You don’t realise how long 100 days are, until you’re ensconced in a 100 day art challenge project! But I’ve been ploughing ahead my with urban sketches of buildings. Here’s a review of the next ten sketches in this challenge.

31/100 – 15 Minute sketch of a square in Setúbal

A quick overnight trip to Setúbal provided some different eye candy for this sketching challenge. The statue made an obvious focal point, which was aided and abetted by the sky. I kept the buildings tonal so as not to be a distraction.

32/100 – 15 Minute sketch of Sem Horas Setúbal

Yesterday’s use of spot colour for the sky inspired a minimalist use of colour for this sketch. The red striped awnings were perfectly complimented by the green foliage.

Would have benefited from addition of shading and shadows to add depth.

33/100 – 15 Minute sketch of CA Olhão

A pretty boring tile and ceramic building in Olhão (we bought our bathroom tiles from here), but I loved their use of angles at the entrance.

I used Tombow pens for much of the filling in. Don’t like the lines it creates through the overlaps. But it quick and easy and less messy than watercolour.

34/100 – 15 Minute sketch of Silves café interior

This is a bit of a divergence of standard buildings. Sketched from a photograph I took of a café interior in Silves. It was actually a lot more details and colourful, but I used this as an opportunity to practice simplification of both elements.

I do like that mix of raw sienna and grey. Something I’d like to explore more of.

35/100 – 15 Minute sketch of DTIYS Car and Building

This was a Draw This in Your Style Instagram challenge. More vehicle than building, but it made a nice change to draw a car.

36/100 – 15 Minute sketch of Setúbal square and statue

Another statue, in juxtaposition with the buildings. I like how this round form draws your eye away from the angular nature of the buildings. I also like how the statue and tree aren’t competing against the buildings, because I used neutral tones. Need to make a note of this coupling for future reference.

37/100 – 15 Minute sketch of Little India Restaurant Tavira

Really don’t like the lettering which has become the focal point. My intention was for the tables and chairs to be the focal point, but the use of green lettering draws your eye away. This sketch could have benefited from a simpler colour palette.

38/100 – 15 Minute sketch of Tavira Church Rooftops

Ah! my beloved roof tops! I really do like this subject matter. There’s a lot going on in this sketch, but the big blank wall in the middle of the sketch helps to provide a central pivot point for all of the buildings and angles that are surrounding it. Use of minimal colour again. Would love to do a bigger and more detailed version of this scene, but also trying to keep it simple.

39/100 – 15 Minute sketch of Tavira Church Rooftops

Wish I could remember where I encountered this church in Tavira. Not sure which of the 31 churches in the town it is! Not a fan. Too many things going on and no clear focal point.

40/100 – 15 Minute sketch of Faro Airport

Sketched this scene of Faro Airport from the departure lounge through the window. A bit rough and ready, and I don’t like the Tombow pen sky. Lesson learnt: skies need to be watercolour.

All sorts of lessons learned this month. Things I like. Things I don’t like. Things I was to try again. This challenge is wearing on me a little, but it’s definitely useful for identifying where to spend my creative energies.