Skip to content
the grown-up commonsPlay togetherBack to room

← Drawing, Again · Lesson 2 of 5

The edge, without looking

About it

This is called blind contour drawing. Rest your pencil on the paper. Look at your other hand, not at the paper, and draw its outline as slowly as an ant would walk along it.

Do not look down until you finish. The drawing will look strange, and that is the point: for a few minutes your eyes did the drawing instead of what you think a hand looks like.

If you want, set the gentle timer below for thirty seconds, a minute or two. It only shows time passing; nothing happens when it ends.

Draw without looking

  • Tape the paper down, or hold it with your other wrist, so you are not tempted to straighten it.
  • Turn your chair a little away from the paper, so your eyes stay on the thing you are drawing.
  • If you do look, just carry on. Nothing is spoiled.

A gentle timer, if you want one. It only shows time passing.

One question

In blind contour drawing, where do you look?

Say it back
A lesson is kept once you've answered the question and written at least 8 words. Nobody grades it; it stays on this device.