06-24-2013, 03:02 PM
Weekly Visual Building 8: Japanese Architecture
Well, this is kind of a classic I guess. You think of interesting architecture and it seems to be synonymous with the pagodas of Japan or Eastern culture. I figured after the last few weeks of softer stuff, an architectural study may be in order.
I recommend things like Pagodas, Himeji castle, the temple gateway things I can't remember the name of etc. Focus on details too, so much of the interest lies in the details.
So this is what I have found works best for basic architecture study: (If anyone can add to this for the greater good I would appreciate it)
- Focus on what makes it different from other types (either the style directly before or after it)
- The general proportions used (i.e. Long and low, short and flat, open and vaulted)
- Materials and proficiency in preparing them (i.e. Crudely cut bedrock, mudbrick, perfectly cut limestone)
- Details (Motifs, Shapes, style, colours, materials)
- Basic types of buildings (temples, communal homes, private homes, nobles homes etc)
- Bonuses for answering the why of these questions (i.e. The Mesoamericans could cut perfect limestone with limited tools because when it is first mined from the ground it is much softer than after it has a chance to oxidize and harden.)
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And the boring stuff I will include with every post so that new comers don't have to go searching:
- Each week I will come up with a topic, it can be anything from boots to machinery.
- Find some images to study, but don't just copy them, maybe do some technical drawings, take written notes (I'm not asking you to write an essay, just things worth noting), some specific detail and generally just get a better idea about a topic.
- I think I'm going to put a new one up each Monday (NB: My time, Sunday for the western world.)
- It's not a competition, its really just about sharing knowledge, one person may pick up an interesting detail or a keen observation than another person may have missed. Just building the number of visual cues that can be extrapolated to design something interesting and new when necessary.
- One last thing, the drawings do NOT have to be pretty finished renderings. A quick sketch of a building façade with details marked and notes will have just as much use as a beautifully rendered copy of a photograph. The point is the content and thought behind it, not how well you can render.
Well, this is kind of a classic I guess. You think of interesting architecture and it seems to be synonymous with the pagodas of Japan or Eastern culture. I figured after the last few weeks of softer stuff, an architectural study may be in order.
I recommend things like Pagodas, Himeji castle, the temple gateway things I can't remember the name of etc. Focus on details too, so much of the interest lies in the details.
So this is what I have found works best for basic architecture study: (If anyone can add to this for the greater good I would appreciate it)
- Focus on what makes it different from other types (either the style directly before or after it)
- The general proportions used (i.e. Long and low, short and flat, open and vaulted)
- Materials and proficiency in preparing them (i.e. Crudely cut bedrock, mudbrick, perfectly cut limestone)
- Details (Motifs, Shapes, style, colours, materials)
- Basic types of buildings (temples, communal homes, private homes, nobles homes etc)
- Bonuses for answering the why of these questions (i.e. The Mesoamericans could cut perfect limestone with limited tools because when it is first mined from the ground it is much softer than after it has a chance to oxidize and harden.)
---
And the boring stuff I will include with every post so that new comers don't have to go searching:
- Each week I will come up with a topic, it can be anything from boots to machinery.
- Find some images to study, but don't just copy them, maybe do some technical drawings, take written notes (I'm not asking you to write an essay, just things worth noting), some specific detail and generally just get a better idea about a topic.
- I think I'm going to put a new one up each Monday (NB: My time, Sunday for the western world.)
- It's not a competition, its really just about sharing knowledge, one person may pick up an interesting detail or a keen observation than another person may have missed. Just building the number of visual cues that can be extrapolated to design something interesting and new when necessary.
- One last thing, the drawings do NOT have to be pretty finished renderings. A quick sketch of a building façade with details marked and notes will have just as much use as a beautifully rendered copy of a photograph. The point is the content and thought behind it, not how well you can render.