Sketching the face of Ace Hotel Los Angeles – a drawing tutorial by Dan Hogman

The Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles sits inside the historic fabric of United Artists Building – the one that was built as a flagship for the maverick film studio, and was once the tallest structure in the city post its construction in 1927, by architect C. Howard Crane. The 2014 refurbished hotel features Gothic-inspired architectural elements with ornate details and spires inspired from the ornament extravagance of Spanish castles and cathedrals. Today, it stands as an expression of the decadence of 1920s Hollywood glamour and democracy of modern minimalism.

This week, our columnist Dan Hogman seeks inspiration in the façade of this building that manifests elegance through its impressive terracotta and cast stone cladding. He zooms into the lower three storeys, and sketches beautifully its symmetrical design and details, which include Gothic tracery, double-wide arched windows, capital columns, and decorative human figures that alternate between the piers.

Watch this space every Wednesday for more tutorials by Dan Hogman.