Gridding your Portrait and Photo:
Photo
Step 1: Get your photo from the front. We are going to grid the photo on the right. To start, line your ruler up with the top edge of your right-hand photo so that the ruler starts at an inch or half inch. Step 2: Measure out half-inch tic marks on the top of the photo. You should have 7 marks and 8 columns total. Step 3: Slide your ruler down to measure out half-inch marks on the bottom of your photo. Your measurements must be precise, so that they will create parallel lines from top to bottom. Step 4: Connect your lines from the top of the photo to the bottom using your fine point sharpie. (If these lines are even slightly crooked or diagonal, your portrait will turn out distorted.) Step 5: On the left-hand side of your photo measure out half-inch tic marks and repeat on the right. Step 6: Label the top and bottom columns with A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H Step 7: Label the left and right rows with 1 through 12. (LEFT AND RIGHT LABELS SHOULD MATCH) Portrait paper: Start with Mechanical Pencil Step 1: Get a 12” X 18” piece of paper from the front. Step 2: Measure out 1 ½” tic marks on the top of the paper (Short side). You should have 7 marks and 8 columns total. Step 3: Slide your ruler down to measure out 1 ½” marks on the bottom of your paper. Your measurements must be precise, so that they will create parallel lines from top to bottom. Step 4: LIGHTLY connect your lines from the top of the paper to the bottom using mechanical pencil. (If these lines are even slightly crooked or diagonal, your portrait will turn out distorted.) These lines must be light so you can erase them later, you can hold the back end of your pencil to ensure your lines are light. Step 5: On the left-hand side of your paper measure out 1 ½” tic marks and repeat on the right. Step 6: LIGHTLY label the top and bottom columns with A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H Step 7: LIGHTLY label the left and right rows with 1 through 12. (LEFT AND RIGHT LABELS SHOULD MATCH) |
Drawing Directions: Read all before starting and refer to example
Step 1: On the photo you just gridded, outline your major features with contour lines. Your face should look like a coloring book page. (DO NOT ADD SHADING/VALUE TO THE PHOTO) You can also outline the shapes of major areas of value, so you know where they are once you erase your grid. Step 2: Once your photo has contour lines, you can begin lightly sketching out the major contours on your paper. I suggest starting with your face shape and other large features first, then work toward smaller details. You want to draw lightly so that any lines can be erased later, if needed. DO NOT ADD ANY VALUE TODAY Beware! Many features will look odd or weird because they do not have value. TRUST THE GRID and break each square into smaller squares if needed. Everything should only be drawn in with light contour lines, no value. If you do not follow these instructions it is highly likely that I will make you start over! Use caution, move somewhere that you can focus. This is the start of the final “test” in the drawing unit and I want you to succeed!!! |
Value Portrait Tips and Tricks:
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