If you’ve ever tried using a normal square grid and still felt confused, please know this, you are not the only one.

A traditional grid can be helpful, but because every square looks the same, it’s very easy to get lost counting boxes instead of really seeing the shapes in front of you.

You might find yourself thinking, “Which square am I in now?” instead of noticing the angles, curves, spaces and relationships that make up the drawing.

That’s one of the reasons I created my custom grid method.

Stop Counting Squares and Start Seeing Shapes

A standard square grid can help with placement, but it doesn’t always help you learn to see better.

My custom grid uses a mixture of different shapes and sizes, including rectangles, diamonds, triangles and custom sections.

This gives your brain more visual clues.

Instead of relying on rows and columns, you begin to notice the shapes inside the subject. You start comparing angles, checking spaces and seeing how one part relates to another.

That is where drawing confidence begins to grow.

It’s not about making the drawing for you. It’s about helping you see more clearly, so your drawing skills improve over time.

Why Drawing Accuracy Matters So Much

Drawing accuracy is often the first thing that affects confidence.

If the drawing feels wrong, everything else can feel harder too.

The fur direction feels harder. The values feel harder. Choosing colours feels harder. Adding details feels harder.

But when the drawing is more accurate from the start, you have a stronger foundation to build on.

That’s why I like to separate the drawing stage from the pastel stage.

You don’t need to think about everything at once. You can focus on one skill at a time.

How We’ve Been Using This in Art Club

Inside Art Club, which is part of the Soft Pastel Skills Hub, we’ve recently been using my custom grid method to draw dogs.

The members joining live have been finding it much easier than a standard repetitive square grid, and it has been lovely to see their confidence grow as they start noticing shapes more clearly.

Alongside the drawing, we’ve also been looking at:

💛 fur direction, so the coat looks more natural
💛 contrast, so the dog has more form and depth
💛 saturation, so hidden colours are easier to spot
💛 values, so the portrait feels more realistic
💛 a simple method for choosing colours

Each little piece adds another layer of understanding.

That’s how progress happens. Not by trying to master everything in one go, but by building one skill, then adding the next.

A Simple Custom Grid Exercise to Try

You can try this yourself with one of your own reference photos.

Instead of creating a standard square grid, try adding a few different shapes across the image.

think about these things:

💛 large rectangles around the main shapes
💛 a diagonal line to show an important angle
💛 a triangle where a nose, ear or paw sits
💛 a smaller section around an area that needs more accuracy

Then, instead of counting boxes, ask yourself:

What shape am I really looking at here?
Where does this angle start and end?
How does this curve relate to the shape beside it?
Is this space wider, narrower, taller or shorter than I first thought?

This small change can make a big difference.

The Hub Is About More Than Copying a Picture

That’s what I love about the Soft Pastel Skills Hub.

It isn’t just “copy this picture”.

It’s about learning the skills that help you feel more confident with your own artwork too.

So if you’ve ever thought, “I wish I could draw more accurately,” or “I get stuck before I’ve even started,” this is exactly the sort of thing we work on together.

You don’t need to be naturally good at drawing to improve.

Sometimes you just need a clearer way to see what’s really there.

👉 Take a look inside the Soft Pastel Skills Hub here