Preservation Trades Workshops: Danforth Street Sketching Tour

Sunday, June 1, 2025

(Rain date: Sunday June 8)

9:00am to 12:00pm

Drawing for Tradespeople

Drawing is an important skill for preservation tradespeople. These graphic skills help them see the buildings with clarity, and help them communicate with their fellow tradespeople and customers. Tradespeople will receive the famous Mind/Hand/Heart triangle certificate of completion for this important aspect of the Preservation Trades Training Program. Bring your sketchbook or clipboard and pencils. Bring your lunch if you intend to also go on the afternoon sketching tour.

1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Free to the public: Sketching tour on Danforth Street

Sunday afternoon we’ll start at Victoria Mansion and saunter down Danforth Street, to observe, appreciate and sketch the historic houses, both grand and modest. Learn about the various historic time periods and architectural styles that contribute to our cultural heritage here in Portland.

No special artistic talent or drawing skill required. Simply looking at old buildings gives you an impression of them. While sketching these buildings you will actually see them in a new light and come to possess a deeper understanding of their shape, form, and design.

The public is welcome at no cost. Bring your own sketchbook and pencils, or clipboard, paper, and pencils.

The sketching tour is part of the Victoria Mansion’s ongoing Preservation Trades Training Program. Past trainees and those interested in future training are encouraged to participate. Sketching and drawing are important skills for preservation tradespeople. These graphic skills help them see the buildings with clarity and help them communicate with their fellow tradespeople and customers.

• Tradespeople will receive the famous Mind/Hand/Heart triangle certificate of completion for this important aspect of the Preservation Trades Training Program.

Tour Leaders:

John Leeke, Historic Preservation Specialist

John is a nationally recognized preservation tradesman and educator. John was recently honored by Traditional Building Magazine as one of the industry’s “top 25 leaders who have dedicated their careers to the classical and traditional styles in outstanding ways that are serving as models around the country.” John is the lead instructor for our local Preservation Trades Training Program

Tony Taylor, Drafter/Designer, Sign Painter/Muralist

Since his teens, Tony has collected architectural salvage and documented historic buildings in photos and drawings. He has worked as a drafter/designer for contractors, cabinet makers, and architects, and written articles and architectural guidebooks for historic neighborhoods in New England cities.

• Download an informational flyer about the workshop here.