The Grid Method

The grid method involves drawing a grid over your reference photo, and then drawing a grid of equal ratio on your work surface (paper, canvas, wood panel, etc).

​WHY DO WE DO THIS:

• Helps us keep proportions correct.

• Allows us to more easily focus on small areas as we master drawing our subject.

• Allows us to draw on a larger scale and keep ratios and proportions correct as long as the grid ratio is equal to one another.

Proportion refers to the relationship in size and placement between one object and another.

When creating realistic portraits, it is important to get the facial proportions correct.

Facial Proportions

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Face is divided into three equal parts:

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1. Hairline to eyebrows,

2. Eyebrows to the bottom of the nose

3. Bottom of the nose to the bottom of the chin.

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The space between the eyes equals the size of an eye.

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Think this:

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“you could fit another eye in between your eyes”.

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You can also fit an entire nose into this space. The inner corners of your eyes are aligned with the outer corners of the nose.

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​The top of ears line up with the outer tips of the eyebrows. The bottom of the ears line up with the bottom of the nose.

Ears...

The mouth is one third of the distance between the nose and the chin.

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The corners of the mouth line up with the centers of the eyes.​

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The Mouth...

Graphite Grading

Numerical Scale

The higher the number the harder the writing core and the lighter the mark left on the paper. As the pencil core becomes softer (through the use of lower proportions of clay) it leaves a darker mark as it deposits more graphite material on the paper. Softer pencils will dull faster than harder leads and require more frequent sharpening.

Numerical Scale

The higher the number (H) the harder the writing core and the lighter the mark left on the paper.

The higher the number (B) the pencil core becomes softer (through the use of lower proportions of clay) it leaves a darker mark as it deposits more graphite material on the paper.

HB Scale

The second graphite grading scale is known as the HB scale.

“H” to indicate a hard pencil. Likewise, a pencil maker might use the letter .
“B” to designate the blackness of the pencil’s mark, indicating a softer lead.
The letter “F” is also used to indicate that the pencil sharpens to a fine point.