The Grid Method is one of the most effective and popular ways of copying your reference into your drawings. This is done by drawing vertical and horizontal lines on your reference photo and on your paper or canvas.
Many artists, especially beginners, are confused by this method. Even if they use the grid, they still can't get the right proportion.
So now we will talk about how this is done.
The first thing we need to do is find a Reference Photo. There are many possible sources of photos depending on what you want to draw. Remember that a clearer or high-definition (HD) photo is better because you can see the small details necessary to draw a realistic drawing.
There are sites where you can take HD photos such as Pinterest and Instagram. On Pinterest, just go to their website and search for what or who you want to draw and choose a photo that suits your style.
On Instagram, just copy the link of the photo or post and go to a website that can download photos on Instagram, just google "Instagram photo downloader" and many websites will appear, just choose anything they just do the same thing.
After we find the reference photo we need software that will create gridlines in our reference. One of the most popular is Drawing Grid Maker, it is an android software that is easy to use but very effective at placing Grid. In creating Gridlines for your reference there are a few things you need to keep in mind:
Read more: Drawing Philippines 🖌: Drawing Grid Maker
• Crop the reference based on the size of the paper or canvas.
This is to avoid confusion in placing the grid. You can also avoid reducing or trimming your paper due to incorrect dimensions of grids. You can use the Photo Resizer app and resize the reference photo according to the size of your paper.
• Black & White the reference before placing the grid (For Charcoal & Graphite users)
It's not very important but I've included it. Because Black & White of the photo before grading will help if you want to change the color of the reference, it will not be included. Sometimes there are parts in the reference photo where the lines will not be visible because those parts are too dark. If the software you are going to use is Drawing Grid Maker, it has a built-in b & w tool so you don't have to go to the editing software for ib & w for your reference.
• Vertical and Horizontal lines must be the same distances.
This is what you should not forget, what will be formed in your grid should be SQUARES, not Rectangles. In Drawing Grid Maker, there is a check box that you just need to press for your grids to automatically become square. All you have to do is input the height of your paper and it will automatically have vertical and horizontal lines with the same distances.
• Bonus tip: Draw diagonal lines for better accuracy.
Those are the things you need to keep in mind when you place gridlines in the reference photo. Just one more piece of information, it is better if the values you use in your grid are the actual size of the paper. For example, if the paper you will use is 12x16in, your grid should also be 12x16 or if you want a smaller grid, just double it so that your grid will be 24x32.
When placing a grid on paper, what you put in your reference should be the same on your paper. For example, if the paper you use is 12x16 inches and what you put in the photo is also 12x16, say the distance of your grid to the paper is 1 inch.
If your reference is 24x32, the distance of your grid on the paper is 0.5 inches. Use a ruler and mark each distance on your grid. Do this at each end of the paper and glue it together using your ruler. Do this so that you can create vertical and horizontal lines with the same distances.
Tip: Make sure the grid is the same as the reference photo! Your whole artwork is based on your grid, if your grid is wrong, your drawing will also be wrong..
So for the last step, you have to start copying your reference. All you have to do here is copy every line and detail into every box you see. Just follow each line to get the right proportion.
You can also set your reference point where you can start drawing like in the eyes, just locate the eye in the grid and start sketching there.