GB2190884A - Drawing aid - Google Patents

Abstract

A drawing aid comprises a frame 1 having a base 4 which can be supported on a fixed surface (either directly supported thereon or with a separate support), an imaging mirror 2 and a viewing mirror 3. The imaging mirror is inclined relative to the viewing mirror such that when the drawing aid is aligned with an object 10 to be drawn, an image of the object is reflected from the imaging mirror on to the viewing mirror to be visible to a person 16 using the drawing aid. Either the imaging mirror or the viewing mirror has a grid pattern 3a such that in use the grid pattern appears to be superimposed on the image viewed by the artist. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Adrawing aid The present invention relates to drawing aids for artists.

A problem encountered by artists, especially inexperienced artists, attempting to produce a realistic representation of an object or view isto select and maintain a composition for the drawing or painting, and to establish the correct perspectives in the drawing or painting. Awell known technique for alleviating this difficulty is sometimes known as "drawing by squares". lnthistechniquetheobjector view to be drawn or painted is viewed through a transparent rectangular grid. By moving the eye and/orthe grid the intended composition ofthe drawing or painting can be defined by a peripheral border of the grid. The artist then draws or paints the object or view seen through the grid onto paper on which is drawn or printed a grid corresponding to the transparent grid.The sub-division by the grid of the object or view enables the artist to more easily establish appropriate perspectives in the representation.

The painting by squares technique suffers from the disadvantage that it is necessaryforthe artist two always viewthe object or view from the same position relative to the grid. This is difficult to maintain in practice, and any disturbance of the grid or motion of the artists eyes will disturb the composition viewed which, once disturbed, is very difficult to re-establish. Also the grid creates considerable strain on the eyes ofthe artist as a result of the eye attempting to focus on both the grid and the object at the same time.

I have now devised an improved drawing aid, which enables such disadvantages to be alleviated.

According to the present invention there is provided a drawing aid comprising a frame having a base part engageable with a fixed surface to stably supporttheframe, said frame supporting an imaging mirror and a viewing mirror, said imaging mirror being inclined with respecttotheviewing mirrorso thatwhen the drawing aid is aligned with an object, an image of the object is reflected from the imaging mirror onto the viewing mirrorto be visible to a person using the drawing aid, either the imaging mirror or the viewing mirror having a grid pattern thereon. The grid pattern is such that, in use, it appears to be superimposed on the image viewed by the artist.

A sheet of paper, canvas or other appropriate drawing or painting material on which is provided a grid pattern corresponding to the grid pattern seen on the viewing mirror can be secured to the drawing surface. The artist can then readily make his drawing or painting by referring to the object or view and the image of the object conveniently displayed by the viewing mirror to determine the composition and perspectives of the drawing or painting.

Preferably, the base part of the drawing aid enables itto be conveniently rested on a substantially horizontal surface such as a table top.

In a preferred embodiment of the drawing aid, the base part is secured to the frame by pivot means which enable the frame to be pivoted about a horizontal axis. Preferably, the base part is capable of being secured by clamping means to a tripod stand which enables the drawing aid to be used where a convenient substantially horizontal surface is not readily available.

The mirrors are preferably supported by the frame so that when the drawing aid is rested upon its base part the viewing mirror is beneath the imaging mirror. The angle of inclination ofthe imaging mirror with respect to the viewing mirror may be variable to enable the image in the viewing mirrortobe adjusted to be most conveniently visible to the person using the drawing aid. When in use, the imaging mirror is inclined towards the user and away from the object to be painted or drawn. Bythis arrangement a panel, upon the undersurface of which may be provided the imaging mirror, may have the upper surface thereof conveniently used as a drawing surface.

To use the drawing aid the artistalignsthe drawing aid with an objectorviewwhich he proposes to draw or paint. By adjusting the height, distance and inclination (which may be adjusted by means of pivoting theframe aboutthe aforementioned horizontal axis) of the drawing aid with respectto the object orview he produces an image of the composition of the proposed drawing or painting in the viewing mirror.

One embodiment of a drawing aid constructed in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings, in which; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the drawing aid, Figure2 is an illustration of the use of the drawing aid of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a view of the drawing aid of Figure 1 mounted on a tripod stand.

Referring to the drawings, the drawing aid illustrated comprises a frame 1, which supports an imaging mirror2,facing aviewing mirror3,onwhich is provided by engraving, painting or otherwise a rectangular grid pattern 3a. The frame 1 is mounted on a base 4 capable of stably supporting the drawing aid on a flat surface provided by a table 5.

