The document outlines the technique of upside-down drawing as a method to enhance observational skills by altering the way individuals perceive familiar objects. It emphasizes that this approach encourages seeing shapes and lines rather than preconceived concepts, making it a useful exercise for artistic development. After completing the drawing, participants are encouraged to reflect on their work by comparing it with the original image.

1. Drawing Upside Down
Learning to draw what you see!
A visual exercise for building observational skills.
Marsha Devine
© 2007

2. Why Upside Down Drawing?
• Create a shift from left to right brain activity
by drawing a picture upside down.
• Learn to see lines in relationship to each
other, rather than as preconceived shapes.
• Develop observational skills
• Have fun with drawing

3. How does upside down drawing
build observational skills?
• Familiar things do not look the same upside down.
• Our left brain expects to see things oriented in the
customary way – with the right side up.
• In upright orientation, we recognize familiar things, name
them, and categorize them by matching what we see
with our stored memories and concepts.
• When an image is upside down, the visual cues don't
match. We see the shapes and the areas of light and
shadow, We see lines, instead of real objects.

4. Upside-down Drawing Steps
• You are to copy an upside-down image.
• Copy the drawing just as you see it.
• Your drawing will be done upside down.
• Do not turn the original, or your drawing,
around until you are finished.
• Limit your time on this drawing to about
45-60 minutes

5. Simple in steps, complex in action…
• take a line drawing
• place it upside down
• and copy it.
• observe shapes, lines and their
relationships rather than naming
objects & features.

6. The following slides have images that are upside down.
Copy each image – having few distractions and taking time
to observe the lines and spaces of the original.
Do your best, but remember – this is not supposed to be a
perfect piece of artwork – this is a visual exercise – like
Pilates for the brain!
Turn over only when you are finished.

7. Pablo Picasso (1881-1973),
Portrait of Igor Stravinsky.
Paris, May 21, 1920

9. Ballerina, Edgar Degas

12. Albrecht Dürer (German, 1471-1528), The Rhinoceros

13. Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn, Cottage among Trees, 1648-50

14. Danny Gregory – Artist & Author
• Website http://www.dannygregory.com/index.php
• See him draw a portrait with a Koh-in-noor
Rapidograph and then fill it in with a wash of
Sumi Ink all the while keeping his
sketchbook upside down.
http://www.dannygregory.com/2007/03/portrait_688.php

15. Reflect & Review
• After completing your upside-down drawing,
compare it to the original – look at how the lines,
shapes, and spaces relate to each other.
• Is your drawing similar to the original?
• Whenever you are looking to ‘free-up’ your mind,
hone your observational skills, or just have a little
drawing fun – try this technique again!

16. References
• Betty Edwards, The New Drawing on
the Right Side of the Brain, Putnam
Publishing Group; Revised &
Expanded edition, 1999. ISBN:
0874774241.
• Betty Edwards, The New Drawing on
the Right Side of the Brain
Workbook: Guided Practice in the
Five Basic Skills of Drawing,
Jeremy P. Tarcher, 2002. ISBN:
1585421952. p.17.