THE PROCESS OF

WORKING WITH A

By

Cindy Wider

Art educator, art curricula designer, award-winning galleryrepresented artist, and author of Paint in Your Pyjamas

J07 INTERMEDIATE: SKILLS & SECRETS

This article discusses the process of using a grid to establish accurate proportions in a drawing. Working with a grid can be time consuming and tedious. However, having a proportionately correct outline of your drawing subject is well worth the effort! As a matter of fact, many of the greatest masters of the Renaissance used a grid method to help them create accurate drawings and paintings. This article is divided into two sections: THE GRID METHOD: A grid can be made up of any number of squares, depending on how large or small the picture is that you are copying from, just so long as the squares are all equal sized.

SETTING UP AND WORKING WITH A GRID: Artists tend to customize the process of setting up and working with grids to suit their individual preferences. In this section, I take you step-by-step through one method for setting up and drawing with a grid that involves drawing a grid the same size as your reference image.

5 PAGES 7 ILLUSTRATIONS
This article is recommended for artists of all skill levels, as well as students of home schooling, academic and recreational fine art educators.

Published by Hoddinott Publishing for Drawspace.com, Halifax, NS, Canada 2008

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THE GRID METHOD

Many of the great master artists used the grid method to help them create an accurate drawing or painting.

Instead of having the grid on a clear sheet and placing it over the drawing they were copying from, the masters often used an invention called a, Drers Device. This was a large, hollow frame with wires or strings running through the centre of it, forming many small squares. This device was placed vertically on the table in front of the artist and before the reclining nude or still-life display. The artist had a corresponding grid already drawn on his page and copied the image in front of him, square by square. A grid can be made up of any number of squares, depending on how large or small the picture is that you are copying from, just so long as the squares are all equal sized. You can draw the squares of a grid straight over the top of your picture, (not always ideal as you could ruin a good photograph or picture book by doing so). Another method (on which this lesson is based) is to first draw the grid on a clear sheet of plastic or acetate which overlays your reference image (Figure 701).
Figure 701

SETTING UP AND WORKING WITH A GRID

Artists tend to customize the process of setting up and working with grids to suit their individual preferences. In this section, I take you step-by-step through one method for setting up and drawing with a grid that involves drawing a grid the same size as your reference image. The following tip explains another method you may prefer. Rather than drawing a grid specific to the size of one image, you can make a reusable one that can be used over and over. Divide a full sheet of acetate into squares. By the way, the squares on a grid can be large or small; it doesnt matter, just as long as they are all equal-sized. Then, lay it over your reference image and tape it in place. The blue wren (Figure 702) fits nicely into 8 squares across by 8 squares down. Hence, the grid you draw on your drawing paper also needs to be 8 squares across by 8 squares down. Sometimes the measurements of a reference image might be longer in width than height (or vice versa). For example, a reference image of a crocodile might fit inside a grid that is 9 squares across by 3 squares down. Even though the acetate grid may have hundreds of squares, you only need to draw 9 squares across by 3 squares down on your drawing paper.

Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this document belong to Cindy Wider and may not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Cindy Wider. E-mail cindy@stuartcindy.com Web site http://www.drawspace.com

-3Figure 702

As you become more familiar with how a grid works, you may find other methods that work better for you

Sit back and relax as I explain how one method of using a grid works. I use a simple little drawing of a wren as a reference image. 1) Measure the reference image (usually a drawing or photo) to determine the approximate size of the grid needed.

Figure 703

2) 3)

Refer to Figure 702. To keep things simple, assume that the overall size of the wren is 4 by 4 inches (including a little space around the wren on all sides). Measure and divide this square into 64 one-half-inch squares, eight across by eight down (Figure 703). Place your grid on top of the reference photo (Figure 704).

Outline a 4 by 4 inch square on a sheet of clear acetate (or an A4 plastic sleeve).

4) 5)

Move the grid around until every section of your reference image is inside the grid. Tape the grid into place, so neither it nor the reference image can move. Softly draw a corresponding number of squares onto your sheet of drawing paper using a HB pencil. Refer to figure 705. Always make sure you have the same number of squares on both the picture you are copying from, and the page you are about to draw on.

