MI WINDOWS GRID MEASURE KEYGEN

MI WINDOWS GRID MEASURE KEYGEN

I can use the grid to help determine the general size of the rock by taking note of how far into each segment the rock goes. The large rock in the foreground is positioned around the bottom left-hand intersection.I look for points where the top of the mountain cross the lines of the grid. The distant mountain starts in the top right-hand corner, then takes a bumpy ride down.The grid helps me narrow down on this half-way point. The most distant part of the water is just above the half-way point in the painting.In New Zealand Reflections, I started with the horizon line, the edges of the water, the mountains in the distance, and the major trees.īelow are some of my observations to give you an idea of how I used the grid: I prefer to use the grid to merely assist with the initial drawing. I do not like to take this approach-I think it takes the fun out of painting.

Tip: Many artists tend to use the grid drawing technique to meticulously copy the reference photo segment by segment. Start by placing in the most critical aspects of the drawing, such as the horizon line, major edges, shapes, and lines.

So if you draw the horizon line in your painting, then you will be able to use that horizon line to help position other elements of the drawing. The beauty of this technique is that, as you start to build out the drawing, you will have more reference points to judge and measure from. That means you can use the grid to judge the relative distance and position of your subject.įor example, if you can see the horizon line is just above one of the grid lines in the reference photo, then you will know where to place the horizon line in your painting (it would go just above the corresponding grid line on the canvas). The grid on your canvas will correspond to the grid on the reference photo. Use the grid to help with the placement of your drawing. The dimensions of the canvas also need to be roughly the same as the dimensions of the reference photo for this to work properly.īelow is the grid on my canvas at the start of the painting (the lines are hard to see because the canvas is stained with raw umber): If it is wrong, your drawing will be wrong. Tip: Make sure the grid is accurate! Your entire artwork will be based on the grid. I use a charcoal pencil to draw the grid, but the medium does not matter as long as it does not interfere with your finished artwork. You might need another person to help with this if you are painting on a large canvas (one person to hold the ruler in place and another to draw the lines). Make sure they are evenly spaced across the sides.įinally, once all the marks are in place, I complete the lines using a ruler or anything with a long, straight edge. I then place a mark where the lines need to go. I start by measuring the length and width of the canvas and calculating where each line of the grid will need to go (if you are placing a three-by-three grid, then divide the length and width by three to get your key measurements). If you placed a three-by-three grid on your reference photo, then place a three-by-three grid on your canvas. Place a grid with the same dimensions on your canvas.

Mi windows grid measure