For your class project, choose a reference photograph you’d like to paint and create an outline drawing using one of the methods in this class. 

TRACING:
Tracing is highly accurate no matter what your level of drawing ability. It’s a great choice for beginners and a fast way to transfer an outline to your painting surface but it won’t help to improve your drawing skills.

GRID:
The grid method is also great for accuracy but is more time consuming and complex than tracing or drawing freehand. The big advantage is it allows you to scale up your drawing to a larger surface such as a canvas. And it will help to improve your drawing and observational skills. 

FREEHAND:
Drawing freehand is best for improving your skills but it’s harder to achieve accuracy if you’re a beginner or if you have a very complicated subject. But the plot points method will help you to map out your proportions before diving into details. Drawing freehand also allows you a little more artistic license and freedom to adapt your reference in your own way.

Which method do you prefer?