Does grid drawing help with drawing from imagination?

Question

I've taken art classes in high/middle school where I did a couple of grid drawings and I've even done a couple on my own. I also had an art class in college last semester and everyone there loved my grid drawings and said they were highly detailed or had a photographic quality. I don't know though if it actually helps, as I'm not sure if it's helping me improve on drawing from imagination. I want to try figure drawing and do concept and anime art, but my skills in that field are like a 50/50 hit or miss and I want to get into more dynamic poses that look good. Would using grid drawing to draw people and poses help me achieve these goals?

Answer 1

Hi!

I think grid drawing can serve as a great starting point for someone to get a better eye for composition and understanding spacial relationships of any sort of subject matter. Some artists approached this method of painting and measurement such as John Singer Sargent through the sight-size method.

I think if you are trying to learn how to draw from imagination there are several different routes you can take. Some of these include drawing from observation without the help of grids, practicing creating basic primitive forms from your head, and exaggerating forms that you observe in real life.

I think for your purpose it would be best to find a process of figure drawing that allows you to focus on gesture, structure, form, and anatomy, with that order being a hierarchy in which to master. If you are an unskilled draftsman using a grid system some of your gesture may appear stiff in your drawing, as it may lack the overall emphasis of large movements composed throughout the body.

Hope this helps!

Good luck in your studies!

:)

Answer 2

Hey there!

I actually started with grid drawings when I was learning. What it actually does is allows you to understand that your eyes actually trick your brain into thinking things as they are actually not. Weird concept huh. I would say, however, that it does hinder you from making portraits that do not look flat. When you draw from a grid, there is a sense of "tightness" to it. I feel the best way is to truly study the object and learn by measurements. How far is something from another part of the object? I typically use a pencil to do this. Once you understand how perceptive works, it becomes easy to not use any "techniques"

Answer 3

Drawing from a grid will give you experience to help you make a more accurate decision and the skills will be applicable to any drawing you're doing from reference. It also train your eye to see what's right or wrong about things you draw from your imagination.