Working With Grids

Using grids to block out a drawing, when working from life, is a common practice and goes back a few centuries. They can be an effective tool, but can be tricky to use unless you take a few steps to help make the experience more productive. Grids like this can be store-bought or drawn out with permanent markers on plexiglass. Many people handhold their grids, others attach them to their easel or tripod. 

Getting Started

Once a scene or subject is selected, I will set up my tripod, paints and other materials as required. By moving the grid around, I can fine-tune the relationships and other compositional elements to my liking. Below you can see the design divides nicely into thirds horizontally, as indicated by the heavier horizontal lines. When using grids, my paper or canvas will always have the same framework proportionally drawn out, so I can transfer the information accurately from my plastic grid to my working surface. 

Using a Grid
Once a composition is finalized, I will start blocking out the various shapes and forms as required, indicated in green below. However, anyone who has used a grid knows that this is not as easy a process as it appears. 

A Common Problem

Difficulties can arise as soon as you glance away from your grid and then look back. Everything seems out of alignment, as seen below. This can happen for any number of reasons. Stepping back or forward a bit, leaning in or out, holding the grid with an outstretched arm and then bending your elbow, or even moving your head up or down an inch. All of these things can change the alignment and even the perspective of what you were initially viewing. It can get frustrating and time-consuming to try to realign everything. Even with a grid firmly attached to your easel this can happen.

A Solution
One answer to this is when you initially look through the grid, immediately mark off three or four key points in your scene around the grid, indicated in red below. Remember these key points. These will act as common references for you to line up the grid to your subject. Then, whether you move in any way, you will quickly be able to realign the grid to your scene and continue working.

There are many tools available to help us with our drawings and paintings. Not all are for everyone but always be willing to try something new, you may be surprised.