Grid Drawing
- Oct 21, 2015
- 3 min read
If you are trying to create photorealistic art or enlarge a picture or piece of art work, a grid is a great tool. This week, I created this graphite drawing using a grid over a photo of my daughter. My art classes will be creating grid drawing in an upcoming project and I wanted them to see the process in action.
One of the most challenging parts of creating realistic drawings is getting perspective and proportion just right. Using a grid is a simple solution that alleviates these challenges.
Supplies: Printed/photocopied photo or image; ruler; 6B and 4B graphite drawing pencils; drawing paper; eraser. (Smudging stump, if desired)
Step 1: Select and print or photocopy a photo or picture you want to recreate. (Be careful to avoid art plagiarism. You can't put your own name on someone else’s work, even if you recreated it, without giving the original artist credit. A great solution is to recreate a photo you took.) Using a ruler, draw a series of evenly spaced horizontal and vertical lines over the picture to create a grid. The size of the grid depends on the size of the picture you are working with. A one inch grid (Lines one inch apart) might be a good starting point, but if your picture is very large, you may need to move to a larger grid and if your picture has intricate detail, you may need a smaller grid.
Step 2: Select the size you want your final project to be. (Keep in mind the dimensions need to be consistent. Crop your original image if needed. Example: A 3X4 pic could work for a 9X12 drawing, but if you want an 8X10, you’ll have to crop the original.) Lightly draw a grid containing the same number of horizontal and vertical lines on your drawing paper. (Warning: Some math may be required to determine the size of the grid. I know. It’s a stretch for me too, but when you finish your drawing, it will be worth it. Example: ½ inch grid on a 3X4 inch pic = 1 ½ inch grid on a 9X12 drawing)
Step 3: Number the top row and left column of squares on the grid beginning with 1 in the upper left corner. (You’ll use these numbers to identify your squares like you would use a multiplication chart.)
Step 4: Begin drawing a rough outline sketch with a 6B pencil to get the basic proportions and major features mapped out. Step back and look at the original and your sketch side by side from time to time to see the big picture.
Step 5: When you have the outline down, begin adding in details and mapping out shadows and highlights.
Step 6: Begin shading with a 6B pencil, using your original grid as reference for the varying values from the lightest highlights to the deepest shadows. Play around with a blending stick or just smudge with your finger or a tissue to get smooth transitions.
Step 7: Erase the grid lines that are still visible, especially in the lighter highlighted areas. A kneaded eraser will help avoid eraser shaving that could smudge other areas of your drawing, but if you don’t have one, a regular eraser will work too. Just make sure to shake off your drawing when you’re finished.
Step 8: When you feel you have achieved the dimension of your original image through your shading, switch to the 4B pencil to up the contrast of the image. Go back over the darkest lines and shadows to get a deep, solid saturation of black and make your image really stand out.
Voila! With a little help from a simple grid, you are a better artist than you give yourself credit for!
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