Wouldn’t it be nice to just look at something and draw it? There it is on the paper right where you wanted it?

This seems like the holy grail for beginning artists. And speaking for myself, for experienced artists as well. We don’t always get it on the first try.

There are tools artists use to get things on the paper where they want. The simplest is using some form of a grid.

Rule of Thirds

I’m sure you’ve heard about the most common composition rule: the Rule of Thirds.

It’s where you divide your composition into thirds both horizontally and vertically.

If you place your area of interest at the intersection of any of those lines you should have a well-balanced composition.

There are other composition grids that people use: The Golden Triangle, Fibonacci Spiral, Phi Grid, Dynamic Symmetry and other fancy sounding names.

If you’re familiar with them and find them useful, great.

But I think they can get in the way for beginning artists. They just complicate things.

A Simpler Guide

I’m always trying to keep things simple.

Here’s the real-world problem artists have. How do I simplify what I’m looking at and get it on the paper where I want it?

We use the horizontal and vertical edges of our paper to compare angles, and estimate where things should go.

But when we’re trying to place things in the middle of our paper it gets harder. So by placing horizontal and vertical lines in the center it makes it easier to compare the angles that are closer to the middle.

It’s easier than fussing with the Rule of Thirds.

And best of all, using either of these grids gives you the same results.

When you overlay the 1/3 grid over the 1/2 grid you’ll see that the area of interest of the 1/3 grid plops right down in one of the 1/2 grid rectangles.

So with one horizontal and one vertical line, all you have to do is place your area of interest in one of the rectangles and you have a nicely balanced composition without all the fuss.

Using a Viewfinder

A viewfinder can help you sketch your composition accurately.

Most of the artist viewfinders I see for sale follow the Rule of Thirds.

Also, the biggest downside to buying a viewfinder is that it may not match the same ratio as your paper. You’ll be frustrated, since no matter how carefully you measure it will be distorted.

It’s helpful to use a viewfinder with only center intersecting lines, so I find it helpful to make my own. (I made a video showing how to make a viewfinder the same ratio as US letter size paper—perfect to practice on since it’s inexpensive: Make an Easy Viewfinder to Improve Your Drawings)

The most important thing is to make sure your viewfinder matches the same ratio as your paper or canvas.

I made a handout showing the aspect ratio of different canvas and paper sizes. You can use these as a template to make your own. Cut them out and trace them onto a cereal box. I use a sheet of transparent film to mark the intersecting lines.

Here’s a link to help you make your own viewfinder: Viewfinder Templates​

(If you want to make a viewfinder that matches your cellphone’s camera use the 4:3 ratio)

Final Thoughts

Don’t be a slave to the Rule of Thirds. Things don’t always fit perfectly in a textbook way. Let the guide be just that: a guide. Let things overlap a little if that feels more balanced.

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