How To Draw Like a Pro Artist: Grid Drawing Tutorial Video

UK artist Kerwin Blackburn teaches you how to draw lifelike pictures from an image – the perfect technique to level-up your drawings and art

As an artist who has created their own brand of striking, pop art portraits of the world’s favourite music icons, capturing the faces of my subjects with lifelike detail is critical to my art success.

While my range of colourful ‘By Kerwin’ portraits are ultimately painted with acrylic paint – including using my signature Jackson Pollock-style ‘action painting’ technique, the first step is always a pencil drawing. The drawing stage is perhaps the most important too – as the quality of my drawing here will determine the end result of my painting. This simple but incredibly effective technique is called the Grid Method, or Grid Drawing.

What is Grid Drawing?

Grid drawing is a technique used in art where a reference image is divided into a grid, and the artist replicates the content square by square onto a corresponding grid on their canvas or paper. This method aids in maintaining accurate proportions and details during the drawing process.

I’ve produced a handy video tutorial demonstrating the Grid Drawing technique I use. In the video, I am drawing Marvin Gaye for my soulful yellow and maroon painting of the Motown icon. The technique I use is a gridline technique, in which I add corresponding gridlines onto my canvas and onto the reference image I’m drawing from, and then go around all the details and draw these onto my canvas.

Watch my Grid Drawing tutorial above and let me know what you think.

View the finished piece of Marvin Gaye from the video here – prints are available with worldwide delivery. Explore the rest of my pop art music icon paintings and shop prints in my online shop.

Materials You Will Need For Grid Drawing:

Grid drawing is a technique used in art where a reference image is divided into a grid, and the artist replicates the content square by square onto a corresponding grid on their canvas or paper. This method aids in maintaining accurate proportions and details during the drawing process.

Before embarking on a grid drawing, ensure you have the necessary materials to make the process smooth and efficient:

Pencils: A range of pencils for sketching and shading will allow you to capture various details in your grid drawing.

Pencil Eraser: An eraser is essential for refining your work and correcting any mistakes made during the drawing process.

Pencil Sharpener: Keep your pencils sharp for precision in your grid drawing.

Ruler or Tape Measure: A ruler or tape measure is crucial for creating accurate and evenly spaced grid lines on both your reference image and drawing surface.

Drawing Surface (e.g. Paper or Canvas): Choose a suitable surface for your drawing, ensuring it accommodates the size and medium you plan to use.

Reference Image: Have a clear and visible reference image that you wish to replicate using the grid method. This could be a photograph or another form of visual reference.

Optional:

Larger, Straight-Edged Object: For larger drawings, having a larger, straight-edged object may be required for drawing straight lines, maintaining the precision of your artwork.

With these materials at your disposal, you’re well-equipped to start your grid drawing, ensuring accuracy and detail in your artistic creation.

Step-by-Step Breakdown to Grid Drawing:

Let’s dive into the step-by-step breakdown of the grid drawing process.

Step 1 – Select Your Reference Image: Begin by choosing a clear and detailed reference image that you’re passionate about drawing. Ensure it aligns with the size and medium you plan to use for your final artwork.

Step 2 – Prepare Your Drawing Surface: Set up your drawing surface, whether it’s paper or canvas. Use your ruler or tape measure to mark and create a grid on both your reference image and drawing surface. This grid will serve as a guide for accurately transferring the details.

I use a diagonal / triangular grid layout. This involves drawing lines diagonally across the image. This reduces the need for measuring and increases accuracy. Google ‘grid drawing diagonal lines’, or watch my video above (picture also below).

Step 3 – Start with the Basic Outline: Using a light pencil, sketch the basic outlines of your subject within each grid square. Focus on capturing the overall shapes and proportions rather than intricate details at this stage.

Step 4 – Refine Each Grid Square: Gradually work through each grid square, paying attention to finer details. Compare the content in each square to the corresponding section on your reference image, ensuring accuracy in your rendition.

I only need to draw the outlines in my image, but you can use this method to draw more detail too.

Step 5 – Shade and Add Detail, or Paint Your Image: Once the entire grid is replicated on your drawing surface, start shading and adding detailed features if you wish. Or you may choose to now paint your image (like I do!). Use a range of pencils or paint colours to achieve various tones and shades, and refer back to your reference image for guidance.

Tip: Rotate your drawing periodically to avoid fixating on one perspective, ensuring a more balanced and accurate representation.

Remember: Patience is key. Take your time with each grid square to achieve a cohesive and well-proportioned drawing.

Tips and Tricks for Grid Drawing:

Drawing with the grid method can be a rewarding experience, and here are some tips and tricks to enhance your process:

Tip 1 – Consistent Lighting: Maintain consistent lighting conditions when working on your drawing to accurately capture shadows and highlights.

Tip 2 – Grid Size Matters: Adjust the size of your grid squares based on the complexity of the image. Finer details may require smaller grids for precision.

Tip 3 – Calculate Your Gridline Intersections: Using a ruler and calculator to work out where your drawing should intersect each gridline. This is particularly helpful to me when drawing key details (such as eyes).

Tip 4 – Use a Kneaded Eraser: A kneaded eraser is excellent for subtle corrections and highlights. It won’t leave residue, giving you a cleaner drawing.

Tip 5 – Experiment with Hatching and Cross-Hatching: For shading, experiment with hatching and cross-hatching techniques to add depth and texture to your drawing.

Tip 6 – Step Back and Assess: Periodically step back from your drawing to view it from a distance. This helps you identify any disproportions or areas that need adjustment.

Incorporate these tips into your grid drawing process, and don’t hesitate to adapt them to your personal style and preferences. Happy drawing!

Did you find this Grid Drawing tutorial video helpful? Which other art techniques would you like to learn about? Let me know!

Learn more about art in my online blog here.

My full range of Jackson Pollock-inspired acrylic paintings can be viewed at www.bykerwin.com – the originals and prints of these are available to purchase, with worldwide delivery. You can follow my art progress on Instagram and Facebook.