This is a small selection of sketches from extensive travels through most of Europe and Japan, and through the US, of course.

Sketching is essential to learning about architecture and place, about the design of cities and the spaces, the people, and the objects within them.

While you draw, you are processing information. Your mind is engaged with the subject for a certain amount of time, forcing you to figure out what it is about: how small, large, or detailed it is; what materials, colors, and textures it consists of; how it is assembled; how it is used; how it fits into its larger context.

When you take a picture, you are simply framing an observation into a balanced composition (or sometimes simply justifying your presence at a particular site). While you draw, your mind is actively engaged in trying to understand the subject. Sketching while traveling is the best way, aside from hanging out with locals and a bit of historic research, to educate yourself about a place.