Venezuelan urban sketcher Juan Carlos Figuera documents the streets of Paris with expressive watercolor paintings. Currently based in the French capital to study architecture, Figuera’s impressively detailed analyses capture the enchanting beauty of the city. His scenes include iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre museum, and Notre-Dame Cathedral, as well as ornate train stations and gilded museum rooftops. Figuera carries his sketchbook, paint, and paintbrushes everywhere he goes, using them to create a visual diary of his time in the European metropolis.
Although urban sketching is typically done on location, in just a matter of minutes, Figuera still manages to incorporate many fine details in each piece. By utilizing his architectural training, the talented artist draws each building and street scene in perfect proportion, with delicate watercolor washes of light and shadow.
As the birthplace of Gothic architecture, Figuera’s sketches perfectly capture Paris’ fancy facades, complete with windows, arches, and bell towers. Other sketches illustrate more contemporary architecture, such as the building of the Louis Vuitton Foundation completed in 2014 by Gehry Partners, which comprises an assemblage of futuristic white blocks, known as “the icebergs.”
You can find more from Figuera’s daily visual diary on Instagram.
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