Grid Drawing Project

In addition to learning drawing from observation, I have students learn grid drawing.  It works in a similar way, but may be easier since it breaks down an image into smaller, possibly more abstracted tasks.  

For ours, I pre-selected some images, and used http://www.griddrawingtool.com/ to automatically apply a 4x6 grid of squares.  If students wanted a different image, it was easy enough to pump it into the online program and print out in a minute or so.

our drawing paper is 12- 18 inches, so a 3 inch grid works with a 4x6 matrix.

In fact, I made a classroom set of grids that students could place under their drawing so they did not even have to draw the grid!  They could see the grid lightly through the drawing paper.  

We had not talked about color yet, so these were finished with pencil and we focused on value.

  Grid Drawing Rubric:

Accurate drawing          40 points

Full range of Value        30

Craftsmanship               30

total                                100 points

 Here are some of our results.

Superhero grid drawing

Since so many Hollywood movies have superhero content, I figured we could use them to learn a new drawing technique, grid drawing...

T-square linear drawings

This is a repeat of a lesson I did in November last year.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

T-Square Linear Drawings

A "Straight" forward drawing project.  (Get it?  Straight?!  Like the lines we use for this project?  Meh.   At least the project is a hit.

Here's how it works:

1.  Students find an image.  This time around we are looking through the 2000's era National Geographics.  Larger better.  Black and white is better too, but not necessary.

2.  Photocopy the images.  This makes them grey scale. Much easier for kids to deal with for this project, especially since it is all about value.

3.  In order to have a nice drawing to work with, we will grid the image and paper, and transfer a LIGHT version of the artworks.

Grid Conversions for 12x 18 inch paper

Measure the short side of the image in Centimeters or Inches. 

CENTIMETERS:  Is it smaller than 10?  DO NOT USE.  IT IS TOO SMALL FOR PROJECT.

CM      size of grid on small image          Size of grid on drawing paper

10       2cm                                                    2 inches

12       2cm                                                    2 inches

18       3 cm                                                   2 inches        

INCHES:  Is it smaller than 4: DO NOT USE.  IT IS TOO SMALL FOR PROJECT.

IN        size of grid on small image          size of grid on drawing paper

4 in     1 in                                                     3 inches

5 in ( try to use 12 CM)

6 in     1 in                                                     2 inches

7 in ( try to use  18 cm)

4. Practice.  This project depends on line to make value. No shading.  So I have students attempt a grey scale to match values.  They draw lines using the T-Squares to try and match the overall value of one area to the other.  This is done with pen.

5.  T-squares are interesting tools, and can be very helpful with technical drawings such as with perspective drawings.  Here is how I use them in the class:  Students clip the t-square to bottom edge of the table.  This makes it perfectly perpendicular.   Use this to align the paper, and use masking tape to secure the paper to the desk.  This "registers" the paper square with the t-square.  Then you can use the t-square to draw vertical lines.  with the addition of a triangle, you also get horizontal lines.

6.  Using the method in step 5, students then fill their drawings with pen lines, more to increase value, less where it is lighter.  I allow them to choose the angle, as long as it is consistent.  Vertical is easiest.

T squares are a technical tool for draftsmen. But they can generate amazing student work!

Here is my example of Lincoln.

And a second with a farmer.