De-formations

[Guest post by Nelson Paciência] I like to draw buildings as if they were people.

I always start by the base, like the feet, and I imagine that they snake, moving up as if they had flesh instead of bricks, eyes and mouth in place of doors and windows.

I like to imagine architecture as a living and organic body, that stretches and shrinks if I wanted to.

Monastery of Batalha

I like to draw people as if they were buildings, and I like to start also by the feet.

People are the sum of constructed elements, fitted together: feet, legs, waist, torso and head, and arms that dance all the time.

I do not like to draw clear lines for people.

I like the shapes, ways and how they are shaped.

I like to draw in close up, almost touching them. Feel their texture, the smell, the vibration of their voice or the beauty of their silence.

I like to look with impunity to every detail of their faces, to the smoothness of the hair and the hands knuckles.

I like to deform human body parts, with flatten heads.

I love telling the stories of the people in my sketchbook!

TV debate

Manel and Vasco playing

Penão Amor

My wife Susana

All sketches, Canson Artbook One, A5, 100g, hardcover, BIC Pen 1.6 Black, and watercolor pencils. Top sketch: Monastery of Alcobaça.

Nelson Paciência is a 40 year old architect, father of two boys, lives and works in Lisbon. Visit Nelson’s blog for more sketches.