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riansart In reply to katvision [2013-03-15 03:45:41 +0000 UTC]

Well this particular drawing is only 7inX8in, so there was no need for me to enlarge it. For drawings that are not bigger than 9.5inX11in, I usually free hand the sketches. However if I am planning on doing a large scale drawing, I use the grid method of enlarging a drawing while still getting the correct proportions. This allows me to still draw free hand but keeps me from "cheating" with other methods like tracing or using a projector etc. Besides, the more you do it free hand, then better you get!

The last time I used a projector to enlarge something was when I was in high school; senior year. The 3 advanced art students (myself included) were set the task to draw the school's homecoming theme "mural". This was a chalk pastel drawing on large sheets of butcher's paper taped together to make a 13ftX10ft (aprox.) canvas. We sketched the design on regular sized paper, transferred it to a transparency sheet and then projected it onto our huge canvas, tacked to the wall. Once we had the outline transferred everything else was done free hand.

Long story short, I think there are reasons to use a projector to get a job done. But if you're not working that large, I'd suggest trying the grid method or practice free handing. As I said before, you will get better with practice. Good luck!

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katvision In reply to riansart [2013-03-15 16:12:54 +0000 UTC]

Ok, so this grid method. You dont draw that right on your picture do you? I imagine u lay tracing paper over it. I just cant get over how perfect n close ur pictures come out to the one u r using as a reference. If u dont mind can u exsplain ur grid method more? Thanks.

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riansart In reply to katvision [2013-03-15 19:58:28 +0000 UTC]

For the grid method, I do actually draw the grid on my paper. But I draw it really lightly: so it's just visible and easy to erase. Here is my version of the grid method. You might find a way that works better for you but you can try this and see how you like it:

1. I print a low quality version of my reference photo on plain copy paper. I usually try to make it as big as possible, so a full page print. My drawing will be larger than this.

2. Next I measure in cm, the width and height of the printed picture, as accurately as I can. If there is a small margin of white on the paper, I'll jot those measurements down there. Lets assume our reference photo is in landscape orientation so that the height is smaller than the width.

3. I divide those measurements by a number that will give me the most whole number answer. The number I chose to divide by is also equal to the number of rows or columns (depending on whether I'm dividing the width or height) on the paper. So for example, if your height measurement was 190.5cm, then I'd divide that by 5, and get 38.1. So each space between a line on your small picture would be 38.1cm apart. So I'd measure 38.1cm along the height margin of the small picture and make a mark of where that line is suppose to be drawn. Then I'd go to the opposite side of the picture and do the same. I'd then use my ruler to draw a line connecting both sides of the drawing. So I'd have 4 horizontal lines running across my small paper (5 spaces between those 4 lines). I'd do the exact same process for the width measurements. Since you used 38.1 as your measurement for the height, I'd try to get as close to that as possible for the width. That way, your grid will be as square as possible even if your reference photo is rectangular in appearance.

4. Once you have your grid done on the small paper, now its time to set up your proportions for the large paper. Measuring proportions is important because your reference photo usually will not match the dimensions of your larger drawing paper. So you will often need to "crop" your larger paper to get it to fit your smaller reference photo. So to do this, you already have your measurements for your small photo in height and width. So the next thing you need to do is find out the smaller measurement of either height or width (we're in landscape orientation so it should be height).

5. So lets say our large paper height is 500.6cm. To find the corresponding width in proportion to our smaller one, I use this simple math equation: Smaller measurements: 190.5cm Height X 220.2cm width. Larger measurements: 500.6cm Height X ??? width. So, 500.6/190.5 = ?/220.2 So 500.6 multiplied by 220.2= 110232.1; 110232.1 divided by 190.5= 578.6. So 578.6cm is your large paper width. So on your large paper, measure out 578.6cm and then draw your width border there. Hopefully whatever large sized paper you have will be larger than this.

6. Now that you have your large paper measurements, you can repeat step 3, using the same numbers to divide by height and width. That way you have the same number of rows and columns in your large paper as you do your small. They should be close to square as in the small paper, just proportionally larger. Essentially all we've done is blown up the grid just like you would with a projector. So next draw lightly the lines connecting your height borders and your width borders on the large paper.

7. All you have to do now is work square by square drawing the outlines you see from the small paper to your large paper, eventually resulting in a larger scale drawing of your smaller photo, that is quite accurate. Once you have your large drawing finished, then just erase your light grid lines and being your shading of the finished picture.

This looks really intensive and maybe even confusing written down, but when you do it, it doesn't take that long. Just as long as you've got a ruler with cm and can do the math, then its not hard at all. I'm usually done with the measuring and math pretty quick, its the drawing the grid lines that takes a little longer for me cuz I like to make sure they're as light and straight and accurate as possible. But I think its a good method to use when you want to blow up a picture but you don't have a projector, don't want to use one, or don't want to free hand it.

I hope this helps. I think this would have worked better if I'd had pictures to go with it. Maybe I'll make a tutorial someday. Good luck!

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katvision In reply to riansart [2013-03-18 02:10:38 +0000 UTC]

Thank u for the help. I have found a much easier way to copy/enlarge. Your method is quite complicated. But, i am enjoying using the idea, and am surprised how much easier it allows you to detail. I love how everything is in the correct proportion throughout the whole picture now. I feel i can still apply my astistic style and use a helpful tool. Funny thing is i have a projector, but feel it takes the challenge of creating a unique picture. Thanks again. I posted a pic 2nite of a drawing i started if ud like to look.

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riansart In reply to ladiosamala [2012-03-25 07:26:16 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! At the time that I finished it, it was probably the drawing that I was most pleased with!

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riansart In reply to GhostinReveries [2009-02-05 01:47:39 +0000 UTC]

Thank you

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riansart In reply to Sagwie [2008-11-30 09:25:58 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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riansart In reply to blondecrsity [2008-11-26 07:24:49 +0000 UTC]

Thanks Trust me I'm super carfull with the smeary stuff lol I love charcoal too, and I manage to keep my work on that pretty clean for the most part, so the 6B wasn't so hard. It was mostly used on the dark back ground parts. I always work left to right (I'm right handed) so my arm doesn't get in the way. That helps too.

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blondecrsity In reply to riansart [2008-11-27 01:06:00 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome. I try to be careful so I always try to start on the left but I always want to fix things once I do them so I smear everything by going back. I'm hopeless but I love working with pencil and charcoal.

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riansart In reply to bluemystic [2008-11-24 21:19:15 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! You can't stop with just the first book, I couldn't. I'm working on the second New Moon.

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bluemystic In reply to riansart [2008-11-24 21:48:39 +0000 UTC]

Have you ever read any books by Christine Feehan? She is a good author too. You might like her books.

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riansart In reply to bluemystic [2008-11-24 21:50:07 +0000 UTC]

The name sounds vaugly familiar, but no I don't think I've read anything by her. What does she write about?

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bluemystic In reply to riansart [2008-11-24 21:57:40 +0000 UTC]

She writes vampire romance novels. But they're not typical vampires. I'd recommend Dark Prince and Dark Magic. Both are good! Her characters can read eachother's minds when they are "life mates" Her stories have you hooked right off the bat and keep you the whole way through.

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riansart In reply to bluemystic [2008-11-24 22:22:08 +0000 UTC]

I'll keep an eye out for them when I go to get the next book in the Twilight Saga when I'm done with New Moon

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