Can’t Figure Out Why Your Drawings Suck? Try this.
Published on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 – 7:21 pm 
I was just reading a uni friend’s blog and he mentioned this interesting tip about drawing and tunnel vision. This really stood out for me as I am not the best drawer and any tips wouldn’t go astray…
When you’re working on illustrations and drawings, and find yourself stuck or unable to put your finger on flaws, try viewing it mirrored. Both on the computer and on paper.
By holding the design in front of a mirror, and viewing it afresh you can easily pick up flaws – especially when drawing the human body. The proportions between differents parts of the body often tend to get out of line, even though it seems perfectly correct when drawing it.
Have a go for yourself.
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brad on May 27, 2008 said:
another way to do it is look at the picture upside down. When looking at something the “right” way our brain has a certain notion of what should be there, and can sort of fill in the blanks. Flipping the image upside down can fool this built in perception filter so we are focusing on what is there, and not what we expect to see.
Jacob Cass on May 27, 2008 said:
Ah nice one brad, I will have to do that one too, thanks!
Izkata on Nov 27, 2008 said:
I remember the first time I mirrored one of my drawings in the GIMP. I felt so horrible that I was drawing so badly…
Mike on Nov 27, 2008 said:
I also find that when I’m drawing or illustrating something, if I take a picture of it I will be able to see what’s wrong… A digital camera works fine, but I usually just use the crappy 1 megapixel camera on my phone. The picture it small, but it’s like looking at it with a fresh pair of eyes…
Jacob Cass on Nov 27, 2008 said:
That’s an interesting technique Mike! Thanks for sharing!