The techniques and materials are versatile when making landscape croquis. Interesting point is to follow the intuition and what comes up when spending time on the site. In this method, making art is a manner of being.

The main point with the method is to find out how the visual interpretation and multisensory observing can play role in landscape assessment and further in design process - landscape is not just in front of an observer.

The speed (or rapidity) is in essential role when sketching landscape as in croquis method. The quick croquis sketching reduces the spatial and visual elements to the minimum. The observer’s eyes, brain and hand must work in seamless collaboration to differ the essential lines from irrelevant visual noise.

Above: Use of natural materials and water-soluble colors enable weather’s visual presence on the sketches by dribbles and smudge. The reed pens were carved from common reed (järviruoko) and Polygonaceae plants (tatar) on the site.

Above: University students approaching landscape by making croquis in it. As a teacher I can not force students on the site if the weather conditions aren’t moderate. I have yet observed students’ apple-cheeked satisfaction and joy of finding when they have worked in rough weathers as self-imposed.

Below: Students’ landscape croquis hanged on the corridor wall at the campus. You can smell the weather and melting snow when passing by.