Question:

just want to make everything clear before I order. If I order the featured package and I work from an 8x10 photo, then I can work on any size watercolor up to 14 x 17. I usually work 10x14. Is that correct? Thanks.

Answer:
yes, you can work on any size surface from 12x15 to even as large as 16x20. I just fill in the background.

Question:

Suppose I am working from a 4x6 photo and I am making a picture 11x14 of whatever. What you are saying is I slip my photo into the plastic sleeve and put the grid lines over my watercolor paper and start drawing in the grid spaces????

Answer:

 You are correct in the process, but not the sizes. The source package is made for an 8x10 source (photo or printout). So, if you are working from a smaller photo, you have a couple options. You could scan the source into your computer (perhaps it's stored there) then print it out as an 8x10 (or full sheet) and use that for your source.

Or, you could buy a miniature (post card size) SketchGenie for your source material (photo) along with whatever size SketchGenie you want your finished product to be. Instead of buying the source package or the featured product, you could buy two different size SketchGenies and use one for your source. I use painter's tape to tape the corners of the SketchGenies to the surfaces.

It's not necessary to buy a package; you may purchase any of the items individually. And, all the sizes can be used to increase or decrease your souce as well as copy same size works. (you'd need two of the same size SkethGenies).

SIZES:  http://www.sketchgenie.info/Sizes.html

Question: 

I have an iMac computer so I can't watch the video as I am missing something which would allow me to play this. Are there detailed instructions anywhere on the web site that I can read about this? I have used grids before and it seems that you have to figure proportions, etc. I am not sure I understand how this is different that other grid systems. Thanks for any information you can provide.

 Answer: 

There are instructions on the website, but perhaps it is not clear on the "how to" page. The featured package is in two parts: 1- source material (photo or printout) slides into a plastic sleeve that has the one inch grid lines pre-printed on it. The sketchGenie is a 14x17 inch frame with the grid lines (black elastic string) woven into the frame to make 1.5 inch grid lines. So, there is no calculating or drawing grid lines. The SketchGenie is placed on your drawing surface and you copy each grid by grid until you get what you want.  

How To:  http://www.sketchgenie.info/How_it_works.html

Question:

I would definitely be interested in knowing what I need to get/do to convert my 4x6 photo to a 8x10 drawing.

Answer:

If you are unable to scan your 4x6 photo into a computer to make an 8x10 printout, you can use the miniature SketchGenie by placing it over the 4x6 photo, (hold it on with alligator clips or painters tape), than enlarge to any size SketchGenie or the same size miniature, if you have two of them. You can enlarge and decrease pictures this way with any of the sizes offered.

Question:

Will your sketch grid work to use on 6x4 to reduce for miniatures to 2x3 and 3x5

Answer:

As will most SketchGenie sizes, you would be using the 8x10 source package with your miniature SketchGenie. The miniature SketchGenie is a 5x7 inch frame. The width of the frame is one inch which gives you a 4x6 drawing surface.

You can place the SketchGenie over smaller sizes making sure to use the number of grids that fit over your drawing surface with the same number of grids on your source. In other words, you need the same amount and orientation of grids on both source and surface.

When you are decreasing the size of your source material, I would suggest either blocking the outside edges (with removable painters tape) to fit the drawing surface and decrease the size of the subject material on the computer before printing it out.