Nafiza Shazia Aviedi
Color Study: St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Class of: 2028
Major: Design and Technology BFA
Medium: Digital illustration on Adobe Illustrator
Faculty: Sonya Sklaroff
Prompt: For this assignment, we were asked to choose our favorite architectural sketch from any of our class field trips—focusing on one-, two-, or three-point perspective—and import it into Adobe Illustrator. The goal was to reinterpret the sketch by exploring positive and negative space through color. We used color theory principles such as hue, intensity, temperature, saturation, and value to convey depth, balance, and spatial relationships. The project also introduced us to essential Illustrator tools and workflows, including the pen tool, shape tools, anchor points, and Bezier curves.
For this architectural color study, I chose my on-site sketch of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, focusing on its dramatic verticality and Gothic arches. I imported the drawing into Adobe Illustrator and reinterpreted the space using color to explore the relationship between positive and negative space. My goal was to capture not just the structure itself, but the atmosphere it evokes—light filtered through stone, echoing ceilings, and a sense of sacred stillness. Using a palette of cool blues and purples contrasted with warm pink highlights, I emphasized temperature shifts to guide the viewer’s eye through the composition. These colors were carefully chosen to reflect the interplay of light and shadow across the vaulted architecture and ornate columns. By simplifying shapes and flattening forms, I aimed to create a stylized yet dimensional representation that balances realism with abstraction. The layered lighting effects, along with variations in hue, saturation, and intensity, helped me convey both depth and emotion within the space. This project challenged me to move beyond observational drawing and use color as a primary tool for spatial expression.
