How it works...

Drawing activities are lead by two art instructors of the Mobile Drawing Center. Two community members will participate at a time. Sitting in the designated drawing area, the two participants will execute blind contour portraits of each other. With the support of the instructors, community members will explore basic fundamentals of observational drawing through an exercise that improves hand-eye coordination.

Introduction (5 minutes): The instructors will review the details of the activity by providing instructions, examples, and a brief explanation of some fundamental observational drawing principles.

Blind Contour Drawings (10 minutes): Participants will execute 2 drawings with the support of the instructors.

Closing (5 minutes): Participants will share their drawings with each other and reflect upon the exercise through a short discussion.

TOTAL TIME: 20 minutes

**Participants are encouraged to donate 1 drawing to the Mobile Drawing Center's "Permanent" Collection. These drawings will also have the opportunity to be displayed at the art center's gallery.

Blind Contour Drawings

-A drawing completed without looking at your paper
-Develops hand eye coordination
-Drawing what we "see" rather than what we "know"

-Carefully observe the contours of the subject.
-Focus all attention on the relationship between your eye and  your hand.

Examples:

http://artbydiahn.blogspot.com/2007/10/blind-contour-friday.html

http://drawsketch.about.com/od/learntodraw/ss/blindcontours_2.htm

http://karenwinters.com/kblog/2005/08/13/blind-contour-self-portrait/

Constructing the art center...

The Floorboard is a large acrylic painting on unstretched canvas. When unassembled, the floorboard easily collapses into a large roll for transport. 

The Railings are constructed out of recycled soup cans. Each pole consists of approximately three cans. Rocks are used as weights in the bottom can to provide extra stability. Braided rope, twine, or yarn is used to connect each pole.

The Gallery continually cycles drawings made by the community in the main gallery. The gallery shares the same space as the exterior "walls" of the art center. Drawings are hung with clips from the railing on the exterior side.

The Drawing Board is constructed out of cardboard. It folds into a single flat rectangle for easy transportation. The drawing board provides two artists with a flat drawing surface to work on. Paper is provided to the participants in the form of drawing pads. As each drawing is completed the drawing is removed from the pad and either stored in a folder or displayed in the Gallery. Each drawing pad is secured to the board with either clothespins or bull dog clips. 

The Container for the mobile drawing center requires the support of two people. It is in the form of a two-person backpack that holds all collapsable parts. Each section of the drawing center has a designated position in the container either inside of the bag or held securely on the exterior with buckles.