How to Grow Your Drawing Skill: How to Draw #5

Learn one of the most powerful tools to increase your ability to see like an artist: the "blind" contour.
This is part of the "How to Draw" Series. Watch them in order, or however you like!
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[azbzzz]

I've been watching you for a while. And I did not think I could draw. But I watched one of your videos about drawing something every single day. And no judgement if it was good or not, the last 4 days I drew something in my sketch book. This has been the most freeing feeling in the world. And I actually was pretty proud of my accomplishment. The amazing thing is I learned a lot in this short period of time. Thank you. I have vowed to draw every single day in 2024.

[olivierchamberland]

I'm 35 and fighting a cancer. I was looking for a hobby and fell on one your video about drawing freely without judgment. It happens you start drawing in your late 30's which rings a bell for me. So i start drawing!

Now it's been a week i'm playing with my pencil (don't have the courage to use a pen yet haha) with your help and other youtube channels and i have done things i would never imagine doing when i thought start drawing.

It also fullfill me with pride and zen vibes.. Want to thank you for that, helps a lot in those dark days!

[johnbryant_]

I just did two blind contour drawings, one a stack of books, and the other a book end with a Fleur de Lis decoration. As you can imagine, they were hideous. I showed them to my wife and got a kick out of watching her debate in her mind whether to be honest or to say they looked nice. This was also the first entry in my first sketch book.

[debbieyoung]

The book Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain explains this and gets into partial contour drawing, negative spaces, etc. It really does improve one's drawing skills.

[pragativasisht]

i drew my cup, glasses and pen and am just amazed at how much they resemble the real thing! thanks danny!

[jumbobillion]

"Recording the journey of my eyes". What a beautiful way to think of drawing

[marydaniel]

I have picked up and discarded drawing countless times. Each time I pick it up again, I'm reminded of how good it feels, though it's obvious my skills are non-existent. Your instruction is so compelling and fun, so here I am again. But also, I feel as if a good friend is speaking to me, which makes the experience all the better. Thank you for all the time you take to make us feel like something vital is about to happen. I'm ready to make this an integral part of my life, thanks to you.

[Thrushtheviking]

I watched the chaos unfold into a plant on a piece of paper. Dan is bonkers in the best of ways. I had forgotten how much fun blind contours are. Thanks again good sir!

[season.appreciation]

Goodness!! I haven’t done ANY drawing for years but this takes me back to my college days when we did exercises like this. I remember two exercises that really helped me: using only a ballpoint pen and the other was to draw a subject without lifting the pen or pencil from the paper! Also drawing ONLY the spaces between objects. It’s about time I started drawing again! So glad I found you! Thank you so much 😊

[msfit]

I used to draw a little when I was a kid and took it up again during the pandemic shutdown. Then moved into watercolor, which I love. Decided to take a break from that frustration and go back to trying to improve my drawing skills. This exercise was a lot of fun and a real crack-up. It got me to wondering if this was how Picasso moved into abstraction😂 I keep a note on my art table that says, "Failure is the only way forward." It's a great reminder that mistakes are really important for learning and progressing. Thanks for all you do. I'm going to check out your books and start reading them. You provide such encouragement!

[judigurl]

Ur voice is so soothing it's putting me to sleep but i want to stay awake lol...u have an amazing voice. U could've made millions just using ur voice..ur also a fantastic teacher. Thank you for giving us your time and expertise. I'm hoping this is going to work for me... If i can stay awake lol

[melindareynolds]

I think you and drawing may be what I need to get through 2024. Turn off the TV/phone/news and draw with Dan. 😊 Thank you.

[BStarfireMcquinn]

I remember when I did this for the first time about a year ago, and it DID blow my mind. What I drew actually looked like what I saw. It's a fun thing to do! :) I remember when I was relearning how to walk and had a horrible time. The Doc told me to stop thinking about it and just do it. It was hard, but when I did that, I was actually able to make steps that were almost normal.

[lenepedersen]

What a great abstract plant you got out of this. My tulips ended up very abstract too - this is a great exercise 🌷

[JanetHadson-pozr]

I’m legally blind and I have one eye that is low vision but I pretty well have a go at anything artsy . Even if it looks cartoony or simple I don’t care cause art is for me. I feel like I’ve done some work cause I’m retired and have days to fill. I’m drawing landscape on cards and I think it will be a hobby business but if people don’t buy my drawings that won’t be a problem either cause they’re for me first and always. I didn’t think it possible to feel confident and not need validation . But after five years of drawing and trying most media I’ve settled in what feels right for me. Still I am learning more and more from videos like this . Thank you for teaching what you know 🙏❤️

[thelazychefuk]

First ever blind drawing was of you! It came out okay! I have found it stops the worry of getting things right and actually seems better than my actual drawings!😆I have enjoyed this exercise better than any other and think I will do it a lot.

[GallonTrashCan]

around 13:10 when he said, "Or it might say rubber tree, I think." was hilarious!

[mrs.stocky]

My mom and I had an artist in Maui draw us with some kind of oil medium and it turned out beautifully. The thing that amazed us the most was just that he did so much of his work while looking at us. We still can’t fully understand how he got so much on the page while studying is so closely.

[e-k-]

I always said: I cannot draw. But then I watched your videos - and it was fun. Your way of teaching is fun. And I am proud of my first contures. It makes me happy. Thanks Dan.

[nordicview]

Wow, I was so impressed that I actually had recognizable results of my blind object drawings - the lines even ended very close to where I started, made the object contour complete. Big confidence boost 🎉