Elevations

This week with my sketching pals, I suggested we draw some buildings front on orthographically, like architectural elevations.  This is not how we actually see buildings, but is a valid representation nonetheless.  It's not so obvious with smaller, flat faced  buildings, but with taller buildings and stepped facades or intricate rooflines, you have to sort of rectify perspective out of the drawing.  In that way it's instructive because by flattening the image, you become aware of the way you are perceiving perspective.

These are two buildings on Sparks Street here in Ottawa, both very narrow by todays standards, but imbued with a craftsmanship and sense of legacy that we seem to have lost in our era of construction.