Grid+Drawing

For this exercise I have students first complete 2-3 line drawing grid exercises and then move on to the value drawing grid exercises. Students will have a value scale at the table for reference when working on the value exercises. Before working on the Value Grid Drawing worksheet, students will make a view finder. They will be given a piece of black construction paper, (about 1/2 sheet A4 size), and they will cut out a 2cm square from the middle. They will place cut out square over the square they are currently drawing.

=Value Drawing Group Exercise:=

In groups of 3- students can choose a black and white photo to enlarge or they can take a photo of themselves. They will print it out A3 size, draw grid or use Pages program to create measured grid before printing. The image will then be cut into gridded sections. Students will create proportionately larger squares on which to draw their sections, (at least 2 times larger than the original). Each student will contribute 1/3 of the squares and then glue it together on a colored matt. While working, students will be encouraged to frequently check with each other and with the value scale to be sure their portions will match when put together.

=Extension Exercises:= Window Landscape Students can also tape an acetate grid on a window framing a view they are interested in drawing. AFter they have draw a similar grid on a piece of drawing paper they may begin drawing. In order for students to not to get overwhelmed with the view, it helps to have them close one eye when looking through their gridded view finder taped to the window.

Self Portrait Students can draw a grid on a self-supporting table top mirror and a proportional grid on a piece of drawing paper. Closing one eye as they peer at their reflection, they can draw themselves.

Portrait of a friend Using a large sheet of plexi-glass, students can hold the plexi glass at arms length in front of a friends face, close one eye and outline their friends features. A wax based drawing pencil or overhead marker works well for this. They should also include a some small features from the background to create more interest in the image. Once they have finished their drawing on the plexi glass, they can then redraw the image on drawing paper free-hand, or use tracing paper to copy the lines or even grid it.