Creating Portraits with the Grid Method
Believe it or not, sometimes art is all about math. Our Art II students are working on creating portraits using a grid method—with rulers and ratios—to produce an accurate and realistic drawing while still developing freehand drawing skills.
In a nutshell, the grid method involves placing a grid over a reference photo and creating a grid of equal ratio on your drawing paper or canvas. Each square is then meticulously pencil-sketched onto the paper or canvas. Once the entire image is transferred, the student can begin adding detail and color while maintaining the correct composition and proportion. This allows a student to improve their drawing and observational skills while creating a successful portrait.
So, where does the math come into play? Typically one of the hardest parts of this process is measuring the original reference image and the final paper or canvas, and finding the common ratio. For example, if the grid on the photo contains one-inch squares, the student may have to enlarge the grid to five-inch squares to accurately transfer the design. This is the main challenge and the most difficult part of the project.
Adding color presents yet an additional challenge. “This color portrait assignment is a further exploration of a grid assignment in Art I that was done in black and white,” explains Art Teacher Suzanne Kelly. “It can be much more difficult when you add color, especially getting the skin tones right. We give this assignment in pastels because they are more forgiving than paint.” Alden B-L. ’26 agrees, remarking “Getting the hair color right is so challenging” as they blend blacks and blues to create a rich ebony shade on their portrait.
Gridding is just one of the many drawing techniques we incorporate in the SD Arts program. “We primarily teach students to draw from observation, which is much different than the more technical, regimented grid technique,” says Ms. Kelly. “However, the goal is for each student to end up with a wide range of ‘tools’in their artist toolbox.”
Many professional artists use grids to help them draw, including modern photorealists such as Chuck Close and Malcolm Morley. This gridding technique can be used to transfer small drawings onto large-scale wall murals. It’s hardly a new technique. Throughout history, many famous artists have used the grid method for drawing, including the ancient Egyptians, Leonardo Da Vinci, Albrecht Durer, M.C. Escher, and Vincent Van Gogh.
