This document provides instructions for three blind drawing tasks. It begins by having students put their hand in a bag to feel an object without looking, then use descriptive words to create a blind drawing. In the second task, students examine a new object for 5 minutes before creating an ink drawing with their arms outstretched. The third task has students choose a section of their ink drawing to enlarge and develop into a painted composition using color theory concepts like advancing/receding and complementary colors. The overall document guides students through a series of blind drawing and painting exercises intended to heighten descriptive abilities and understanding of texture through non-visual means.

1. BLIND DRAWING
DO NOT LOOK IN THE BAG UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO
TASK 3a
Put your hand in the bag and describe what you can feel to your neighbour. Be descriptive
rather than literal.
Write 3 or 4 words that describe the
qualities of the object eg. texture,
weight, mass.
Attempt to create marks that visually
describe the words you have noted
down.
Use these marks to help you create a
blind drawing of the object.
Quarry, Claude Heath 2003

2. Do any of the marks you used resemble the actual texture of the object? In what way?
Are you surprised by some of your descriptive words now that you have seen the object.
Would you describe it differently now?
Compare your object to the drawing

3. TASK 3b
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Swap your object with someone else.
Examine your new object in silence for five minutes.
Write a detailed description. Describe the size, colour,
surface qualities and look for any special features.
Put the object out of sight.
BLIND DRAWING
Matisse. Extended reach
THE DRAWING
Create an ink drawing in response to your
description of the object
A1 / A2 paper on easels.
Stand behind the line.
Paint in ink with arms outstretched.
Vary translucency and concentration of the ink.
Push, pull, turn the brush, press firmly, press gently
in order to produce a variety of thinner, darker or
lighter marks.
Amy

4. COLOUR THEORY RECAP
You need to be mindful of these colour concepts to do the next task.
Advancing / Receding colour: Warm, bright colours
give the illusion of being closer to the viewer, while
cool, dull colours appear to be further away.
Vibration: Complementary colours of equal saturation
and brightness compete with our eye for attention
when in close proximity to one another
Weight: Colours differ in weight based on their hue
and intensity. For example, red is considered a ‘heavy’
colour and the smallest amount would demand a
viewer’s attention in a composition..

5. DEVELOP A PAINTING
TASK 3c
Choose a section of your ink drawing from TASK 3b to enlarge.
Loosely plan your composition in washes of paint.
Follow the directions given by your teacher to develop the piece.
Amy SillmanClem Crosby

6. AMY SILLMAN DRAWING LECTURE Conversation
with Amy Sillman: Drawing in the Continuous Present
AMY SILLMAN

7. FOREGROUND, MIDGROUND, BACKGROUND