw we ll. If you don't believe me, ta ke th e time to tal k to people who draw very wel l. You w ill find that their fir st drawi ngs w ere ten tative . Th ey probably took every oppo rtunity to draw. With tim e and hard work, th ey grad ua lly improved and never regretted th e effort th ey made. There are tw o impo rtant co ndi tion s to keep in mind when trying to develop any skill: 1 . Skill comes with repetition. 2. The surest way to prac tice any s kill is to enjo y what you ar e doing. Because of th e he avy em phas is on ra tionalization in formal ed ucation, many people mistak enly th ink that th ey can master a ski ll, suc h as drawing, simply by understanding concepts. Con cepts ar e helpful. but pr actice is essential. The orchestra conductor Artie Shaw on ce explained why he refused all requests by parents to audition the ir childr en. He felt that the wo rst thing you can do to a talented child is to tell him he has talent. Th e greats in the mus ic bu siness, rega rdless of na tu ral talent, became successful through hard work an d a com mitment to their craft. They believed in themselves but knew the y would have to struggle to prove th emselves to others. The focus of energy, sense of competition , and years of hard work are essential to becoming a fine m usicran . • The knowledge tha t d raw ing and thinking are import ant to ar chitecture is not sufficient. Nat ural draw ing talent is no t enoug h . To sus tain th e necessary lifeti me effort of learn ing and perfecting grap hic thinking, we need to find p leasure in drawing an d think ing. We must be challen ged to do it be tter than those arc hitec ts we ad m ire do. Morse Payne of Th e Architec ts Collaborat ive once noted th e infl uence of Ralph Rapsin on many talented designers: "To watch Ralph kn ock out one of his beaut ifu l per spectives in fifteen minutes was tru ly ins piring. It set a goal for us that was very challenging." 1 Fortunately, there is still a lot of respect within th e architec tural profession for high-quality draw ing. The person who can express himself bot h graphicall y and verba lly on an impromptu basis is highly ' valued. When hiri ng, off ices oft en loo k for ability to communicate ove r ability to be origina l. They know that your ability to develop ideas with th em is much more important in the long run than the idea tha t you initially bring to them. It is possible to be an architect w ithout having well-developed graphic thinking skills. A barber or a bartender ca n surely cut hair or serve drinks withou t being able to carry on a conversation. But th e job is a lot ea sier if you enjoy tal king w ith people, an d you will probably do more business. 1 believe that graphic thinking can make design more enjoyable and more eff ective. Four types of basic ski lls sup po rt grap hic thinking: observa tion , pe rc eption , discrim ina tion, and imagination . Although these are considered to be pr imarily th inking skills , in this ch apter 1 have tried to show how gr aphic means may be used to promo te th ese sk ills an d att ain a fundamental integra tion of gra phics and thinking . The se q uence in w hich the skills are addressed reflects my ass umption th at each thi nking skill sup ports those th a t follow. 17
5 2 Drawing his chapter's focus is on the basic representa- The knowledge that drawing and thinking are tion skills helpful to graphic thinking methods important to architecture is not sufficient.Natura as presented in the remainder of this book. drawing talent is not enough.To sustain the neces Developing freehand drawing skills is neces- sary lifetime effort of learning and perfecting graphic sary to the attainment of graphic thinking and per- thinking,we need to find pleasure in drawing and ceptual skills.Some might say."I really admire good thinking.We must be challenged to do it better than drawings and those designers who have a quick those architects we admire do.Morse Payne of The hand,but I have accepted the fact that I will never be Architects Collaborative once noted the influence of that good."Bunk!It just is not so!Anyone can learn Ralph Rapsin on many talented designers:"To watch to draw well.If you don't believe me,take the time to Ralph knock out one of his beautiful perspectives in talk to people who draw very well.You will find that fifteen minutes was truly inspiring.It set a goal for us their first drawings were tentative.They probably that was very challenging."Fortunately,there is still took every opportunity to draw.With time and hard a lot of respect