Try Drawing Without Looking at the Page. It Might Change How You See

Here's a challenge. Grab a pen, pick an object in front of you, and draw it without looking at the paper. Not once. Just keep your eyes on the object and let your hand follow what you see.

The result will probably look wonderfully strange. And that's the point.

That exercise, called blind contour drawing, is one of the sixteen activities in A Creative Exploration of Drawing by artist Sandrine Pelissier. It's a book designed to help teens and adults fall in love with drawing again, or for the very first time, by throwing out the rigid rules, intimidating techniques, and impossible skill levels that make so many people give up.

So many of us stop drawing somewhere around the age of ten or twelve. That's often when we start comparing our work to others and deciding we're "not good at art." From then on, the blank page feels like a test we're destined to fail. Pelissier's approach sidesteps that fear completely. Instead of asking you to make a perfect, realistic picture, her activities invite you to play, experiment, and see what happens.

Blind contour drawing is a perfect example of why this works. The technique was popularized by art teacher Kimon Nicolaïdes in his classic book The Natural Way to Draw, and generations of art students have used it since. Because you can't look at the page, you can't judge your drawing as you go. Instead, you're forced to really study the object in front of you, noticing its edges, curves, and details in a way you normally wouldn't. It trains your eyes to observe, which is the real foundation of drawing, and it frees you from the pressure of getting it "right."

Drawing with your non-dominant hand works in a similar way. When you switch hands, your lines become wobbly and unpredictable, and your usual habits and perfectionism go out the window. Many people find the results surprisingly expressive and full of character.

The book is packed with other fun, hands-on techniques. You'll explore mandalas and patterns, which are wonderfully meditative. You'll try figure drawing and shading. You'll experiment with stamping and monoprinting, a printmaking method that produces a single, unique print, usually by applying ink or paint to a smooth surface, drawing or pressing into it, and transferring the image to paper. You'll even doodle over magazine pages, turning ordinary photos and ads into surprising new artworks. Each activity comes with clear, easy-to-follow instructions, but leaves plenty of room for your own choices and happy accidents.

That emphasis on learning by doing is what makes the book so effective. Pelissier believes art doesn't have to look classical or realistic to be beautiful, and that creativity grows when you give yourself permission to explore. It's an approach that works just as well for a complete beginner as it does for a seasoned artist looking to shake up their routine and find fresh inspiration.

Pelissier brings real artistic credentials to the page. Born in France and now based in North Vancouver, Canada, she is an artist whose work has been exhibited internationally and featured in art publications. She also writes about art instruction and co-founded the North Shore Art Crawl, a community event that invites the public into artists' studios. Her passion for making art accessible shines through on every page.

A Creative Exploration of Drawing is perfect for teens and adults who want to explore different styles, anyone looking to jump-start their creativity, art teachers searching for fresh classroom activities, and anyone who wants drawing to feel like a fun adventure rather than a daunting task. Pick up your pencil, embrace your unique style, and see the world in a whole new way.

A Creative Exploration of Drawing by Sandrine Pelissier is available now in paperback and hardcover.