Sketching the Picture on the Canvas

Getting the image on the canvas.

This is the first thing I do on a painting. Divide the picture in half in both directions and draw a cross here. Just keep dividing until you have as many sections as you feel that you need. 

Next I added the grid to the canvas matching the grid on the picture. I numbered the sections because the lines of the shadows quickly became confusing. I use an automatic pencil with a light lead.  A long ruler and measuring tape is helpful.

The canvas with the grid and picture.

First image with the grd.

 Sketching on the image is the next step.

Sketching this was very confusing because the shadows from top to bottom was much more extreme then appeared. One of the biggest reasons for doing a grid is for the lines to start ad stop where they actually are and not where you think they are.

Sketch 1

 Close up of the left top corner. 

Sketch Left, Top Corner

~ by anniadkins on December 31, 2008.