Adding imaginary content

The Blinder Drawing Game
by Marvin Bartel, Ed.D. © 2003

For a related essay see: Motivating Non Drawers
See a page on teaching Shading
Art Ed Links  annotated  2003 UPDATE

A right brain game to foster observation and imagination.

1. Three or more players are in a circle, or several circles around worktables in a classroom.  A piece of copper or aluminum wire that is easy to bend is placed in block of wood.  Each player adds one bend to the wire, but no subject matter is allowed.  Keep it abstract, but interesting and unpredictable.

2. All players make a blind contour drawing of the wire.  Each is working with a blinder on the pencil so no one sees their paper.  Each player is at a different position, so each drawing is different.  This part fosters right brain observation ability.
Click here to see blinders being used on pencils.

3. The drawings are passed to the next person in the circle (to the right). 

4. Each player then studies the received drawing, turning in all directions looking for imaginary ideas.

5. Each player adds imaginary parts to the observed line drawing that was made by the person on their left.  Subject matter is added.  It can be real, fantastic, humorous, etc., but not a clichÈ. Encourage imagination. 

6. Pass the drawings to next person.  This person writes an imaginary title or invents a story about the picture. Encourage humor and unexpected stories.

7. Enjoy and discuss the results and their deep or shallow meanings.

8.  Scoring the game.  Sorry, there is not way to lose this game.  Everybody wins who participates.

Also see the Conversation Game to get ideas for artwork in the classroom or other group settings. 

 


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Art Education Links
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If you play this game, your ideas to improve it are appreciated.  Contact the author

Marvin Bartel, Ed.D., Professor of Art
Goshen College, 1700 South Main St., Goshen IN 46526

This page was updated January 2003

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©  2003 Marvin Bartel, all rights reserved.  You are invited to link this page to your page. For permission to reproduce or copy photos, text, or layout, or to place this page on your site or to make printed copies, contact the author