Grid Method For Drawing

Using a ruler, measure and make marks ½” apart across the bottom of the picture. You may use your pencil to draw right on the copy of your photo. Now make little marks ½” apart across the left side. Do the same on the top and on the right side. Make sure they line up evenly with each other. A good way to do this is to start with a line across the bottom of your picture and a line down on the left side of your picture.

Now connect the marks by drawing lines across and down, covering the whole picture as I’ve shown here. Now number the spaces across the top and left side like this.

Next take a big sheet of paper (at least twice the size of the photo) and make the same number of marks, only this time make them 1” apart across the sides, top, and bottom of your paper. Connect the marks with lines across and down to make a grid on the big paper as shown here. Now Number the squares starting from the top and left just like you did on your magazine picture.

Now start with your finger and find the first square that has something in it to draw. Look at the numbers across the top and side so you don’t loose your place. Proceed square by square and draw what you see. This can take quite a long time. But it teaches your eye how to see. With practice you will eventually be able to draw without a grid!

Now we erase all grid lines until we see a clean sketch – no lines.

Next, add shading. The shading is what will make it look realistic!