Objective: I can learn to recognize lines and shapes that create a more complex image.

Materials:

Why: Drawing upside down is a wonderful exercise that helps artists learn to recognize shapes and lines in a picture. This exercise helps us to draw on the right side of our brain. The left side of our brains processes visual cues, and helps us identify patterns and symbols. By turning our reference picture upside down we no longer recognize the image. This allows the right side of the brain to take over and forces us to only see lines, shapes, and spaces. We stop seeing the object as a whole. As we focus on lines and shapes we will become better at drawing realistically (true to life).

Directions:

Click on the document to the right and print. When it is printed use the blank square to draw in. The drawing by Pablo Picasso should be upside down, it is our reference picture. As you draw you will draw him upside down. You may choose to start at the top or the bottom.

Start to only look at shapes and lines. Forget you are drawing person. Look at the drawing and try your best to draw the lines and shapes you see. Yes, your drawing is also going to be upside down. Once you are finished you can turn the drawing around and look at what you have made. You will be happily surprised to find that your drawing even though it was upside down looks like the drawing you were referencing.