Figure 704

6) 7)

In this case, you draw 8 squares across by 8 squares down on your drawing paper. You can make your drawing bigger than the picture you are copying from by making the size of each individual square on your drawing page larger. Conversely, to end up with a smaller drawing, make the size of each individual square smaller.

Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this document belong to Cindy Wider and may not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Cindy Wider. E-mail cindy@stuartcindy.com Web site http://www.drawspace.com

-4For example, the reference image of the wren is 8 squares across by 8 squares down. If you draw each square on your drawing paper 1 inch instead of one-half inch, your drawing would be much larger than the reference image (but still only 8 squares across by 8 squares down). The overall size of each side of the drawing becomes eight inches instead of four inches.
Figure 705

Its important to work out the height and width of the grid before you begin. Just experiment and see what sizes work best for you. 8) Draw the wren, one square at a time inside the grid. Take it slowly, dont rush. If you race quickly from square to square, drawing willy-nilly you may not achieve the result you are after.
Figure 706

By working in each square individually, it becomes much easier to copy an entire picture, because it provides a repeated horizontal and vertical line to continually compare with.

Look at the picture you are copying eighty percent of the time and only twenty percent of the time at your own drawing. That will give you plenty of time to use your natural comparison gifts. As you work, ask yourself questions about the lines and shapes inside each square, such as: What angle is this line compared to vertical or horizontal? When you find your answer, you dont have to state the exact number of degrees, just copy the angle you see. Where does the line or shape end?
Figure 707

How far along the side of this square does my line begin? Is it before or after half way? 9) When you have finished the drawing, gently erase the grid.

You are ready to add shading to your drawing, or you can simply file it away for future reference.
Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this document belong to Cindy Wider and may not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Cindy Wider. E-mail cindy@stuartcindy.com Web site http://www.drawspace.com

-5Drawspace.com is proud to introduce

Cindy Wider

Art educator, art curricula designer, award-winning galleryrepresented artist, and author of Paint in Your Pyjamas Cindy Wider currently resides in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, Australia with her husband Stuart, and daughters Isha and Sumaya.

Art philosophy

I believe that almost everyone has the natural gifts needed for learning to draw and paint, and that art has the ability to heal and help us to reach our full human potential. Art is the missing language that can bridge the gap in communication when words are not enough. It is my life purpose to share my love of art, through inspiring and motivating others to realize their natural gifts for drawing and painting. My passion for helping others to learn to draw and paint comes from the joy and excitement I experience through the process of creating art and my desire to share that feeling! I stumbled upon my natural gifts for art at the age of 23years and wished I had known about it sooner.

Professional accomplishments

After ten years of serious art study Cindy went on to become one of her communitys leading artists with her artworks gracing the walls of many of the major hotels, corporate boardrooms and private homes as well as selling overseas. She began tutoring at the local Technical and Further Education College in 1988 and then went on to establish the largest on-going private art tuition school in Port Lincoln, then several years later in Noosa Queensland.

For many years Cindy worked as a part time freelance illustrator for the internationally renowned rubber stamp company, Annaleey crafts. In 2005, along with her husband Stuart she was commissioned by the Microsoft Corporation to produce an original artwork for their Sydney headquarters, and limited edition prints for the annual corporate gift to their business associates. You can view Cindys paintings at: http://www.thecoopergallery.com.au/wider/wider.htm

Paint in Your Pyjamas

You can buy Cindys book, Paint in Your Pyjamas every Womans guide to finding your life purpose through art at: http://www.paintinyourpyjamas.com/

But now you feel the time has come to do something for yourself. If so, this book is just for you...

Have you been asking yourself, "Who am I and what do I really want out of life? Perhaps you've been selflessly dedicating all your energy to your children or partner to help them fulfill their dreams and goals. Maybe you're working hard just to earn a living.

Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this document belong to Cindy Wider and may not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Cindy Wider. E-mail cindy@stuartcindy.com Web site http://www.drawspace.com