Back to Basics: Spilling the Tea on How to Teach Observational Drawing with Confidence

You may remember staring at a bowl of fake fruit or an old, stinky shoe that came from a mysterious art teacher closet. Your assignment was to capture it in your sketchbook. Maybe you were in the zone, intensely scribbling the most lovely continuous contour lines. Maybe you give your art students today a similar assignment—you had to do it to learn art, so they should too. Wherever you are in your drawing journey, join us as we dive into everything you need to know about observational drawing.

We’ll uncover what observational drawing is and how to get students to slow down, examine, and then draw with confidence. Plus, we’ll consider some controversial questions along the way!

What is observational drawing?

Simply put, observational drawing is drawing what you see. David Davies, a high school art teacher in Connecticut, expands on this definition. He adds that observational drawing is 50% of what you know and 50% of what you see. This is because what you see is filtered through what you know. 

While observational drawing can be photorealistic, it doesn’t have to be. The invention of the camera removed the need for exact likenesses. However, learning to closely capture what you see before you “break the rules” and find your own artistic style instills many benefits. There is also power in learning to draw from real life. When you develop skill and experience, you can make what you imagine in your brain a reality and visually communicate your intent.

Here are some benefits of observational drawing:

• Builds hand-eye coordination.
• Strengthens fine motor skills.
• Reinforces math concepts like proportion, geometric planes, and perspective.
• Fosters science connections such as anatomy. 
• Instills patience and discipline.
• Teaches the importance of seeing details.
  

For more benefits of observational drawing and ways to bring this process to students of all ages, check out the Drawing Living Forms graduate course. This course aims to refine your observational skills, understanding of anatomical structures, and drawing techniques across a spectrum of life. You’ll learn foundational skills in human anatomy and figure drawing, animal forms, and botanical drawing, and then break it down into best practices for your students. 

Reach out to an admissions counselor today!

Is grid drawing considered observational drawing? 

Grid drawing is a great method to get students to draw realistically with roots that go back as early as ancient Egypt. It helps students break down more complex images into basic elements and more manageable sections. Plus, it teaches and reinforces ruler skills!

To start a grid drawing, draw or overlay a grid on a two-dimensional reference image. The reference image can be a two-dimensional artwork such as a painting or photograph or it can be a three-dimensional artwork of a sculpture or vessel. Draw a grid with the same measurements or the same proportions on a piece of drawing paper. Focusing on one square of the grid at a time, replicate the shapes and lines in the corresponding square on the drawing paper. 

When grid drawings work from a two-dimensional reference image instead of three-dimensional life, are they considered observational drawings? David says, yes! Grid drawing is still drawing what you see. Just be sure to use original images or use others’ images responsibly and with permission.

Can observational drawing be a sketch?

We often use the terms sketch and drawing interchangeably, however, David encourages us to be more intentional with these terms. A sketch is a drawing that is still in the stages of “figuring itself out.” It’s a process-driven piece and may look unfinished. This is why we call “thumbnail sketches” sketches and why a “sketchbook” is a collection of practice sketches. A drawing is the culmination of the sketching process and is the final form and idea. Observational drawing is a method of drawing. You can create both sketches and drawings with this process!

Should I ban mechanical pencils from observational drawing?

Mechanical pencils are the worst! Maybe not, but regular, old-fashioned pencils can teach more nuanced skills. With regular pencils, students can learn how to control the pressure to create different values and textures. Plus, students can learn how to manipulate the pencil by changing grip and position to create different marks. 

David recommends buying 2H, 2B, and ebony pencils in bulk for the classroom. Purchasing full graphite pencil drawing sets often leads to waste and can be more expensive. When it comes to blending tools, once again, regular pencils reign supreme as the best tool with controlled pressure. It’s good to still introduce students to all of the options; however, blending stumps or tortillons is not essential to make a strong drawing.

All of that being said, a pencil is a pencil. If all your student has is a mechanical pencil, it’s certainly better than nothing! 

Is tracing considered observational drawing?

Tracing in the art room can be another controversial topic! Many art teachers think tracing is cheating because students aren’t drawing solely on their own. Whether you are for or against tracing, we can all agree that we want students to learn to draw. 

