Drawing from Practice

Ellen Cassilly was featured in the recent publication, Drawing from Practice: Architects and the Meaning of Freehand (2015). Excerpt from Chapter 7, Ellen Cassilly: Talking and Sketching: "'Sketches are important to getting to the truth,' she says. 'I've seen people get down to the nitty-gritty and say: "Oh, we can't do that!" — and that's why it's important to go back and forth between concept sketches and CAD drawings.' Besides, she says, there's nothing quite as impressive as chatting with clients who are talking about their wants, needs, and desires while they're waving their hands all about the room. 'You can grab a pencil and turn to them and say: "You mean like this?"' she says. 'And they'll say: "Yes—this is amazing—I tell you what I want, and you sketch it!" 'And I'll say: "Yes! That's what I do!"' All the while, she'll have been looking them in the eyes, drawing upside-down, and talking at the same time. It is, she says, an interactive experience for the client—and an inspired part of an architect's life."