Place landmarks before shading
A grid for drawing portraits gives you reference points for the eyes, nose, mouth, and outer shape of the head. This page starts with ten columns and square cells. Rows are calculated from the photo dimensions, so a tall portrait will have more rows than a wide reference. The final row may be partial at the bottom edge.
Begin by locating the corners of the eyes and the base of the nose. Notice whether each landmark falls near a grid intersection, halfway across a cell, or close to one side. Compare both sides of the face rather than assuming they are symmetrical. A slight head tilt can move one eye into a different row.
Next, trace the larger silhouette mentally: forehead, cheek, jaw, and neck. Check where each contour enters and leaves a cell. Keeping these large relationships consistent is more useful than copying an eyelash before the head shape is settled.
Choose useful detail and values
Ten columns are a starting point, not a requirement. Reduce the count if the lines make the face hard to see; increase it only when you need a closer placement check. On paper, reproduce matching square cells and preserve any partial row rather than stretching it into a full square.
Leave color visible while locating features, then try Grayscale photo to compare light and dark masses. Look for the shadow under the nose and the broader transitions around the cheeks before small tonal changes. Adjust grid opacity if it hides these transitions. The grid method supports proportion checking; it does not supply anatomy or decide how to interpret a face. Save a PNG when the reference is clear enough to use beside your drawing.
Frequently asked questions
Why start with ten columns?
Ten columns offer a modestly detailed portrait reference. You can reduce or increase the count to suit the photo.
Why is the row count automatic?
Square cells use the photo width and column count to calculate cell size, then calculate the rows from the image height.
Should I draw from grayscale?
Try grayscale when comparing values. Keep color visible when color differences help you identify a feature.