David says there is power in tracing… occasionally, as well as merit in tracing. If you walk into any tattoo parlor, any established tattoo artist merges multiple reference images together and replicates them using tracing. As mentioned above, be sure to use original images or use others’ images responsibly and with permission.

Tracing also counts as observational drawing because it fits the definition of drawing what you see. Let’s say you and your students are all tracing the same image. Even though you have the same reference image, each of your tracings will look very different. Each person brings their own knowledge, experience, and expertise to their tracing, resulting in varying levels of detail and line quality. Tracing the same image multiple times through multiple ways builds muscle memory and prompts students to gather more details each round.

Why do student-athletes make strong observational drawers? 

Student-athletes possess many traits that make them great at observational drawing. Sports requires students to be disciplined, hardworking, and dedicated. They know it takes a lot of training and practice to win! They are more likely to persevere through frustrations and hurdles. Student-athletes also understand the importance of teamwork. They can be more open to collaboration during critiques and other feedback activities. 

One way to connect with students and appeal to those who are nervous about observational drawing is to compare it to a sport, like basketball. Some people are innately gifted, like Michael Jordan or LeBron James—but they still need to train to stay at the top of their game. However, the majority of players spend hours learning the ins and outs of the game and training to become good. The same is true for learning how to draw! If you put the time and effort into practicing and refining your skills, you will learn how to draw.

How do I get my students to slow down and really draw what they see? 

We live in a fast-paced world of instant gratification, where you can do almost anything with the click of a button. Many of our students rush through their work and claim they’re “done” in a matter of minutes. Observational drawing involves patience. The artist must slow down to study the details and then figure out how to render them. How do we get students to understand, appreciate, and enjoy observational drawing? 

Elementary Artists

Observational drawing can be a very relaxing process with strong scaffolding and a safe, encouraging environment! It’s crucial to get elementary students to learn to see from as early an age as possible. Engage your classes with activities that teach students to be detail-oriented and expose them to a variety of art. 

Incorporate these ideas into your curriculum to prompt a focus on details:

• Play Art Detectives where students study and look for clues in artwork.
• Start with abstract and non-objective artwork to focus on the Elements and Principles.
• Ask students repeatedly, “What do you see? How do you know?”
• Begin with reference photos versus real-life subject matter.
• Facilitate a lot of gallery walks where students identify and justify what is successful and what needs improvement based on predetermined prompts.
• Break the subject matter down into simple geometric shapes and discuss the selection of each shape.

Secondary Artists

Middle school students are ready to explore what observational drawing looks like at the high school level without the pressure of being proficient. Expose your pre-teens to a range of artwork, genres, styles, and artists. For high school students, start with short skill-building exercises to build confidence and a foundation of knowledge. Then, students can apply what they know to what they see.

Try these tips to cultivate a knowledge base and hone observational drawing skills:

• Practice drawing the same form in different mediums with different techniques.
• Use anatomically correct names for body parts when drawing portraits or doing figure drawings. 
• Make isometric drawings to connect math and engineering with perspective drawing.
• Build muscle memory with a game of “observational drawing telephone” where students create a graphite transfer, grid drawing, and drawing from the same reference image. 
• Start with two-dimensional reference images and scaffold up to capturing three-dimensional objects and people.
• Introduce figure drawing, using classmates as models.
• Layer multiple sketches to show several styles and techniques of the same subject matter, much like showing your work in math. 
• Draw holding the pencil at the eraser to add a loose line quality.
• Slow down by using permanent ink to create more thoughtful, intentional lines and compositions. 
• Facilitate a lot of gallery walks where students identify and justify what is successful and what needs improvement based on a rubric and lesson outcomes.
• Show students how to sight with a pencil or ruler to gauge distance and proportion. 
• Post correct and incorrect drawing examples and have students identify the incorrect components and explain why they are wrong.

It’s time to bring observational drawing to your students in a way they will enjoy long after they leave your art room. Instill valuable life skills along the way, like the ability to be detail-oriented and disciplined. Whatever side you’re on regarding topics like tracing and mechanical pencils, there are many ways to scaffold observational drawing for both elementary and secondary art students. Grab some still life objects or reference photos, play some lo-fi beats, and sit down and draw alongside your students. Use observational drawing to provide a relaxing and safe outlet for your students to cultivate artistic confidence this year.

How do you approach observational drawing with your students? 

What is your favorite tip or hack to teach observational drawing?