within the architectural profession for work,they gradually improved and never regretted high-quality drawing.The person who can express the effort they made. himself both graphically and verbally on an There are two important conditions to keep in impromptu basis is highly valued.When hiring, mind when trying to develop any skill: offices often look for ability to communicate over ability to be original.They know that your ability to 1.Skill comes with repetition. develop ideas with them is much more important in 2.The surest way to practice any skil,is to enjoy the long run than the idea that you initially bring to what you are doing. them. Because of the heavy emphasis on rationalization It is possible to be an architect without having in formal education,many people mistakenly think well-developed graphic thinking skills.A barber or a that they can master a skill,such as drawing,simply bartender can surely cut hair or serve drinks without by understanding concepts.Concepts are helpful,but being able to carry on a conversation.But the job is a practice is essential. lot easier if you enjoy talking with people,and you will probably do more business.I believe that graphic The orchestra conductor Artie Shaw once explained thinking can make design more enjoyable and more why he refused all requests by parents to audition their effective. children.He felt that the worst thing you can do to a talented child is to tell him he has talent.The greats in Four types of basic skills support graphic think- the music business,regardless of natural talent, ing:observation,perception,discrimination,and became successful through hard work and a commit- imagination.Although these are considered to be pri- ment to their craft.They believed in themselves but marily thinking skills,in this chapter I have tried to knew they would have to struggle to prove themselves show how graphic means may be used to promote to others.The focus of energy,sense of competition, these skills and attain a fundamental integration of and years of hard work are essential to becoming a fine graphics and thinking.The sequence in which the musician. skills are addressed reflects my assumption that each thinking skill supports those that follow. 17
• 2 Drawing T his cha p ter' s focus is on the basic representation skills helpful to graphic th inking metho ds as p resen ted in th e remainder of th is bo ok . Developing free hand drawing skills is ne cessary to th e atta inment of graphic thinking and perceptual skills. Some migh t say, "I really admire good d raw ings and th ose design er s who have a quick han d, bu t I have accept ed the fact th at I wi ll ne ver be th at good." Bun k! It jus t is not so! Anyone can learn to draw well . If you don 't believe me, take the time to ta lk to pe op le w ho dr aw very well. You w ill find that their first draw ings w ere tenta tive. They p robably took every oppo rtuni ty to draw. With time and hard wo rk, th ey gradually improved and never regretted the effort th ey made. Ther e a re tw o im portan t con ditions to keep in mi nd when trying to develop any sk ill: 1. Skill comes w ith repetition . 2. Th e surest way to prac tice any skil. is to en joy what you are doing. Because of th e heavy emphas is on rationa lizati on in formal educati on, many peop le mistaken ly think th at th ey can ma ster a skill , such as drawing, simply by understandi ng conc epts. Concepts are helpful, but practice is essential. The orchestra conductor Artie Shaw on ce explained why he refused all requests by parents to au dit ion th eir children. He felt that the wo rst thing you can do to a talented child is to tell him he has talent. Th e grea ts in the music bu siness, regardless of na tural talent, became successful through hard work and a commitmen t to their craft. They believed in themselves but knew the y would have to struggle to prove th em selves to oth ers. Th e focus of en ergy, se nse of competition, and years of hard work are essential to becoming a fine musician. The know ledge that d raw ing and thi nk ing are importan t to a rchi tect ure is not sufficient. Nat ura l drawing talent is not enough . To susta in the necessary lifetime effort of learning and perfectin g grap hic thinking, we need to find pleasure in drawing and thinking. We must be ch all enged to do it better than those architects we admire do. Morse Payne of The Architects Colla bo rat ive once noted the influence of Ralph Rapsin on many talented designers: "To watch Ralp h knoc k out one of his beautiful perspectives in