The frame 1 is moulded from a plastics material, although it should be realisedthattheframecould be made of cardboard, card, wood or metals. It comprises a rectangular bottom panel 6 and two opposed side walls 7 and 8, which extend upwardly and divergently from opposed edges of the bottom panel 6to support a rectangular upper panel 9. One surface ofthe panel 9 faces one surface ofthe panel 6, and the panels 9 and 6 are inclined toward one another. The imaging mirror 2 and the viewing mirror 3 are secured to the opposed surfaces of upper panel 9 and bottom panel 6 respectively.The inclination of the panel 9with respect to the bottom panel 6 is arranged so that when the drawing aid is aligned with an object as illustrated in Figure 2, an image of the object 10 is reflected from the imaging mirror 2 onto the viewing mirror3.

Around the periphery of upper panel 9 are a series of lines9a corresponding tothe numberof lines around the edges of grid pattern 3a on viewing mirror; the spacing between the lines 9a is, of course, greaterthan the spacing between the lines making upthegrid pattern 3a becauseofthe expanded scale.

The base 4 comprises an elongate panel 11 and coextensive uprights 12 and 13 which project upwardlyfrorn the end of panel 1 Two axles 14and 15 project laterally away from the side walls 7 and 8 respectively to engage in apertures (not shown) in the upper ends of the uprights 12 and 13 so thatthe panel 11 extends beneath the bottom panel 6.

To use the drawing aid, panel 11 of the base 4can be rested upon a flat, substantially horizontal surface such as that provided by the table 5 in Figure 2. The drawing aid is aligned with the object 10 and the frame is pivoted about the axles 14 and 15 until the desired image ofthe abject 10its conveniently visible in the viewing mirror 3 to the artist 16.The frame 1 is then locked in piace by locking nuts 17 and 18 on axles 14 and 15 respectively, to prevent accidental displacement oftheframe 1 In use the image in the viewing mirror 3 is conveniently visible to artist 16 with the grid 3a superimposed overthe image to enablethe relative sizes of the elements of the object 10 and hence the correct perspective of the proposed drawing to be readily established. Howeverthe problem of eye strain caused by the artists eye attempting to focus on both the grid 3a and the image of the object loins alleviated.The frame 1 around the viewing mirror 3 can provide an effective borderto the mirror and image thereon and the composition of the drawing can be readily adjusted by adjusting the height and distance of the drawing aid with respectto the object 10.

The upper surface of the upper panel 9 provides a large flat surface which can conveniently be used as a drawing board when the drawing aid is in use.

The pattern of lines 9a enables a sheet of paper, canvas or other medium (with orwithout a grid pattern corresponding to grid pattern 3a) to be appropriately located.

Figure 3 shows the drawiing aid secured to a tripod stand 19, of substantially conventional type, which enables the drawing aid to be used where no convenient flat surface, such as a table top, is available to rest on base4 on. The drawing aid is detachably secured to the stand by means of a clamp 20, which grips the panel 11 of the base 4.

Various modifications of the drawing aid illustrated are possible. For example although a rectangular grid pattern is illustrated, any other shape-filling pattern may be used, such as a pattern oftriangles or hexagons. In any case, the grid pattern is such that it divides the area into a multiplicity of discrete units of area.

Claims (8)

1. Adrawing aid comprising a frame having a base part engageable with a fixed surface to stably supporttheframe, said frame supporting an imaging mirrorand a viewing mirror, said imaging mirror being inclined with respect to the viewing mirror so that when the drawing aid is aligned with an object, an image of the object is reflected from the imaging mirror onto the viewing mirrorto be visible to a person using the drawing aid, eitherthe imaging mirror or the viewing mirror having a grid pattern thereon.

2. A drawing aid according to claim 1 in which the base part is secured to the frame by pivot means which enable the frame to be pivoted about a horizontal axis.

3. A drawing aid according to claim 1 or 2, in which the base part is such that it can be directly supported on a horizontal surface.

4. Adrawing aid according to any of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a stand and means for clamping the base partto said stand.

5. A drawing aid according to any of claims 1 to4, in which the viewing mirror lies beneath the imaging mirrorwhen the drawing aid is supported on the base part.

6. A drawing aid according to any of claims 1 to 5, which further comprises means for adjusting the angle of inclination ofthe imaging mirror relative to the viewing mirror.

7. A drawing aid according to any of claims 1 to 6, inwhichtheimaging mirror is provided on the undersurface of a surface for supporting drawing paperorthe like.

8. A drawing aid substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.