Blind Contour Face Drawing

What you need

• Paper, 4 sheets
• Crayons or markers, 2 pens or markers
• Phone, 1 for the timer
• Book or board, 1 per person

How to do it

Grown-up prep: Set up two seats facing each other with a flat surface for each person. Pens can mark skin and tables, so keep an eye on them.

1. Sit facing your partner so you can see their whole face.
2. Place your pen on the paper and point it at the middle.
3. Start the timer for two minutes.
   Ask: What do you think your drawing will look like when we peek?
4. Watch your partner's face and draw one slow line.
5. Trace the eyes, nose and hair without glancing down.
6. Keep going until the timer rings, then lift your pen.
7. Hold up both drawings and compare them together.
   Ask: What is the funniest part? What did you get surprisingly right?
8. Swap roles on a fresh page, then draw your own hand blind.
9. Now show your family, or draw again! Who else could you draw blind?
   Ask: What would you like to draw next with your eyes only?

Play it again

• Mystery object: draw something hidden in a bag by looking at it only, then guess what it is.
• Silent gallery: draw a family member without telling them, then hang the drawings and guess who is who.
• Longer line: try one continuous line for three minutes and see how many details you can fit in.