Blind Contour 🎨 👀 ✏️

Draw an object without looking at your paper. Discover a new way of seeing.

Congratulations on making it halfway! Regardless of how much you’re participating, please take this 3-minute survey to let us know how it’s going!

What will I need?

1. Paper and pencil, pen, or drawing tool.

2. An object to draw: a chair, dog, piece of fruit, or anything that catches your eye.

Steps:

1. Choose an object in your room to draw.

2. Look intently at the object but not at the paper.

3. Start drawing the object, keeping your eyes fixed on it. No peeking at your paper!

4. Draw continuously without lifting your pen or pencil.

5. Click the “heart” button for this post to track your progress and let us know you did this one.

6. If you’re up for it, share your description in the Substack chat or on social media with a link back here.

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Tips, Guidance, Inspiration, and Science:

Want to keep going?

1. Try drawing different objects or challenge yourself with more complex shapes.

2. Repeat the exercise with friends or family members and compare your drawings.

3. Experiment with different drawing tools for varied textures and lines.

Help! I'm stuck!

1. Take a breath and remember, this exercise is about the process, not the end result.

2. Keep your hand moving, even if it feels strange.

3. It's okay if the drawing isn't 'accurate.' It's about capturing essence and energy, not precision.

What's the science?

Drawing offers psychological benefits. Drake, J. E. (2019).

Standing on the shoulders of giants

We learned this one from beloved Austin artist Laura Lit.

Drawing makes you see things clearer, and clearer, and clearer still. The image is passing through you in a physiological way, into your brain, into your memory - where it stays - it's transmitted by your hands.

- Martin Gayford