Blind Line

Blind contour drawing is where an artist draws the outline of a subject without looking at the paper.

Not looking at the paper and drawing may seem like a crazy idea, but it allows your hands to move based solely on what your eyes are seeing. It is an excellent practice tool and technique for experienced artists, but it also makes interesting art for anyone to do.

For this art project you will need:

• Paper
• Pens and/or pencils
• Markers, crayons and/or colored pencils
• Glue
• Construction paper

The first thing to do is pick your subject.  People are always fun to draw and the end product turns out well.  Anything that is around you will work, however.  Start with a pen or pencil and draw the subject.  DO NOT LOOK! Focus on what you are seeing and your hand will create the outline.

Try different techniques of not picking up the pen/pencil for the whole outline, or pick up to change to a different spot on your paper.

After you are done with the outline, take a look! You might be impressed! Now you can add different lines and details (while looking) to make it even more fascinating. Use markers, crayons, and/or colored pencils to make your art really pop.

To add some extra oomph to your blind contour drawing, glue it to a piece of colored construction paper and cut off the excess paper.  It creates the look of a mat around your artwork and makes the color stand out even more.

The subject.

The blind contour drawing.

The finished piece of art!

Flag Feet

Hawaii became the 50th state of the United States of America on August 21, 1959. The American flag that we now know and love, with 50 stars and 13 stripes, was introduced and became a national symbol in 1960.

There are a lot of ways to show support for your country, and why not on your feet? Sprucing up a pair of plain canvas shoes is easy to do, interesting, and makes a bold statement.

Many flags have simple designs, so if you want a flag other than the American flag, the design and process should be similar. Shoes from Wal-Mart or Target are inexpensive and most of the time there is an option of slip on canvas, or ones with laces.

For this art project you will need:

• Plain, white canvas shoes
• Stained by Sharpie markers
• Small star stickers
• Pencil
• Ruler

First, take the shoe laces out (if any) of the canvas shoes. Carefully place the star stickers along the section you would like to have stars, spacing them evenly. I used the seams to separate sections. Use the pencil to very lightly trace along the stars. Use the ruler to lightly make straight lines on the section of the shoe you wish to have stripes.

Use Stained by Sharpie markers in blue to carefully trace along the star outlines and color in the rest of the section. Use a red marker to create alternating red and white stripes. The white should come from the color of the canvas shoe.  Be careful to not color in whatever you want to remain white.

The markers dry fairly quickly. After drying, lace the shoes (if needed).

Now you have a fashionable art project that is also patriotic!

DIY American flag canvas shoes.