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Draw upside down

Draw upside down
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Draw an upside down picture by turning your paper and copying shapes from a reference, practicing observation, proportions, and hand eye coordination.

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Step-by-step guide to draw an upside-down picture

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Drawing Exercise 2 - Upside Down Drawing

What you need
Coloring materials, eraser, paper, pencil, simple reference picture

Step 1

Put your paper pencil eraser and coloring materials on a flat table.

Step 2

Place the reference picture upright in front of you where you can see it clearly.

Step 3

Turn your drawing paper 180 degrees so it is upside down compared to the reference.

Step 4

Choose one small simple shape in the reference to start copying.

Step 5

Look carefully at that shape and notice its edges angles and how big it is.

Step 6

Lightly draw that shape onto your upside-down paper with your pencil.

Step 7

Select the next shape that touches or is near the first shape in the reference.

Step 8

Look at how the new shape sits beside the first shape and notice the distance between them.

Step 9

Draw the new shape in the same position on your upside-down paper.

Step 10

Keep repeating Steps 4 to 9 to copy neighboring shapes until the whole picture is sketched.

Step 11

Look at your whole sketch and erase or adjust any lines that don’t match the reference.

Step 12

Flip your paper right-side-up to see how the picture looks the right way around.

Step 13

Color your drawing using your coloring materials to make it bright and fun.

Step 14

Write your name and the date on your artwork so everyone knows you made it.

Step 15

Share your finished creation on DIY.org.

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

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Help!?

What can we use instead of the 'coloring materials' or specific pencils listed in step 1 if they're hard to find?

If you don't have the coloring materials from step 1, use crayons, watercolor paints, colored construction-paper cutouts glued on before step 13, or shade with a regular pencil as a substitute.

My drawing looks distorted when I flip it in step 12—what should I do?

If the image looks distorted when you flip it in step 12, follow step 11 to lightly erase and adjust the wrong shapes by re-checking the edges, angles, and relative sizes in step 5 before redrawing them in steps 6–9.

How can I adapt the upside-down drawing steps for younger kids or older kids?

For younger children, simplify steps 4–9 by choosing very large, simple shapes and using thick crayons or markers, while older kids can add fine detail, shading, and accurate angles after flipping in step 12.

How can we make the finished artwork more unique before sharing it on DIY.org in step 15?

To personalize and enhance the artwork before sharing on DIY.org in step 15, add a patterned background or texture during step 13, write a short title with your name and date in step 14, and take a photo-series showing the upside-down process.

Watch videos on how to draw an upside-down picture

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

Learn How to Draw Spiderman Handing Upside Down | Step By Step Drawing Tutorial For Kids

4 Videos

Facts about observational drawing for kids

✍️ Regular observational drawing practice improves hand–eye coordination and makes judging proportions easier.

🖼️ Artists from Leonardo da Vinci to modern illustrators study proportions closely; copying references is a time-tested learning shortcut.

🎨 Betty Edwards popularized the upside-down drawing trick in her book "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain."

🔁 Turning a picture upside down helps your brain see raw shapes instead of labels — a neat trick to boost observation.

🧠 Upside-down and contour drawing exercises engage visual perception skills often linked to right-brain processing.

How do you do the upside-down drawing activity with a child?

To do an upside-down drawing, tape or clip the reference image upright and rotate your blank paper 180 degrees so it’s upside down relative to that reference. Copy what you see, focusing on lines, angles and shapes instead of the object’s name. Start with light pencil outlines, break the image into simple shapes, check proportions as you go, then darken details. Flip the paper at the end to enjoy the surprising result.

What materials do I need for an upside-down drawing activity?

You’ll need a clear reference image or photo, plain drawing paper, a pencil, an eraser and a sharpener. Optional items include colored pencils or markers, a ruler for guides, a clipboard or tape to hold paper steady, and a magnifying glass for fine details. For group settings, provide multiple references with varying difficulty so each child can choose an appropriate picture to copy upside down.

What ages is the upside-down drawing activity suitable for?

This activity suits children about 5 years and up, with modifications. Ages 5–7 benefit from simple shapes and short sessions to match attention spans. Ages 8–12 can tackle more detailed upside-down pictures and longer practice for improving proportions. Younger children (3–4) can try very simple mirrored shapes with close adult assistance. Always supervise small children using pencils, and let older kids work more independently as skills develop.

What are the benefits and variations of upside-down drawing?

Upside-down drawing improves observation, hand–eye coordination, proportional reasoning and focus by encouraging kids to copy shapes rather than labels. It reduces left-brain assumptions and builds visual processing and drawing confidence. Variations include using a grid to help proportions, timed exercises, mirror-image drawing, or collaborative group pieces. For safety, supervise pencil use and give regular breaks to avoid eye strain; it’s a low-pressure way to boost patience and artistic skil
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Draw upside down. Activities for Kids.