Silverpoint

Figure library · 58 diagrams · page 4 of 10

Every diagram in the program

The teaching figures on their own, large, in order. Each one links to the technique it illustrates. Useful pinned beside the board when you only need the picture.
  1. Sighting an angle: a pencil held at arm's length is tilted to match a roofline, then the tilt is carried to the paper and compared against a horizontal1 · MATCH THE PENCIL TO THE EDGEarm straight, elbow locked, one eye closed2 · CARRY THE TILT TO THE PAGE≈ 29°compare to level, not to the previous lineMeasure against the two things that never lie: plumb and level.Ask "how far off vertical?" or "how far off horizontal?", never "what angle is it?"Nine out of ten wrong buildings are wrong because an angle was guessed. Sight it.

    Sighting an angle

    sighting-angle

    Sighting angles →
  2. Comparative measurement: thumb on the pencil marks the tower's width, then that unit is counted up its heightPICK A UNIT, THEN COUNT IT1 unit = width2.8 units tallthumb slides on the pencil to markthe unitThe arm must be straight every time or the unit changes. Lock the elbow. Same eye.Nobody can judge "how tall". Everybody can count "how many of these".

    Comparative measurement

    comparative-measure

    Comparative measurement →
  3. Plumb and level lines dropped through a scene reveal what lines up with what: the tower corner falls on the gate post, the eave aligns with the far hilltower corner sits over the postbarn ridge is plumbunder the chimney?no: offsetbarn eave level with tower windowboth bases on one levelHold the pencil truly vertical or truly horizontal at arm's length and read what itcrosses.Alignments are free accuracy. Find three before you draw a single detail.

    Plumb and level

    plumb-and-level

    Plumb and level →
  4. Negative shapes: the sky gaps between branches are drawn as shapes, which places the branches more accurately than drawing the branches themselvesTHE BRANCHES (POSITIVE)THE SKY BETWEEN (NEGATIVE)Your brain has a symbol for "branch" and it will draw the symbol. It has no symbolfor the gap. So it looks.Prout and Cotman placed every pinnacle by the shape of sky beside it. Draw the holes.

    Negative shapes

    negative-shapes

    Negative shapes →
  5. Blocking in: a church is first enclosed in a simple envelope of five straight lines, then subdivided into big masses, and only then given its details1 · ENVELOPE2 · BIG MASSES3 · DETAIL LASTSpend half your time on stage one. If the envelope is right, nothing after it can gobadly wrong.Beginners start at the window. Masters start at the envelope.

    Envelope, masses, detail

    envelope-block-in

    Envelope, masses, detail →
  6. Light on a sphere and a cube from the upper left: highlight, light, halftone, core shadow, reflected light and cast shadow, labelledhighlightlighthalftone (the turn)core shadow (darkest on theform)reflected light (never aslight as the lit side)cast shadow (darkest at thecontact)top planelightestfront: halftoneside: shadowEvery building is cubes, every tree is spheres. Decide where the light is before the first mark.

    Light on form

    light-direction

    Light on form →