Comments on: Portrait Drawing The Smart Way – Grid Drawing Part 1

By: Barbara Nigro

Barbara Nigro — Tue, 02 Aug 2022 15:20:32 +0000

I find the grid method so frustrating. I spend half the time counting squares then lose the gist of what I’m doing.

By: Robinson M Yost

Robinson M Yost — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 10:42:07 +0000

There are also several apps and freely available software to create grids on images. For example, Proportion Grid Maker, allows making grids on any image.

By: Jan Gregory

Jan Gregory — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 18:23:08 +0000

Love doing these grids it really does give more accurate drawings

By: Oliver Leamy

Oliver Leamy — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 20:01:41 +0000

Hi,

wish I had seen this tutorial before I started the portrait!!

I was using a 2H to do the contour lines and I, invariably, did damage the surface. Now I’m using the HB and the result is much better, clearer lines and no damage to the surface – Thanks!

By: matt

matt — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 16:19:06 +0000

In reply to Tony Hathaway.

Hi Tony,

You’re absolutely right! I use Photoshop to do the same thing. In “Basic Photoshop for Artists”, we cover this technique…http://thevirtualinstructor.com/members/basic-photoshop-for-artists-creating-a-grid/ It may be helpful for others that stumble upon this comment.

By: Tony Hathaway

Tony Hathaway — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 16:06:22 +0000

I’m a newbie, Matt, but what I’ve seen so far in your instructions is fantastic! I have been using the grid system for several months and found it very helpful. In Photoshop I can toggle any grid I want over an image I am trying to draw. It’s ridiculously easy and saves a lot of time. This is what I do after opening the grid in Photoshop:
1.Edit > Preferences > Guides, Grids and Slices
2.In the Gridline box I enter 1 for 1″, 2 for 2″ squares(or whatever size I want), Then go back to image
3.View > Extras will toggle the grid over the image or remove it..

By: matt

matt — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 14:54:12 +0000

In reply to Forrest Jack Lance. Hi Forrest, What an inventive approach! I'm wondering if you are using a light board, why not just trace the contours lightly and throw out the grid completely?

By: Forrest Jack Lance

Forrest Jack Lance — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 21:00:01 +0000

I am new to your site but I have been working recently on developing a grid system. I would like to know if you or anyone foresee any problems with my approach.

What I am doing is first printing the grid on a transparency. I am placing this transparent grid under the selected support, e.g. Stonehenge and placing the support and the transparent grid on a light box. In this way, I do not have to draw onto or erase the grid off the support.

Next I print another grid on Dura-Lar matte finished film. Then I print the reference photo on the same piece of Dura-Lar film with the grid already printed on it. In doing so, it makes both the reference photo and grid transparent. I then juxtapose the reference photo on the light box along side the support with its grid underneath and draw using the light box.

I haven’t actually used this systematic approach yet b/c my light box is not large enough. I have ordered a larger light box but have not received it. Again I was wondering if you or anyone have experienced any problems with this proposed approach to using grids.

Thanks,