They then drew a vertical line on their paper or canvas, and used the plumb line as a guide. The plumb line was placed so it dissected the subject straight down the middle, breaking it up into equal halves, as the artists viewed the subject. This plumb line was placed on a stick that protruded off the left side of the artist’s easel (if the artist was right-handed). This was a black piece of cord, weighted down on the end with a fishing weight, hanging perpendicular to the floor. To grid something from actual life, they used what was called a plumb line. It was a fascinating experience and I learned many of the old artistic techniques, one of which was the grid method. The methods are then carried on that way, intact, throughout the centuries. This is a french word for “workshop,” and it was how the Old Masters taught, where the master artist taught the student, until the student himself became a master. I took a class from a school in Minneapolis many years ago, called an Atelier. It’s obvious how the grid can be used with a photograph, but how was a grid used for a live model? Back in the olden days, grids were actually used with live subjects and models, since obviously a copy of People magazine wasn’t available to use for practicing drawing portraits. The Old Masters relied on it for their accuracy and perspective. The grid method has been utilized by artists since ancient times. Preview Lee Hammond’s “Lifelike Drawing” video workshop here! It’s highly accurate, but it can be very time consuming. For me, as an author, the grid method is the best way to teach a student how to create an accurate line drawing, when I can’t physically be there to guide them.
It teaches you to see everything as small, interlocking pieces. The grid method of dividing a reference photo into small increments, is an excellent way of training your eye to see shapes. This drawing, from the all new Big Book of Drawing, (coming soon!) shows how the grid method is still a good way to capture shapes. I teach the grid method predominantly in my books, but when teaching a class, I have other tricks as well. Being accurate is the most important aspect of drawing portraiture. In the class, there were many newcomers to drawing, and they were eager to learn all of my tricks and techniques. I recently concluded a wonderful class about drawing portraits.
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