While most children draw, I was lucky to have a grandfather who was an accomplished artist. My dad could also draw pretty well, and I grew up watching both these men sculpt, draw and paint.
When I was 5-6 years old we lived in Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. Dad had a two-year contract with the national museum. In the weekends we would head to the beach. The bright coral sand was whiter than my blond, white hair. I loved drawing with my fingers in the sand. I'd often draw the animals we saw on safari, lions and elephants being my favourites. I'd also draw building most often the African huts I was so fascinated by.
By the time I was doing art in my first year at Christchurch Boys High I was reasonably good at pencil sketching. In the fifth form I did technical drawing. I got 90% in my School Certificate Exam. For an academically average student this result was pivotal to deciding to become an Architect.
At Architecture School we were taught to draw in pencil in year one and crayon in year two. I was lucky to have Pat Hanley as one of my tutors during this time.
I still draw as part of my work in fact I use a drawing board to prepare designs and working drawings. I rarely sketch for recreation, but I am going to try and get back into it.
If you want to work with an Architect who can craft your home with a pencil, come talk to me.
I'm Graeme Jacobs a Christchurch based Architect.
