am i the only one who hates drawing with a grid

[dirrty_rain_dreamer]

I dont feel like im actually drawing...anyone else feel the same?

[g,r,e,g]

Yer me too!! in skool the teacher tried to persuade me 2 use a grid but i jus cudnt, so i met her request half way by jus measuring the proportions of the drawing i was copyin from and making sure mine was bout the same.

[Mimirocks]

I almost wish I was never introduced to them because now I feel like I can't start a drawing without one. I'm like, afraid it wont turn out as accurate. So, I have yet to ween myself off the grids.

[dirrty_raindreamer]

i know what you mean about the being scared part...right before i start a drawing or someone gives m,e a pic to draw i get scared to start it ....

[SilentGuy]

I never used a grid, because I didn't want to get stuck on it. I agree that it takes away from the joy of drawing.

I do use a couple of other techniques to get some accuracy.

The proportions measurement trick described by Zindy in her tutorial is the most basic method I use.

Along with that I look at some alignment when I want to check something. For instance, if a corner in a jaw, tip of a nose, and a corner of an eye line up in the object picture, I make sure that that is also the case in my drawing. And while I'm aligning those things with a pencil, I also check that the angle I am holding my pencil at, is approximately the same in both cases.

And, of course the usual upside down trick, and mirroring, to get a more objective view.

One last tip. A while ago a fellow artist advised me to buy a little sketchbook, and make short sketches in it. They don't have to be brilliant, or even good. Just try to capture the main elements in a short amount of time. This was very useful to me, because every time I started a drawing before, I wanted it to be perfect, and I started to measure everyting. When I thought about it, it occurred to me that I never really sketched anything anymore. So: try to make some short sketches. No pressure. Just 10-20 maybe 30 minutes. Get some confidence in your sketching abilities, and then you won't need to use a grid anymore.