Do you use some kind of grid/template when you do portraits? I always do that to get things in the correct place, but to me, it somethimes feels like cheating. Like I actually cant draw, I just do as the grid shows me, you know. How many people of all out there doing portraits use some kind of grid you think? I dont want to feel like Im cheating.

hi hon, i used a grid for about 5 yrs..it helps you learn to see..after a lil while it is wise to step away from the grid and try yourself, I still will use a grid if it is imperative (as for a gift) to get it all as close as possible..but it is NOT cheating.

A grid is a tool; like calipers or pencil and thumb. As you grow more experienced you will not have to rely on them as much; but, they will still come in handy. No, grids are not "cheating". Still, don't do all your work with them, you want to develop a good eye as well. If you rely on grids 100% of the time, you may not gain the needed skills.

I see drawing, painting, airbrushing, or what ever as a skill, not so much a gift, and with any skill there are tools. Carpenters use hammers and saws to build houses, teachers use books to teach from. I'm sure I could pull some one off the street show them how to use a grid and they still couldn't draw a portrait. Because even if they have the tools they still don't have the skill. I know so many ways to to get a image down on paper or whatever, none of it cheating, it's just I wanted to learn how to do this so I did. You still have to take into consideration shadeing, color, mood, setting, style, etc and those are the things that are going to show the true artist. Over time you'll learn the corners of the mouth line up with the center of the eyes, there is an eyes with between the eyes, and blah, blah, blah who cares, Use a grid.

We all agree that a grid is not cheating. I use one when I am enlarging an image I am drawing that way you get all the right points in the correct area, as already said the ability to draw comes from you not an aid.

Thanks for taking some time to answer. Feels good to know that pretty much everyone starts out with a grid, and that you dont consider it cheating.

hi malin hon,, dont know if you ever heard of Albrecht Durer, he was a renaissance artist. if i am not mistaken he was the one who came up with grid use
albrecht durer

Kay,
It might interest you to know that the Egyptians and the Greeks used grids to sketch out their designs for sculptures, then carried it even further, used three-dimensional grids in stone block squares to create the actual sculpture.

wow..no kidding, that is great info..thanks for sharing barb.I learn new things every day..i just love drawspace.

Yes, Albrecht Dürer did grid, he has draw his grid-technik = see here : http://virtualterritory.files.wordpress.co...ute-sml-512.jpg

Because I have used grids, measuring techniques, and even tracing paper, to check the accuracy of my ability to see correctly and then draw correctly what I see, I can now draw an almost perfect circle any diameter, without the use of a ruler or any drawing instrument. However, all these tools and techniques have helped me to acquire the skill to do what I do.

If I'd had a projector I would have also used it to check my accuracy.

There is no tool, except the human brain, that can perceive and capture the unique twinkle in the eyes, or tell us what to understate and what to emphasize, or how to capture the unique personality in a portrait. If there were one I would use it with out feeling guilty.

Gift and skill are one of a kind just different words ..used in the same way .

I agree with Bobby on there is no tool except the human brain ...capturing the personality of the persons personality is what many call a Gift or skill ..not all artist can do that .

I came to a classroom to study drawing. The philosophy of this classroom is to discourage the students from copying photos. Therefore I copied photos only when I came to this DS. My feeling is that my general drawing is poorer since I started to copy photo. When I drew from living model, or landscape, I made mistakes, of course, but sometimes I got "genuis traits" (!!!!), this no more happens when I copy a photo. I too much tried to copy the photo and the drawing is too 2-dimensional and poor!
If someone tells me your drawing is very similar to the photo, I would not consider it as a compliment! There might be some irony.

when doing a portrait trust me people want it as close as you can get . exact matters and if someone says " wow that looks just like the picture " I am happy because it is what they wanted .

There is certainly nothing wrong with using grids or any other devices to improve your drawing skills, but there should come a point when you wean yourself from using them and depend more on your visual perception.

The more your draw the better you draw so just keep learning and drawing!

This thread raises some interesting questions. What do we want from our drawings? I mean, if we only want to draw as close to reality as possible, why not just take a photograph and get it perfect right away?

Thanks Kim1963 and bkluver, I didn't know that But now that I think about it doesn't really surprise me that they used those techniques before the camera was invented. Drawing, sculpting and painting were used to document moments and scenes because it was the closest thing to a photograph they had. It wasn't considered art the way we see it, but as good craftmanship. Some people think that since everyone can take a picture that is identical to reality there really isn't any use for realistic drawings anymore. I disagree, the artists that use traditional tools also have the opportunity to create an image that does not really excist, something you can't take a picture of. With a drawing you can emphasize emotions, paint pain, joy, anything you can think of. Look at Picasso and Salvador Dali, or any of the renaissance painters that painted biblical scenes. Their knowledge and skill was so great that they could paint from their mind and still paint realistic.

My personal opinion? I really admire a realistic portrait, like I admire the pyramids in Egypt or the Acropolis of Athens because it is such good craftmanship, even though we could easily (in comparison) have built them with the tools and technology of today. The fact that the human brain is capable of creating emotions from scratch using only a piece of white paper and some pencils is truly extraordinairy and a piece of art in itself.

And maybe because a lot of fun is in the doing, not only in the endresult.
Trees

how do you use a grid?

Cindy did a tutorial on using grids in the drawing lessons.

Click here to read it.

Thanks it makes me think of those things in colouring books where you had to reproduce a picture with squares like that

I have drawn for many years, most attempts at drawing portraits in particular, were done from photographs drawing by eye, not using a grid, the results varied from reasonable likeness to unrecognisable generic faces, because of this, I started using the grid, this placed all the vital parts of the face in the right position, in proportion and good likenesses were achievable. The real artistry was in the subtlety of shading and the modelling of the face. I have been in awe of the past masters and their ability to get almost photographic likenesses down on canvas. Then I read an article by Hockney, where he claims to uncover their 'secret', Leonardo used grids! Vermeer and others used (allegedly) Camera Obscurers, and towards the end of the 19th century evidence of the wide use of the Camera Lucinda is put forward. The use of these tools does not detract from the artistry demonstrated, so the use of the grid is perfectly acceptable.
Now, to be more controversial, I do drawings to raise funds for charity, hence I need to work quite quickly from photographs to meet deadlines, the setting up of a grid and the plotting of the features is very time consuming. What follows, I say with fear of resounding roars of 'CHEAT', but I use a tool that is available today, you have guessed it, the computer! Not to produce graphic art, but to save time I scan a given photo, with a drawing program I insert a scan of the photo, and on a second layer mark out key points, these key points are then printed out and the basis for the drawing is ready, saving a lot of time. I would value any thoughts you may have on this, and yes, I do feel a little guilty, but those who request drawings are delighted with the results. Before I close, I must say, quick as this method is, nothing beats sitting out doors a drawing in the field without any aids bar pencil, pad and eye!