The Badge Archive

Blind Contour Drawing

Activity Description: Scouts draw an object without looking at their paper to explore observation and movement through blind contour drawing.

  • Fulfills Step 2 of GSUSA Brownie Art and Design badge requirements.
  • Fulfills Step 3 of GSUSA Junior Art and Design badge requirements.

Info Needed: Lines in art are like the building blocks of a picture. They help artists show shapes, movement, and feelings. Imagine drawing a happy face with a big smile. That’s using lines to show happiness! Lines can be straight, wavy, or zigzag, and each type can make the picture look different. They can make patterns. They help tell a story and make the art more interesting and fun to look at.

Items Needed:

  • One sheet of paper per scout
  • Pencil or pen
  • A simple object to draw (e.g., a toy, plant, shoe, or water bottle)

Instructions (Estimated Total Time: 20 min):

  1. Explain how blind contour drawing works (3 min)
    • Blind Contour Drawing is when you look at an object and draw it without looking at your paper. You only look at the object and move your pencil to follow its edges. It’s like a surprise drawing because you don’t know what it will look like until you’re done!
    • Scouts will draw the object without looking at their paper and without lifting their pencil.
  2. Scouts begin their drawing by choosing a starting point (7 min)
    • As their eyes follow the edges of the object, their hands move slowly across the paper.
    • Draw one continuous line without erasing, peeking, or lifting the pencil.
  3. Scouts look at their finished drawing and reflect (5 min)
    • What was the hardest part
    • Did their hand and eyes stay connected
    • Was anything surprising or silly
  4. (Optional) Scouts try a second drawing of the same or a new object (5 min)
    • Notice if the second try feels different after practicing.
Tia Kennard