Level: Beginner Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 6.8 Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease: 72.3 Drawspace Curriculum 2.2.A14-6 Pages and 20 Illustrations Draw Seamless Outlines in a Grid Draw a mystery subject in grid squares by using contour lines that seamlessly join other lines in adjacent squares Resource: 2.2.R14 Introduction to Plotting and Dotting Supplies: paper, HB or 2B pencil, sharpener, erasers, sandpaper block, ruler This activity has four sections: Draw a Grid in a Drawing Space Plot and Dot in a Grid Square Connect Lines in Two Squares Accurately Outline the Subject Figure 1 ArtSpeak Subject: Any object or living being that an artist chooses to represent in an artwork. Drawing space: The specific perimeter in which a drawing is rendered. Grid: An arrangement of squares of exact sizes proportionately drawn on both a reference image and a drawing surface. Plotting and Dotting: The process of identifying the locations of key points in a reference image and then marking dots in their corresponding locations on drawing paper. These dots then serve as guides to accurately outline the subject. Draw a Grid in a Drawing Space 1. Use a ruler to outline a square drawing space (Figure 1) that is 3 by 3 in (7.6 by 7.6 cm). 2. Divide the square into 9 identical small squares (Figure 2) that are 1 by 1 in (2.5 by 2.5 cm).
2 2.2.A14: Draw Seamless Outlines in a Grid Figure 2 Plot and Dot in a Grid Square 3. Follow the three-step process below to plot and dot key points in the first square of your grid. Steps 1 and 2 in Figure 3 represent the upper left grid square on a mystery image. Step 3 represents the same grid square on your drawing paper. Tip! To increase the accuracy of a contour drawing, use short lines (dashes) to mark the halfway points on each side of all grid squares on both your photo and drawing paper. Connect the opposite dashes with faint lines and each grid square becomes four smaller grid squares. Step 1: Examine the contents of this first grid square. The lines are sections of the contours of the mystery image (the subject). Identify the locations of important contour lines. Also, note their lengths, and the directions in which they curve (curved lines) or don t curve (straight lines). Step 2: Identify a contour line that touches or intersects one or more sides of the grid square. Mark the point with a small dot. Continue plotting and dotting until all key points on your reference image have been identified with dots. Step 3: Mark corresponding dots along the sides of the upper left grid square on your drawing paper. Figure 3 Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Tip! The lines that you draw inside each grid square represent small sections of the contours of a complete image (the subject). Connect Lines in Two Squares In this section, you begin by outlining the contents of the first grid square. In the second grid square, you then draw outlines that meet some lines in the first square.
2.2.A14: Draw Seamless Outlines in a Grid 3 4. Draw a slightly curved line to connect the upper two dots on opposite sides of the first grid square (Figure 4). Press lightly with your pencil. Initial contour lines often need to be modified later. 5. Draw a shape by connecting the two dots on the bottom with a curved line (Figure 5). One side of this shape is the lower side of the square. 6. Draw a line that begins on the middle dot (on the left), curves toward the right, and ends before it reaches another side (Figure 6). 7. Connect the two lower dots on the right side with a short curved line. 8. Refer to Figure 7 to draw a small circular shape inside the shape created in Step 5. The contents of the first grid square are outlined (Figure 8). Figure 4 Figure 6 Figure 5 Figure 7 Figure 8 9. Plot and dot the locations of the lines in the second grid square (Figure 9). Even though this square has eight dots, you only need to plot five. Three dots are shared with the first grid square. Figure 9 Keep in mind that some lines in the grid squares need to seamlessly meet lines in adjacent squares.
4 2.2.A14: Draw Seamless Outlines in a Grid 10. Examine and then draw the upper curved line in the second square by connecting two dots (Figure 10). Begin by placing your pencil point on the upper dot on the shared edge between the two squares. Then, draw the curved line toward the right until it meets the opposite side. 11. Place your pencil point on the middle dot and draw a short line that curves upward. Figure 10 12. Then, draw another short line that curves downward from the lower dot. Confirm that these two short lines are accurate. 13. Draw another curved line that joins the ends of both lines and completes the shape (Figure 11). 14. Connect dots to draw the two slightly curved lines in the lower right. Figure 11 Accurately Outline the Subject In this section, you use all the skills from the previous three sections to outline the contents of the remaining six grid squares. Figure 12 15. Refer to Figures 12 to 18 in sequence to complete the outline of the subject. Figure 12: In the third grid square five dots are plotted. Three of these dots are along the edge shared with the second grid square. Figure 13 Figure 13: All three of these new lines are extensions of the lines in the second square.
2.2.A14: Draw Seamless Outlines in a Grid 5 Figure 14 Figure 14: The contents of the fourth grid square (in the second row) include both lines and shapes. Thankfully, you have seven plotted dots to serve as guides. The three dots shared with the first grid square are the best place to begin drawing. Only two dots need to be plotted in the fifth grid square (Figures 14 and 15). Three other dots are already marked on the left and upper edges. Figure 15 Figure 15: These outlines consist of only three curved lines. Four additional dots are plotted in the sixth grid square. Figure 16: A grand total of six grid squares are now completed. Figure 16 As an Aside Using a grid is neither cheating nor a hindrance to your artistic growth. Rather, grids serve as tools to enhance visual skills and make the learning process more pleasurable by helping with such challenges as rendering believable proportions and correct perspective.
6 2.2.A14: Draw Seamless Outlines in a Grid Figure 17: After plotting, dotting, and outlining in the lower three squares, the contour drawing is finished. Figure 17 Challenge! Examine Figures 18 and 19 and identify the corresponding contours in your finished drawing. In case you re wondering, your contour drawing is a section of a really cool microscopic animal commonly referred to as a water flea (Figure 20). This critter is totally unfamiliar to most people a colossal advantage in this case! You focused on only the contour lines without being biased by preconceived notions of how you think a specific subject looks. Figure 18 Figure 19 Figure 20