Blind Contour Drawing also known as Right-Brain Drawing -the most valuable class I had as an art major in college- I took a leap of faith and taught it to my K-1st graders then went on to 2nd and 3rd graders This is something that can be learned in a few minutes and one can be an instant expert. Some need to practice a few times but the key is to following directions and not worry about the results. Children think that they have done magic when they produce a beautiful drawing without looking at the paper.
Children need confidence and this is a very good way to help them get it. I never had a student who couldn't do it
Sara, 1st grader- after drawing lessons
She set this puzzle in front of her and drew from it while I was working with another group.
Sara's rendition of our dragon, shown below.
This is our puzzle that Nicolas drew from.
Nicholas, 1st grader, chose our most difficult puzzle to draw!
This first grader gained so much confidence from her great work that she organized a singing group among her friends in the class and, on her own, scheduled dates with other teachers to take her group to their classes at recess and perform for them! I didn't find out until teachers complimented me on their singing of the Titanic Theme Song! My Students Surprise Even Me!
My Students Surprise Even Me!
I always gave my first graders glue bottles to use for the Blind Contour DrawingLesson on the first day of school. They always did well, and we were all satisfied with the results. Then one year we didn't have any glue bottles and all I could find was a spray bottle under the sink. I picked it up and walked toward the front of the class, praying. I was fighting the sickening feeling that I was about to make a very big mistake by giving my students a task too tedious and advanced for them.
I smiled weakly and began the lesson. Holding the bottle up in front of me, and facing them, I drew with the Blind Contour Method, on the board behind me. They sat and watched in rapt silence. When I was finished I gave them paper, drew a large spray bottle on the board for them to copy, and stood at the front of the room to watch their eyes, making sure that nobody looked down at their paper.
As they finished, I walked around the room gasping with surprise and utter disbelief.I just couldn't believe the beautiful job they had done. It was a turning point in my life. I had been underestimating my students for years. What else was there out there to yet discover?What else could those little children do that I didn't know about? What else are we missing?
To make the long story a little shorter, I began heaping all sorts of tasks on my students and found that they are limited only by my conception of what little kids can do.
A 3rd grade girl did this from a step-by step drawing lesson that I also use in my classroom. Everytime I begin a new step I say "Look", and they look. This carries over into all other subject areas. When I say "Look", I want them to look, and they do, because they've learned that "looking" will get them results!
A whole class of 3rd graders could set everything up, paint neatly, and put it all away, practically without supervision.
Click on the picture to see why Emily was still painting when everyone else had cleaned up.
Another rendition of the much loved spray bottle
The two horses below, done by 1st graders, were actually done with a step-by-step method, which I also use. The bird, by a 3rd grader, was done by blind contour painting, looking just a little, without drawing first... just draw with the paint! I was very surprised by the results.
Blind-Contour Painting! 3rd grader
1st graders work displayed at a family festival
As a 7th grader, Kaleo has won first prize in an art show!
Can you feel the pride and sense of accomplishment these students are feeling as they complete their neat and beautiful work?
Everyone Can Do It! We do these exercises over and over and they never get tired of it! It is part of the repetitive motion method I use that helps students understand concentration.
