Drawing From A Grid

  This entry was originally posted on Tuesday, May 22, 2012

When I was first introduced to a grid, I hated it!

It was one of those with all the little squares and it didn't make much sense to me.

Then a friend of mine introduced me to a much better grid.

A whole other world of drawing opened up for me.

 

This grid starts with the last post where I showed how to draw in proportion from your photograph.

Using that same piece of paper, you will next draw another diagonal, making an X.

 

 

At the same time, you will draw and X on your photo.

 

 

Then you will draw a + through the middle of the X on both the drawing paper and photo

 

 

Now your paper and photo is divided into 4 rectangles. These rectangles are then divided up further by adding another X and + to each one.

 

 

Each one of these rectangles can again be divided up into smaller ones by making that X and +.

 

You can get as small as you want if you need to capture more detail.

 

I found this grid easier to follow because I was able to see negative spaces easier.

An Easy Way to Draw in Proportion

  This entry was originally posted on Monday May 21, 2012

Proportion can be a difficult concept to grasp as you are drawing.

Especially if the mathematics of it eludes you.

Well, there is an easy way to draw in proportion if you are drawing from a photograph or a sketch.

And it doesn't require math.

Which is even better.

 

First take your photograph and draw a diagonal line from the lower left to the upper right corner.

Next place a piece of tracing paper over top of your photo and draw the side and bottom edges, extending the lines out. This creates 2 lines that are perpendicular to each other.

Then draw another diagonal line from the lower left hand corner to upper right corner of the photo and extend it out further. 

Then find the height which you want to work with and draw a line that will meet the diagonal line. 

 

Where that line meets the diagonal line, draw another line down.

 

 

This size is now in proportion to your photo and you can use it to draw a more accurate drawing.

 What is great about this is that you can draw the diagonal line out further and make the drawing even larger.

Paint and Draw From Life

   This entry was originally posted on Thursday, May 17, 2012

One of the best ways to improve your drawing and painting skills quickly is to paint from life.

This can be especially difficult for those that do their best painting at night.

 

Set up a simple still life or go outside and paint (also called plein air painting).

Especially now that the weather is getting better.

 

Photos tend to flatten out objects and landscapes.

When you paint from life, you learn how to capture the 3 dimensionality or the perception of depth of your subject better.

It will also help you understand and paint that dimensionality when you do paint from photographs.

Modified Blind Contour

  This entry was originally posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Modified Blind Contour is another drawing exercise.

It is where you start off with blind contour but you allow yourself a couple of peeks during the process.

This is to reorient yourself and your drawing tool.

 

It is sometimes best to time yourself with this because it can be tempting to take lots of peeks.

One suggestion is to give yourself 5 minutes to do a drawing.

Set a timer at the 2 minute mark and again at the 4 minute mark.

You can only peek at these two intervals.

It will keep the temptation to look at bay.

Blind Contour Drawing

  This entry was originally posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Blind contour is a drawing exercise that improves your eye-hand coordination.

It is something that is often done in drawing classes and I have always enjoyed the exercise.

 

The concept of blind contour is that you are to draw your object without every looking at the paper you are drawing it onto.

You are to feel the object with your eyes as you draw it.

 

To do blind contour, set up an object or two in front of you.

Cover your hand with another piece of paper.

Slowly follow the contours of the object as you slowly draw it onto your paper.

Do not lift your pencil/pen as you do this.

If you have to go back over an area, do so without lifting the pencil.

Do not be tempted to look at your drawing until the end!

Blind contour also makes for a great game with kids.

It is always fun to see what silly things they can come up with from the same object.

It is also fun to see the improvement you will have in your own drawing over time.