Using the Grid

So now that you have given color cells a try the next step is to create a painting using the cell/grid method.  Kids are always amazed at the results they can achieve using the grid.  For this exercise we will be using a black and white photo.



Here is one I did today and if you look closely (click on photo to see larger) you can see my grid lines.











MATERIALS REQUIRED:

- watercolor paper
- watercolor, tempera, or acrylic paints
- pencil and ruler
- black and white photos (you can get old movie star photos here)

After printing off your photo measure a grid on to it.  For a regular page you want to measure a 1 inch grid.

You'll have a bit leftover so just trim off the extra.

Now transfer your grid to the paper you will be painting on.  At school we work larger but I can't fir a larger painting in my scanner so this particular piece is the same size.

As long as you have the same # of cells in your grid you will be fine.  So a picture marked off in a 1 inch grid can be transferred to a 2 inch grid, or a 3 or 4 as long as each cell is a square and you have the same # of cells.

Pencil in a sketch to help you paint and start painting square by square.....

Keep painting watching to duplicate the right values......Now it's been a long time since I have painted using a grid and honestly it was hard for me to focus square by square as I am so used to just painting what I want....a good way to deal with this is to turn the painting upside down so you can focus on each individual square and not the picture as a whole.

That's it.....next you can change the color scheme....still using a black and white but substituting different colors for the values.

Another interesting idea can be found here, students are given a few squares of both the photograph and blank paper(each have positions coded on the back) and are asked to duplicate what they have....the mystery portrait is then put together as a collaborative project....very cool!




We'll see you next time.