25 Days to Better Drawings: The Grid Technique
Lesson Description
Lesson 21 of the 25 Days to Better Drawings course introduces students to the grid technique, a powerful tool for achieving precision and proportion in drawing. Accuracy is a cornerstone of realistic art, and the grid technique helps artists maintain correct placement of features, shapes, and angles when drawing complex subjects, especially portraits. In this lesson, Matt explains the fundamental principles of the grid method, demonstrates its practical application, and guides students through a step-by-step exercise: drawing the portrait of a young girl using graphite pencils on white drawing paper.
The grid technique is particularly useful for artists who want to ensure their drawings maintain proper proportion without relying solely on freehand estimation. By breaking down the subject into smaller, manageable sections, the grid provides a framework that allows for careful observation and consistent accuracy. Matt emphasizes that this technique is not a shortcut—it is a disciplined approach that trains the eye and hand to work together with precision.
Understanding the Grid Technique
Matt begins the lesson by explaining the basics of the grid technique. The process involves overlaying a grid of evenly spaced squares over a reference image and creating a proportional grid on the drawing surface. Each square on the reference corresponds directly to a square on the paper, making it easier to translate shapes, angles, and details accurately. By focusing on one square at a time, artists can carefully map out the placement of facial features, edges, and other important elements without losing sight of the overall composition.
He emphasizes that the grid technique is not meant to stifle creativity. Instead, it functions as a guide that allows for a more confident and precise rendering of the subject. Students are encouraged to view the grid as a flexible framework: while it provides structure, the ultimate goal is to develop observational skills and a keen eye for proportion that will eventually allow freehand accuracy.
Setting Up the Grid
The lesson continues with a detailed demonstration of setting up the grids. Matt shows how to measure the reference image and draw a proportional grid over it, noting the number of squares needed for the desired level of detail. Then, he demonstrates how to replicate that grid on white drawing paper, maintaining consistent square sizes so that each section of the drawing corresponds exactly to the reference image.
Careful setup is essential, Matt explains, because even small inconsistencies in square size can lead to proportional errors in the finished drawing. He offers practical tips for keeping lines light and using a ruler to maintain straightness. By establishing this structure, students create a reliable roadmap for transferring the reference image accurately to the drawing surface.
Drawing the Portrait Using the Grid
Once the grid is prepared, Matt demonstrates how to approach the portrait of a young girl systematically. He begins by observing the reference image one square at a time, noting the placement of key points such as the eyes, nose, mouth, and contour of the face. Using light graphite pencil lines, he sketches the features within each corresponding square on the drawing paper, ensuring that each part of the face aligns correctly with the reference.
Matt emphasizes the importance of patience during this process. The goal is not to rush through the drawing but to carefully observe shapes, angles, and proportions in each square. By working methodically, students are able to accurately reproduce the subtle curves and relationships that define the portrait, creating a lifelike and cohesive image.
Refining the Drawing
After all the primary shapes and features are mapped using the grid, the lesson transitions to refinement. Matt demonstrates how to connect lines smoothly, adjust proportions slightly if needed, and erase the grid lines to reveal a clean, cohesive portrait. Students are encouraged to review their work carefully, comparing it to the reference image and making subtle adjustments to improve accuracy.
At this stage, shading can be added to bring depth and dimension to the portrait. Matt shows how to use soft, controlled graphite strokes to render the shadows and highlights on the girl’s face, emphasizing the natural forms of the cheeks, eyes, and lips. The result is a precise, realistic drawing that demonstrates the effectiveness of the grid technique.
Building Confidence in Accurate Drawing
The lesson concludes with Matt encouraging students to practice the grid technique with a variety of subjects. By consistently applying these observational methods, artists can develop confidence in their ability to maintain proportion and placement in all drawings, whether portraits, still life, or complex scenes. Lesson 21 provides a structured approach to accuracy, helping students strengthen both their technical skills and their observational eye, paving the way for more advanced drawing techniques in future lessons.
Lesson Materials
H and 2B graphite pencils, ruler, kneaded eraser, and white drawing paper.
Lesson Resources
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Reference Image
Reference Image (with grid)
Course Curriculum
Founder of The Virtual Instructor, artist and teacher. Matt makes learning art easy to understand and enjoyable.
