Art Tips & Tricks

How to draw more accurately: The Grid Method in 6 easy steps

Posted by Cartecay.Life on

By: EB

Do you have a hard time drawing pictures accurately in general? How about drawing accurate large or small pictures? You should likely try using the Grid Method while creating your next drawing. Here’s 6 easy steps to follow below.

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Step 1: Choose and print out a reference photo.

  • It’s important for you to always have a reference photo when you wish to draw more accurately. Be sure to choose a clear photo and print it out.

Step 2: Choose the material & medium for your work and trim the photo.

  • Now choose your material. Do you wish to use a canvas for your piece or are you going with a some paper as your material?
  • If you’re working with a canvas, measure its dimensions and see how much larger or smaller it is compared to your photo. Is it half or twice the size of each other? Take note of their dimensions and size difference.
  • If you’re working with paper, think if you want your piece to be large or small. Measure the dimensions of your reference photo. Whatever size you wish your work to be big or small, try to scale up or down by 0.5’s. If you choose to create a small piece, scale down the dimensions of your material by a half of your reference photo. If you choose to create a large piece, scale up the dimensions of your material by 1.5, 2, 2.5, etc. compared to the dimensions of your reference photo. Cut your material based on what you choose, this will be your canvas.
  • Choose the medium you wish to use for your piece. Such as pastels, colored pencils, charcoal, oil paints, watercolor, etc. Based on what medium you have chosen you will either need to erase the grid lines on your chosen canvas (pastels, colored pencils, charcoal, oil paints, watercolor, etc.), restate your outline with a waterproof pen then erase the grid lines (watercolor), or leave them as they are (oil and acrylic paints; multiple layers likely needed).
  • Trim your photo with its current or new dimensions.

Step 3: Draw your grids and label.

  • Here, you’ll draw your grid lines based on your dimensions and whether or not you chose to scale down, scale up, or keep both dimensions the same.
  • When drawing the grid lines: use a soft graphite pencil on your reference photo like an ebony or 6B pencil. And, use a harder graphite pencil on your material (paper or canvas) like an HB or 2H pencil. *Just make sure that you don’t apply too much pressure when drawing your grid lines on your material.
  • Remember to mark both sides of the paper both horizontally and vertically with ticks as well as to slide your ruler up rather than turning your paper when marking them to ensure that your grid lines will later be straight up and down when drawing them later.
  • If you chose to scale your piece up by 2 times the size of its reference photo, you may choose to mark a tick mark every 0.5 inches on your reference photo and every 1 inch on your canvas.
  • If you chose to scale your piece down by 0.5 times the size of its reference photo, you may choose to mark a tick every 0.5 inches on your reference photo and every 0.25 inches on your canvas.
  • If you chose to keep the reference photo and canvas the same size, choose whatever size cubes would work best for the image and mark a tick every 0.5 or 1 inch for both.
  • Once you’re made your tick marks on all sides of the paper horizontally and vertically. Line both tick marks up with the ruler to ensure a straight line and accurate grid.
  • Label both the grid of your reference photo and the grid on your canvas. Preferably with letters at the top of the canvas/photo and numbers all the side of your canvas/photo.

Step 4: Draw the outline of your reference photo.

  • The grid method allows you to focus in on a small part of what you’re drawing which helps lead to a more accurate piece. When drawing your outline, pay close attention to the lines within the grid that you’re working in.
  • Remember to use a harder graphite pencil like an HB or 2H pencil on your canvas, but not to press in to roughly that it leads to an indention in the canvas.
  • You may choose to outline some shadows or highlights that can be seen in the reference photo, just don’t draw in too many details, they may confuse you later.
  • Once you’ve drawn your outline, based on your chosen medium you have chosen you will either need to erase the grid lines on your chosen canvas (pastels, colored pencils, charcoal, oil paints, watercolor, etc.), restate your outline with a waterproof pen then erase the grid lines (watercolor), or leave them as they are (oil and acrylic paints; multiple layers likely needed).

Step 6: Add some color to your piece.

  • Once you all your grid lines have been erased or your piece is clean and orderly. Add some color with your chosen medium and fill in some details that might’ve been left out during the outline.
  • You may choose to add a color that if similar to your reference photo, you may choose to leave out or keep some details, or you may choose to create something that is unique to you. It’s your piece, your choice, and you’re the master.

I sincerely hope that these 6 steps to following the Grid Method help you to create more accurate art. As always, remember to stay safe!