Grid technique - Cheating or Acceptable.

[MnM]

I recently saw a technique called grid technique. It is done as follows - Overlay the image to be drawn with a grid. Next construct a proportionate grid lines. And use the grids to draw the image to get almost precise drawing of the photograph or whatsoever. Doing this traditionally is a bit time consuming but, digitally, its very very easy.

I have done this using that technique. Even though its a bit rushed, you can very well identify who that person is.

Reference Image (Click to View)

Drawn image (Click to View)

This technique has eased my job. I want to know whether this is cheating or it has already been practiced.

[Som1Lse]

I wouldn't refer to it as cheating, unless a contest specifically states that techniques like these are forbidden, that is.
It is a technique, that someone can use to improve his speed when working with art.

[betitngoan]

for me , it's cheating ....
i only do this when i have to draw a map for my teacher

[LutiChris]

I generally look down on it since i try to not limit my self to that technique however look at it this way: a bad artist will use the grid, his or her drawing may turn out more proportionately accurate. But a good artist can use a grid and still have better proportions while maintaining that high quality workmanship the artist's possesses.

What you could try to do is use the thumb-&-pencil technique
usually this applies to real-life-time scenario references but you can still try to do the same with online references

[LutiChris]

It allows you to see exact lenghts between objects ... for those who can't see the exact attributes of contruction. It's like using a ruler to get length of line which can be calculated from other data. Some of us just can't see the all data in this task.

Like Gad mentioned already you can establish measurements just by using a ruler. When you think about it pretty much any reference or tool that we use that aids us to some degree is considered cheating. Some people don't often care about how you go about doing it as long as you get it done. So with that in mind forget about the guilt you are bearing within yourself. There are other ways that'll make it feel like you are not cheating ... i guess? This is what i call the thumb-and-pencil technique. Click the Image bellow to understand it, i use it all the time when im trying to figure out my proportions.
also here's another trick you can use.

It gets even harder when you are doing foreshortening.
Here's another technique you can use that i think will help everybody (it kinda reminds me of doing gesture drawings)

[prince_freeza]

tracing = cheating.

gimme 5 mins and i will give you an exact replica of that image if u let me trace over it, even without the grid thing.. anyone can do this.

[LutiChris]

It's not tracing though, the grid technique is to help identify (eyeball) certain parts in the drawing. So it's more guesstimating than 100% accurate.

[Monolanier]

Its not cheating, if you need to draw, then you can draw, its like drawing guidlines.

this thing, yawh.
my teacher it once showed, but i dont like it >< for no reason.

tracing = cheating.

grid =/= tracing.

Tracing is like what most people do, trace outline and shade.

gimme 5 mins and i will give you an exact replica of that image if u let me trace over it, even without the grid thing.. anyone can do this.

not anyone, if you are so good as you say, prove it, no proof no believers

[prince_freeza]

not anyone, if you are so good as you say, prove it, no proof no believers

are you questioning my abilities? if i say i can trace that christian bale picture within 5 mins it means i can do it...
i dont need to prove my self to you, my artworks speak for them selves..

[Monolanier]

indeed I am but can you do using grids in 5 mins?



edit: just go and do it.

no my argument is not invalid, i said i can make it within 5 without the greed, now he comes up and asks me if i can do with grid which is the really not relevant thing here.. try reading the whole post next time..