The upside down method works well to train students to really "see". Objects transform into just lines, values and forms. What they are, who they are, is secondary to what makes up the image. I have done this same exercise many times and students are amazed how well their upside down drawing is much better then the first drawing that is right side up. I have them contrast them and determine in the first drawing where the mistakes were made compared to the second one. I also ask them what details were included in the second one that were missed in the first. This brings home the true nature of observation and really "seeing" objects by what makes them up vs. identifying a part with a name.

Jeff (minnesota)

> I have a new batch of 6th graders, who draw like 9 year
> olds. So, for a 2 week drawing session, we're starting
> out with some Betty Edwards excercises. I didn't do this
> with the first batch, so I want to see which works better.
> This is a very small group, 12 kids, so we're just
> sitting together drawing, its been very pleasant.
>
> Just funny this morning, my first hour's
> "before" drawings on the Stravinsky upside-down
> thing were WAY more accurate than their "after".
>
> ---
> To unsubscribe go to
> http://www.getty.edu/education/teacherartexchange/unsubscribe.html