Learn to… Art!

To Grid or Not To Grid

Feb 4, 2010 Drawing

From time to time I get e-mails from viewers asking for help or advice on certain topics. It occurred to me that other people might be wondering about these things as well. The folowing letter came from someone torn about whether or not to use a grid:

Hi. I was just wondering about using a grid.
What do you think about it?
I mean, for me I think it’s kinda cheating. I’ts a great way to help yourself so you can see were you should put everything but it feels like cheating.
Do you think it’s okay to use grids everytime you are doing a portrait?

And here was my response: 

This is a great question, and one that I have also struggled with. You will always find people with different opinions when it comes to using a grid. Some people feel that it’s “cheating” and that it’s not art. Then again, some people believe that simply recreatinga photo (realism) is not art. Everyone has a different idea and at the end of the day, you will have to decide what you’re comfortable with.

Personally, I don’t have a problem with using a grid. I see it as another tool available to the artist, and why shouldn’t we use all the tools at our disposal?

One of the reasons I use it is time. I could draw a portrait without a grid, but it would take more time. When I’m doing commissions, I have to consider the amount of time it’s going to take versus the amount a person will be willing to pay. Anything that can help cut down on time is good!

Another reason why I don’t have a problem with a grid is that it still requires an “artistic eye.” Making a grid doesn’t guarantee a successful, or even a realistic drawing. The artist still needs to edit, make changes and measure relationships. When we draw, we look at how the different parts of the subject relate to eachother. When we use a grid, we are simply adding another element to measure those relationships.

You’re right, a grid can really help you to see where things should go. It’s a great tool for learning, but as you say, it may not be the best method every time. It’s really up to you whether or not you want to use it. Personally, if a recognizable likeness is your main goal, then I would not shy at using a grid!

What are your thoughts on using a grid? Cheating? Tool? Something else?

Tags: drawing tips, grid

Reasons NOT to use a Grid

Aug 22, 2009 Art General, Drawing

As Aladine Vargas pointed out in my last post on gridding, the grid is not always the answer when it comes to drawing. Because most of my lessons so far have focused on the beginner, I have emphasised using the grid. The grid is a great tool for learning the technical side of drawing. It provides you with a template ot practice your shading and rendering skills. It is also helpful for those struggling with proportion. On the other hand, the grid is just a tool and should not be relied upon all the time. It can’t replace the artist’s judgement.

Gridding is not for everyone, and it’s not for every occasion. Try not to use it all the time; you also want to practice your other drawing skills. It’s important to be able to judge angles by eye, because drawing a grid may not always be possible. Using a grid is no excuse to not learn how to draw without one.

The risk of gridding is that it can produce a stiff copy of a photo. When you focus on one square at a time, you can forget about the whole picture. Don’t let gridding become a crutch to you. Draw from life as often as you can. Whether it’s a life drawing class, plein air painting, or drawing mundane objects at home, these practices will help you develop an eye for shape and form. You will also develop those oh-so-important observational skills.

You may also find that some freehand drawings can be more lively and expressive. While they may not be dead-on in terms of proportion and likeness, they can capture the “essence” of the subject much better than a gridded drawing can.

If this story has a moral, it’s this: don’t let the grid become a crutch. It’s a tool, and a useful one at that, but it’s not the only way, or necessarily the best way, to produce a drawing. It all depends on what you’re comfortable with and what you’re trying to achieve.

Tags: art tips, drawing tips, grid