"I'm a big believer in taking the time upfront to work out any major compositional and layout issues in your work before the brush hits the canvas so last week, while reading Artist's Magazine, I spotted a cool tool that I just had to get. It's called the Compose-It-Grid--it's an easy-to-use plastic grid that allows you to transfer your planning sketch to your canvas. I already love it for still life composition. Remember the ratio needs to match your canvas size. Personally, I bought the square ratio (1:1) since it's my favorite format as well as the 8 x 10 ratio. Plus, I love that the Grid is heavy duty and will stand up to be tossed in an art tote, etc. for classes and workshops."
Aimee of Scarlet Owl Studios
http://scarletowlstudio.blogspot.com/2011/05/my-new-favorite-painting-tool.html
"I have found it an excellent tool for training one's compositional eye. I do a lot of plein aire painting as well as live figure work in the studio. In plein aire work it is useful in selectively framing a composition much as you would by creating a frame with your hands and fingers to peek through, though with much more ease and clarity. Of course, its main advantage is in being able to locate on the grid the principal objects and lines of the composition with the dry marker and then transpose them to the canvas. This allows one to experiment with line and the relative placement of the large masses before touching the canvas. The tricky illusions of perspective also become immediately obvious. In figure work in a studio setting the compositional help from the Compose-It-Grid works equally well with the added advantage of being able to see the negative spaces around the figure with more clarity. Also important, is the understanding of foreshortening, one of the greatest challenges in figure work since the untrained eye is usually determined to see the relationship of the figure's masses in preconceived ways and not as they actually are. Your Compose-It-Grid provides a reality check that even the most accomplished artist would find helpful, but it is extremely helpful for the student to learn to see the world through the eyes of an artist. I wish you the best of luck on the business end of this enterprise so that this useful tool becomes available to as many artists as possible."
Sincerely, Charles Ewing, Colorado
http://www.charlesewing.com
"The grids are an excellent teaching tool. The students delight in the ease that they can compose deep space around their self-portrait in a thumbnail sketch and then transpose it to a larger surface."
Madelon Umlauf
(Madelon Umlauf is a painter and art instructor at Austin Community College where she teaches life drawing and painting.)
"I just wanted you to know that not only is the grid fabulous for looking through and rendering from a distance but placing it on a picture (from a magazine, as an example) offers one of the best renderings possible! I just used one for a series of staircases for a new painting and I couldn't have done it w/o the grid (or let's say, it would have taken me days and days of correcting mistakes, etc., with all these angles)! I am so pleased with the result! Thank you, Cindy, for your genius mind! I've already used one of the viewfinders and I just love them! So far, my classes are giving you a rave review and want to know when these will be out on the market! Thank you again, Cindy!"
Best, Polly Jackson
Art Instructor for Texas Union Informal Classes, University of Texas
www.pollyjackson.com
"A bunch of us had your grid for Debbie's workshop last week and just loved them and found them a big help!! Thought you would like to know."
Diane Hooker Marietta, GA
"As a graphic designer, the use of grids in strengthening compositions and layouts, is part of my trade. Now that I am doing fine art drawing and watercolors, these grids give the artwork work a mature format. After trying out one of these sturdy grids, I've now got them ALL. Until a correct 'armature' or structure is fully developed, the artwork lacks cohesive power. So, I recommend all proportions which are offered. The smaller 'reddish' grid is a real help when contemplating color values as well."
CG, Maine
"I use this to see black & white values for my pen & ink work...and rule of thirds. I lost my old value finder while moving so this is new to me. I like it better!"
BMc, Albany, NY
"I use this product to aid in seeing the values landscape as well as figure compositions. It beats squinting your eyes all the time. I have already recommended it to my friends and students!"
Pat, Chicago, IL
"I have one that I have used for years. I want one in both oil color and watercolor totes plus and extra one where I draw. it is very helpful with my values."
Creative, Park Falls, WI
"We tend to forget how many artists made use of a compositional grid in order to scale drawings up to canvas in the proper ratio. Van Gogh made use of a grid until he claimed he no longer needed one, and David Hockney has exposed the fact that a grid and many other tools were in use long before Durer's time. This is an essential tool for every young artist, whether they are interested in producing a pencil sketch, watercolor or oil painting. I'd suggest beginning by using it in tandem with a photograph, sketch, or a device like an iPad mini, but if you're able to find secure resting place for the grid, you can take it with you while painting en plein air. It is a durable design, but I would caution you against using a grease pencil, or any kind of sharp eraser (like a Pink Pearl eraser), as these will leave unwanted marks which cannot be rubbed off easily. A whiteboard marker is the right thing to use here. I'm wishing that I had one several years ago!"
Sean, Ontario
