The benefits of drawing upside-down

'Blend In or Stand Out' Chameleon charcoal drawing by Yavanna

When most people think about improving their drawing skills, they imagine sketching more often, studying anatomy, or practicing perspective. But there’s another surprisingly powerful technique: drawing upside-down. Pictured above is my current drawing in progress, flipped on its head to unlock new levels of focus and creativity.

One of the main benefits of upside-down drawing is that it bypasses the brain’s tendency to

rely on symbols. For example, when drawing a face right-side up, you might unconsciously fall back on a mental “formula” for eyes, nose, and mouth. But when the image is flipped, your brain no longer recognizes it as a familiar object and instead pays closer attention to the actual lines and shapes produced by shadows and highlights. This helps you see what’s really there rather than what your brain 'auto-fills' should be there.

Our brains are constantly auto-filling in details of the world we see around us. An advantage of drawing upside-down is improved accuracy. By concentrating on the shape of shadows and highlights, instead of recognizable features, you’re more likely to capture subtle details. Artists often find that their upside-down drawings look more realistic and balanced compared to sketches done in the usual orientation.

Finally, the exercise is a great way to train patience and mindfulness. Since the process demands deep focus, it naturally slows you down and turns drawing into a meditative activity. We I approach a texture or subject I'm unsure about drawing, I tend to become anxious and start rushing. This only produces poor quality work. So, by drawing upside-down, I slow down my pace and can overcome the technical challenge.

So next time you feel stuck or want to sharpen your skills, try flipping your subject upside-down. You may be surprised by how much your art, and your perception of the drawing - can transform.