I loved the idea of using the grid technique to help with value. In the past I always used the grid to define the shapes and placements of defined areas in the object. Thanks for creating these lessons.
Thank you Matt for the very interesting and engaging exercise! I found it a lot easier to do this exercise by magnifying the photo reference to focus on one square at a time. I won’t be able to see the ‘big picture’, therefore won’t be misguided by my thinking. When working on values this method is useful too as the contrast of values is clear and I won’t be confused by what the colour of the object might be.
When doing the grid technique is it alright to use a proportional divider?
What brand of graphite pencils are you using? Mine are not giving me the look I want.
Hi Kim,
I like Derwent Graphic graphite pencils, but there are many brands that are high quality.
How do you use a grid online same or are their other advantages
Hi Pam,
I’m not sure I understand what you’re asking. Can you elaborate?
Hi Matt,
I would like to introduce myself. In a few months i will be eighty years old, Belgian living in London, i am a starter and very slow, therefore forget me doing it in an hour.
i love your course and made an emance progress. Today i found it difficult because i never did this before, a real challenge especially the hair. I am very patience and stubborn, i finish what i start, well at the end i usually get there.
I finished course twenty one, i have another four to go.
Now my question is: what would you advice for my next course.
Thanks in advance.
Christiane
Grids I have used before without much joy however this way number’s also letter’s really did help me not only to understand the concept of proportions in an drawing , also the tonal values too!
I am loving all of these lessons you really have inspired me to draw more as iv sometimes avoided it for fear of spoiling a portrait or any painting I do !
I would fully recommend your lessons to anyone who wants to improve skills at any level!
They are so good to follow & have all the tools you need to show the way !
Jan
Absolutely enjoyed that lesson. I’ve not used grids since school. I’ve never managed portraits. He had a strong resemblance, I was really pleased. Would love to nail portraits!
Thank you 😀
*she!!
Hi Matt,
I am interested in drawing birds and drawing flowers. I have taken a number of zoom bird drawing classes and field journaling classes with Cornell School of Ornithology this year in addition to your 25 Days to Better Drawing. I have been having trouble with the angle of a bird’s tail and thought that if I used a grid it would be helpful but wasn’t sure how to do this. I really liked lesson 21 using a grid was very helpful and it was easier to draw a face in increments. In my next bird drawing I am going to use a grid to help with the angle and placement of a bird’s tail. Thank you for this lesson and all of the previous lessons. All of them have been helpful.
Hi, Matt, I’m very new to Virtual Instructor and I have loved learning from it over my Christmas break from teaching school(kindergarten). I’ve used the grid method for a pastel project of my grandson this week, but I haven’t listened to this lesson yet, because I’m only on Lesson 9, and don’t want to go out of order. If this question is answered in the lesson, I’m sorry. Just tell me that I’ll find the answer there. Otherwise, I would appreciate your input here. Is there an accurate, but simple way, to decide what size to make the grid squares to fit in a certain size mat or frame? I worked from a page size picture for my grandson, but the half size was a little too small. I’m getting ready to do a pastel dog for a friend, and I want to make the head bigger than the photo reference, but don’t know how to make it fit nicely into a 5×7 mat for an 8×10 frame. Thanks so much for your help.
Hi Jean,
Yes, just think in terms of equal proportions. You could resize the reference photo using a photo editing program on your computer – like GIMP or Photoshop. Then crop the image to be a proportional size to the final drawing. For example, if you wish for your final drawing to be 11″ by 14″, you could make your photo reference 5.5″ by 7″. This would mean that every 1″ square on your reference would correlate with a 2″ square on your gridded drawing paper.
This has been fantastic. I had trouble with the mouth in lesson 21, and my girl looks mean rather than young and innocent. I’m thinking it is in the set of the eyes, mouth and my shading. Any suggestions?
This has been a great lesson. My completed drawing looks rather mean rather than young and innocent. I think it in the eyes, mouth and my shading. Any suggestions?
the right side of the girl was unclear could you replace the picture with one the show her left side Picture right side. Are ArtistsLoft pencil brane ok?