A good mantra for blind contour drawings
The prompt today is Big Bird. Immediately thought of the big yellow guy on Sesame Street but wanted to do something a little different.
Have you ever tried a blind contour drawing? Specifically a continuous line blind contour drawing or portrait? You draw something in pen without looking. The “results are quirky, kooky and otherwise surreal” writes Tammy Garcia of Daisy Yellow Art.
I first tried this in 2018 during the annual ICAD art challenge (that’s Index Card A Day). Typically you create a self-portrait; look at a photo of yourself, and only the photo — don’t look down, and draw one continuous line to replicate the image you see.
Some people blindfold themselves or create a tent over their hand to keep from looking. The urge to look is hard to resist.
But again, the results… fun.
I made five attempts and didn’t really notice a ton of improvement, but there were differences. I began with the eyes on these two attempts.
Started from the top of the head on two others. Then for the fifth, I started at the bottom.
I suppose there was some improvement. Regardless, it’s a great creative experiment to push yourself out of the comfort zone of perfection. And there’s zero risk. It’s on an index card, or a scrap sheet of paper. Throwaway.
I’ll share the first one I ever did as a self-portrait in 2018. I added color after the pen drawing, while looking, just for fun.
You can do whatever it is you want. It’s your art, your experiment, your fun. Have at it.
With that, I leave you with my Picassoesque masterpiece. Until tomorrow, keep creating.
