Drawing Fun

Objectives

Fun, ice-breaking, getting to know each other, idea-generation . . .

With three artists, fold the paper into three and the figure into three sections.

Group Size

• Small
• Medium
• Large

Any size group, divided into teams of about 5 participants.

Materials

Blank paper- five pieces for each participant. Drawing implements in a variety of colors. Crayons can encourage playfulness in people who may be timid about drawing. Table and chairs.

Note that the participants in this game decided that the person drawing the legs and feet should also add some kind of "ground."

Set Up

Assure people that only primitive drawing skills are necessary. Each team sits around a table close enough to be able to talk with each other. Distribute paper, and place crayons where everyone can reach them. Demonstrate folding a piece of paper as "accordion" - back and forth, into 4 sections. Show that each section of the paper is to be for a section of the body: top section is for top of the head to the bottom of the neck second section down is for the bottom of the neck to the waist - including the arms and hands third section down if for the waist to the knees fourth (bottom) section is for the knees to the bottom of the feet Demonstrate simple drawing on each section. Encourage the use of colors, fun, and fantasy. Examples: A head can be of a clown/a simple smiley face or a giraffe or a monster with horns . . Shoulder-to-waist can be of Superman or a stick figure or a barrel with arms . . Waist-to-knees can be a ballerina skirt or a pair of shorts . . . Knees-to-feet can have skinny legs and huge feet or stockings and high heels,or horse legs and hooves . .

At the bottom of each section, extend short marks onto the next (as-yet blank) section down, to indicate where the neck, waist, or knees were placed, and hence where the next drawing should begin.

Remember to make marks in the next, blank, section - to indicate where the new parts of the figure are to be placed.

Directions

Have each person fold a piece of paper and draw the top (head) section. Make sure the paper is folded so that your drawing is hidden. When everyone is ready with one section, have all pass their papers to the person on their right. Now draw the next section of body on the next part of the paper. Repeat until each drawing is complete.

Debrief

Have each person in turn unfold the piece of paper they end up with and show the conglomerate picture. Together, give each creation a name. Display on a bulletin board.

Alternatives

If people are intimidated at first by the idea of drawing, call it "scribbling," and show a variety of examples that show that amateurism can be delightful.

Drawings can be about a theme, e.g., a mascot of the company or project.

The figure can have more or fewer sections, with the corresponding number of sections folded on the paper, depending on the number of artists for each drawing.

Can you help make this activity better? Do you know an alternate way to lead this activity? Click "edit" above and help improve this site for everyone!