The Grid method for drawing ….maybe?

When you first learn to draw, especially a person’s face, you were taught the Grid method. Where you draw the grids on the original and also onto the paper you are going to use. It’s a great method for any size. From small original to large drawing. I hated this because you have to make sure to measure correctly and draw the lines. However today, you can get a clear transparent grid to use on the original, save you 1/2 of the time. You can also make reusable with thin cord/threads. Even so, I find this extremely painful. Sometimes you get a square with nothing, other ones with too much details. You also have to put in a bit of sketching. ….then comes the very careful erasing of the lines. Sometimes you can see some still if you drew them too hard.

Those who hate the grid will rather do the measuring with their pencil and sketch until they get it right. More fun but alot of erasing and measuring. It is great for larger drawings but with small ones, 1-2 mm off and you can see how off the drawing is. I tried this and kept dropping my mechanical pencil, leaving marks and holes in the paper. Therefore I only did one portrait of an actress decades ago and never again.

However, I was watching my drama that was adapted from my favorite novel and fell in love with the actors/actresses so I decided to try drawing again. The problem is I have not drawn anything in more than 10 years, I want the lazy and easy way out…..so I tried the “lazy” method. No measuring required, no sketching either. You just draw an outline straight on the set lines. Might look odd but once you add some details, it will be quite accurate. I was very skeptical at first, but it takes barely anytime or effort, so why not. So far I have been drawing the same few actors/actresses alot lately.

These are outline sketches I did. It takes very little time so I sometimes just draw more than one. The hardest part is finding the right photos/faces I want to use. They do not look close to the originals or nice to look at but wait…..

The above is very rough. As mentioned, I forgo the blending tools/stump and I only used .5mm mechanical pencil. I personally like the roughness over the smoothness. Personal taste and choice of course. You do not have to erase anything from the outline, just add in details as you go.

The above one I took a bit more time with and was on Watercolor paper, so you get a different texture.

As you can see from the original outline, a little detail goes a long way. This method is for the lazy and beginners as you do not have to do muck work, plus it takes about 1/3 of the time compared to the other two methods.