Watercolor Artist - USA (2019-12)

12 Watercolor artist | DECEMBER 2019

CreativityWorkshop

Archesaredefinitelynotshapedlike

horseshoes!Anarchisa traditional

methodofmakinganopeningina

load-bearingwallofa materialsuch

asstoneorbrick.

Archesare

symmetricalarounda

centerline.Drawa

lightcenterlineinyour

sketchforreference.

Thespringlineisa

horizontallinethat

markswherethecurve

starts.Inclassical

architecture,it’soften

decorated.

Draw straight legs

below the spring line.

The rounded portion

is based on some

variation of a circle.

To draw the shape

more easily, lightly

draw in the entire

circle or ellipse.

When seen at an

angle or in a two-point

perspective, the circle

shape is fl attened to

an ellipse. To draw the

arch more accurately,

lightly draw in the

entire ellipse.

Lightly draw guide

lines (in turquoise)

at the spring line

and at the tops and

bottoms of the ellipses

to help you align these

shapes in perspective.

Don’tforgetthe

thickness of the wall

and the underside of

the curve.

Attachthearchto

the ground with a

dark shadow on

the fl oor.

Chiesa di San Donato, Civita di Bagnoregio, Italy (approx. 1 hour;

watercolor and pencil in a Pentalic Aqua journal, 7x20) by Stephanie Bower

To check the

shape of an

ellipse, turn your

paper sideways

or upside down.

TIP: USE CIRCLES AND ELLIPSES TO DRAW ARCHES.