fifteen minutes was tr uly inspiring. It set a goal for us that was ver y ch allenging.": Fortunately, th ere is still a lot of resp ect w ithin th e architectural profession for high-q uality draw ing. The pe rson who ca n express hims elf both graphically and verba lly on an im pro mptu basis is hig hly · valued. When hiring, office s oft en loo k for ability to com m unica te ove r ability to be original. They know that your ability to develop ideas with th em is much more important in th e long run th an th e idea that you initially bring to th em . It is possible to be an arc hitect w itho ut hav ing we ll-developed graphic th inking sk ills. A barber or a bartender can surely cut hair or serve drinks wi tho ut being able to carry on a conversation. But th e job is a lot easier if you enjoy talking with people, and you will pr obably do more busines s. I be lieve that grap hic thin kin g can make design more enjoya ble and mo re effe ctive . Four types of basic skills support graphic th inking: obs ervation, percep tion , d iscrimina tion , and imagination. Although th ese are considered to be primarily th inking skills, in this chapter I have tried to show how grap hic means may be used to promote th ese sk ills and attain a fundamental integrat ion of graphics and thinki ng. The se q uence in whic h the skills a re addressed reflec ts my ass umption tha t each thi nking skill supports th ose that follow. 17
绿HeP Fiqure 2-2 By Lisa Kolber Figure 2-3 By Lawrence Halprin. THE SKETCH NOTEBOOK Phong ef igvertams Frederick Perls held that,"People who look at things without seeing them will experience the same defi- ciency when calling up mental pictures,while those ay who...look at things squarely and with recognition SPIAE 1S will have an equally alert internal eye."2 Visual wH属 imagery is critical to the creative designer;he must rely on a very rich collection of visual memories.The richness of these memories depends on a well-devel- oped and active visual perception.The sketch note- book is an excellent way of collecting visual images and sharpening perception,for it promotes seeing rather than just looking.Architects who have gotten into the sketch notebook habit quickly discover its 4r usefulness.All I can say is to try it;you'll like it. A sketch notebook should be small and portable, able to fit into a pocket so it can be carried anywhere. It should have a durable binding and covers so it won't come apart.Carry it with you at all times and leave it next to your bed at night (some of the best ideas come to people just before going to sleep or right upon awakening).As the name implies,it is a book for notes as well as for sletches and for reminders,recipes,or anything else you can think about.Combining verbal and graphic notes helps unite verbal and visual thinking. Figure 2-4 By Karl Brown. 18 Drawing
Figure 2-2 By Lisa Ko lber. THE SKETCH NOTEBOOK Frederick Perls hel d that, "People who look at things without see ing th em w ill exp erience the same deficien cy when call ing up me ntal pi ctures, while those who...loo k at things sq ua rely and wi th recognition w ill have an equally .alert in ternal eye." 2 Visual imagery is critical to the creati ve design er; he must rely on a very rich collection of visual memories. The rich ne ss of these memories depen ds on a well-deve loped and act ive visu al perception. The sketch noteboo k is an excellen t way of coll ecting visua l images and sha rpe ning percep tion , for it promotes see ing rather th an just looking. Arc hitects who have gotte n int o th e sketch not ebook habit quick ly discover its usefulne ss. All I can say is to try it; you'll like it. A sketch notebook should be small and portable, able to fit into a pocket so it can be carried an ywhere. It should ha ve a durable binding and cove rs so it won 't come ap art. Car ry it w ith you at all times and leave it next to your be d at night (some of the best id eas com e to pe op le just before going to sleep or right up on awak ening). As the name implies, it is a book for notes as well as for sketches and for reminders, r ecipes, or anything else you can think about. Com bining verba l and graphi c notes helps unite verbal and visual thin king. 1. 1~\;:J, ' t \? I ;Y J f":;~~ " .E(f i4"-~V tl - If":/ ' ,e II " c ' -r ':) :,. / ;f1, \-.L.~ "~~:>\" , ~~) <, -, -' , . '=n'l';' : _ -:\: ' , .@J ;> / '0 L:f, " ,,--- 1: Figure 2-3 By Lawrence Halprin. r' .::. c'; / h'? _rrN N ( 1k~}Ir~ /".u .1 """, ' &C 6 - ,(,"',) ~~~ P'1-~ 'i· , I 1: Figure 2-4 By Karl Brown. 18 D rawing