A Lesson in Precision

In my recent exploration of portrait painting, I decided to step outside my usual approach and try something new: using a grid to guide the placement of elements in a realistic sheep portrait. This method was both challenging and eye-opening, offering lessons I’ll carry forward in my artistic journey.

The Grid Approach

The idea behind using a grid is to divide your reference photo and canvas into proportional sections, making it easier to transfer details accurately. I meticulously laid out a grid on my canvas—7.5 cm by 10 cm rectangles—and used it to place the sheep from my reference photo.

But even with this structured guide, I learned how crucial precision is. My initial placement was slightly off—the sheep’s eye ended up half an inch too far to the left, which threw off the entire portrait. This subtle error underscored the importance of exact proportions, especially in portraiture. Unlike landscapes, where elements can be shifted for aesthetic effect, portraits demand faithful representation to maintain their essence.

Lessons Learned

While I corrected the placement and continued painting, the experience reaffirmed a core principle: getting the fundamentals right at the start is critical. It also highlighted how different painting processes can shape our creative growth. For me, this experiment reinforced my preference for building forms with loose shapes rather than painting detail by detail.

This exploration, though challenging, was a valuable exercise in refining my technique and understanding my creative process better. It’s a testament to how every painting—whether successful or not—teaches us something new.

Watch the Process

Curious to see how it all unfolded? I documented the painting process in a time-lapse video. Watch the video on YouTube here and join me as I navigate this artistic experiment.

Exploring new techniques is part of the joy and challenge of being an artist. What’s a painting experiment that taught you a valuable lesson? Share your thoughts below—I’d love to hear about your experiences!

Be Inspired, Be Creative, Be YOU!