Thought I would share some of the observational drawings that I did at the start of a job with @gensler_design @gensler_europe @portsmouthcitycouncil The drawings were used to visualise the city's regeneration programme, highlighting key design principles all rooted in creating a more sustainable neighbourhood for the future.

On jobs like this, I try to use mediums such as ink & charcoal to retain the loose movement and energy in the figures. I have always been drawn to the dynamic gesture aesthetic to give the audience a sense of the feeling of the people and how they are interacting in their environment. There is always a sweet spot giving the figure just enough visual information but not overworking them.

A good way to practise this is by setting time limits on the drawings. This way you are forced to pick out the key lines, details and forms. This will help build confidence in drawing different spontaneous poses & situations you find yourself sketching.

For a more in-depth look at this project, you can check out the full case study here: http://www.joemunro.com/#/lennox-point-development-visualisation-for-gensler-architects/

A pleasure to be featured in this week’s blog post about urban sketching and reportage illustration.

I heard from British reportage illustrator Joe Munro, who wrote this:

“Reportage is one of the most challenging and formidable forms of illustration, yet rewards artists with such rich and raw content. I hope its unique grandeur can be further valued by your platform.”

Munro, who is based in Portsmouth, says he discovered reportage during his illustration degree at the University of the West of England. For the past 10 years, he has continued to draw on locations all around the world, including the streets of Havana, sweaty London salsa clubs, and the bustling local markets in Kas, Turkey.