Blind contour drawing is one of my favourite things to do. There are so many reasons why it’s not just fun to do, but actually helpful to us as artists, in kind of a stealth way.
A beautiful painting that took a year to paint is a wonderful thing, but sometimes it’s more about how we want to feel than it is about ‘being an artist’.
Therefore I hereby give us all permission to make easy quick art that takes no skill and is just fun to do. Because we want to wiggle a pencil around and colour in with All The Colours as if we were five, and that’s a good thing.
I filmed myself doing this very thing a while ago just for fun, and then totally forgot about it, as is my way. But then I found it again! Yay!
And so here is a short {6 1/2 minute} video of my favourite way to draw for fun, which literally anyone can do, irrespective of whether you consider yourself an artist.
It’s a basic video for a very simple technique but the process and outcome both made me happy and I think that’s the most important thing.
Blind contour drawing is one of many ways you can start to explore your own unique artistic voice, because it’s so forgiving and guaranteed to produce something quirky.
It’s low pressure because you can’t hope to create perfection, so it really opens you up to Seeing What Happens.
And if ‘just play’ is something you struggle to do but like the idea – yup, blind contour is your friend there too. Enjoy!
Many Thanks for showing how to use carand’ache neocolor watersoluble’s …. I bought the a year ago have tried to use no success and no tutorials (that I could find!) I’ll try again now 😉
Oh you’re most welcome Kath! Glad it was useful. I really just use them like watercolour pencils – colour in, then smoosh around with a wet brush! They are a joy to use – have fun!
Hi Tara, I am a wanna be artist….. and I am loving your site. I am greatly encouraged. Hoping to go further than scrapbook art
Thank you – glad it’s helping you in your quest!
Nice to meet you I can’t get past drawing trees that’s all I paint is trees help me lol ra
wow!!! i like to see your the video of your work with the lamps! wonderfull teaching work. i think that i’ll start to do a lot of this. thank u very very much!!
Glad you found it helpful! 🙂