Draw Only What You Are Told
Barry Gazzard, University of Western Sydney, NSW, Australia

Drawing an object without seeing it or knowing what it is

Barry Gazzard says he has one favorite exercise that is also always a good ice breaker to get a group of students "out of the conventional observation mode of drawing."

Students are asked to find a collection of smallish objects like scissors, toilet brushes (unused), a shoe, a hole punch, or any of various tools. Gazzard is especially partial to things that have a variety of surfaces, shapes, materials, and interesting extensions into space, like coat hangers.

Next the class divides up into pairs, and each two partners seat themselves back to back. One student receives paper and something to draw with, while the other is blindfolded. The blindfolded student is given an object and asked to describe it in observational terms, without naming it or giving a clue to its function or use. For example: "It has a long bit sticking out that tapers toward the end and is about three centimeters (11/4 inches) at the beginning and tapers to two centimeters (3/4 inch)." The description may include any facet of the object but must not mention anything that points to or indicates its function.

The students who are not blindfolded then draw what is described to them without seeing the object or knowing what it is.

The exercise elicits all sorts of skills and brings home to both participants concepts of representation, observation, and description.

Afterward the students change places, and those who were formerly blindfolded get to do a drawing.