[Stephanie Bower, Seattle] When I was in this amazing city for the symposium in 2013, I actually missed seeing a lot of really famous buildings. So when I went back to Barcelona this past July, I made a point of visiting some of the city’s iconic architecture.
This sketch is one of my favorites from the entire summer. After making my way through the rooms of La Pedrera, or Casa Milà, I emerged into the bright sun and blazing midday heat on the roof, which is literally a hardscape, architectural garden.
I must tell you, I am VERY afraid of heights (ear issues), so I gingerly made my way around the rooftop, terrified, mostly walking in the center away from the edges. The walls along the edges are very low, they would never meet codes here! But I found a spot on a step, in the shade of one of the sculptural chimneys, and did this wide-angle sketch looking down a bit into an atrium and beyond to the city and sky, punctuated by those amazing, sculptural chimneys. Major triumph for me to have confronted my fears and sketched this view, but it was worth it, as I LOVE this sketch!
I kept the sky and the background blue and cool, and painted the warm colors and the sense of sun on the rooftop, trying to reserve as much white as possible. It’s in my 5″ x 8″ Pentalic sketchbook. And I saw Gabi’s Urban Sketching Handbooks translated into Spanish in their bookstore!!
 |
| Sketch day one.. |
I also made the pilgrimage to Gaudí’s Casa Batlló, another incredible building in the center of Barcelona.
Before going inside, I sat outside to sketch the exterior while the opposite side of the street was still in shade. Only problem was, my view was constantly blocked by huge buses, and I was sitting only about 18″ from the curb…a little too up close and personal with those enormous tires!!!
I did this sketch the first day, then really regretted painting in the trees as they block too much (honestly, I need to learn what NOT to paint a little better…), so I went back a second day and tried again from a slightly different angle (less of a bus issue too!)
Which do you think works better???
 |
| Sketch day two… |
Also high on my to-see list was an iconic building we studied in architecture school, the famous Barcelona Pavilion by Mies van der Rohe. It was wonderful to meet a fellow sketcher, whose work I just LOVE, Norberto Dorantes there to sketch one afternoon.
Here is my only decent sketch of the pavilion…my favorite part of the drawing is the flag!
Finally, I also got to meet someone whose work I have admired, the amazing Lapin. I dedicate an entire spread in the final chapter of my book to his sketches, as I love how he stretches perspective and adds so much humor.
We met in Poblenou and sat on the rambla enjoying an horchata drink from the famous horchateria nearby, and I got to look through his sketchbooks…my gosh, but what an amazing talent!!!
And then, he bestowed a HUGE honor on me — he pulls out his pen and looks at me very seriously, and…
Looks entirely too realistic… but what an honor to occupy one of the pages in one of his incredible sketchbooks. Gracias, Lapin!!
