Distortion Grid

Pablo Picasso, Jacqueline with Flowers. (1954).  lithograph. 

 Source: www.Pablo-ruiz-picasso.net

Picasso often merged figures, objects, and space on a kind of (predictable) grid (McCully, 2011) and the proportions in Jacqueline With Flowers look as though it could have been designed on a Distortion Grid. Grids have long been used to transfer or enlarge drawings by transferring the lines from the squared-off grid to a larger or other placed grid – with cells of equal proportion - one space at a time, recording the elements found in each space. The grid cells on both grids are numbered and lettered, in order to locate them more efficiently. When the new grid differs from the original grid, the resulting transferred drawing will be distorted, resulting in an altered appearance of the subject matter.  Distortion grids can use way lines, tilted lines, angled line, and all or some changed lines.  The more the distortion grid differs from the original grid, the more exaggeration will result.  Important parts to remember about designing and using a distortion grid is that both grids have to have the same number of cells across and down, and to Carefully study where each object’s edges and details fit into a square.  Draw them into the corresponding space on the distorted grid so they touch the edges at the same proportionate distance as they do in the original square.  Use the resulting drawing as is, or draw on tracing paper over it, adjusting lines it until it feels right.

Favorite Things, Distortion Process.2011 Joan Kresek
All images are copyright protected and may not be copied, saved, downloaded,
reproduced, or otherwise used in any way without my written permission.

 

Favorite Things, Distorted. 2011 Joan Kresek
All images are copyright protected and may not be copied, saved, downloaded,
reproduced, or otherwise used in any way without my written permission.