Sunday, February 13, 2011

Blind Contour Fun

Students practice the blind contour drawing method by creating a portrait of a fellow student.  The students draw "blind" with their eyes open, but their drawing surface covered...which is also the inside of a paper grocery bag (big thanks to Whole Foods for the donation).  This demands that students carefully observe the face they are drawing by tracing it with their eyes and translating what they see through their hand.  Without lifting the drawing tool, using one continuous line, the students create an expressive portrait.  This exercise teaches students to carefully concentrate and observe as well as loosen up and allow drawings to be expressive...the end results are abstracted, interesting faces!