School-aged kids will learn how to create a drawing by following a grid in this easy project. This project can easily be used at home or in the classroom.
Using a gRID
Many artists use a grid when creating art. By breaking down an image into a grid, artists can focus on one portion of the drawing at a time. This is a wonderful method to help kids build confidence in their skills as they tackle complicated images one section at a time.
Related Link – Artists also use grids when drawing perspective, like in this Interactive Dinosaur project!
Supplies Needed to Make a Grid Art Project
- Image – we used a 4×6 inch postcard
- Watercolor Paper – the same size as the image
- Clear Plastic Sleeve – to hold image for grid drawing
- Permanent Marker – fine tip
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Watercolor Paints
- Paintbrushes
- Water
- Paper Towels
Directions to Make grid art
Step 1
With image in sleeve, use a ruler and fine-tip permanent marker to draw evenly spaced vertical lines across the sleeve. For simplicity, we chose to work in one inch increments.
Step 2
Next, use the ruler and permanent marker to draw evenly spaced horizontal lines across the sleeve. Use the same measurements as in step 1 to complete the square grid.
Step 3
On a blank piece of watercolor paper, preferably the same size as the image, use a ruler and pencil to recreate the grid. Use the same grid measurements as in steps 1 and 2. Tip: Draw lightly because these lines will be erased in a later step.
Step 4
Using a pencil, lightly sketch design onto the paper using grid lines for size and placement. Focus on one square at a time to ensure the drawing looks like the square in the image grid.
Step 5
Then, use the permanent marker to trace over final drawing. Erase unwanted grid and pencil sketch lines.
Step 6
Finally, add watercolor and finishing touches to complete the project.
Finished Grid Drawing Art Project
I love these completed projects! Since these paintings are made on paper, they are easily framed, clipped, or displayed in your preferred style.
Our Experience Making this Grid Art Project
While our drawings are still not perfect duplicates of the images, we now have a better understanding of the grid process, breaking down art into smaller sections, and seeing how easily our eyes deceive us when we’re attempting to draw something freehand.
I enjoy using this lesson to teach students that they too can draw complex art. It is easy to become overwhelmed by details and begin to think that an image is too complicated to recreate. By focusing on one square at a time, artists slowly piece together a detailed work of art to further develop their skills and techniques.
Plus, I like that this lesson provides kids a refresher course on using a ruler and practicing their math skills!
Prep Time
5 minutes
Active Time
45 minutes
Total Time
50 minutes
Difficulty
Medium
Materials
- Image – we used a 4×6 inch postcard
- Watercolor Paper – the same size as the image
- Clear Plastic Sleeve – to hold image for grid drawing
Tools
- Permanent Marker – fine tip
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Watercolor Paints
- Paintbrushes
- Water
- Paper Towels
Instructions
- With image in sleeve, use a ruler and fine-tip permanent marker to draw evenly spaced vertical lines across the sleeve. For simplicity, we chose to work in one inch increments.
- Use the ruler and permanent marker to draw evenly spaced horizontal lines across the sleeve. Use the same measurements as in step 1 to complete the square grid.
- On a blank piece of watercolor paper, preferably the same size as the image, use a ruler and pencil to recreate the grid. Use the same grid measurements as in steps 1 and 2. Tip: Draw lightly because these lines will be erased in a later step.
- Using a pencil, lightly sketch design onto paper using grid lines for size and placement. Focus on one square at a time to ensure the drawing looks like the square in the image grid.
- Use the permanent marker to trace over final drawing. Erase unwanted grid and pencil sketch lines.
- Add watercolor and finishing touches to complete the project.
Notes
Grid Drawing Art Variations
- Use other paper styles and mediums to create art with colored pencils, markers, acrylic paints, etc.
- Use clear sheet protectors to create larger grids.
- Use larger grid squares when creating work from larger images.
- Kids can reuse their plastic sleeve grid for future drawing projects.
- Instead of the clear sleeve, use another type of sturdy clear surface for grid drawing.
Grid Art Variations
- Use other paper styles and mediums to create art with colored pencils, markers, acrylic paints, etc.
- Use clear sheet protectors to create larger grids.
- Use larger grid squares when creating work from larger images.
- Kids can reuse their plastic sleeve grid for future art projects.
- Instead of sleeves, use another type of sturdy clear surface for grid drawing.
Other Fun Drawing Art Projects from Kids Activities Blog
Did your kids enjoy using the grid drawing process? What image did they choose to draw?
