2.2.A2 Draw a Symmetrical Design

Resources:

2.2.R1 Exploring the Space Between Your Ears

2.2.R2 Drawing on Both Sides of Your Brain

2.2.R3 Enhancing Your Visual Intelligence

Supplies:

paper, HB or 2B pencils; pencil sharpener, ruler (to draw lines of symmetry)

Tip!

Place a piece of clean paper under your hand as you draw to prevent smudging. When you begin working on another section, remember to move your paper so it's still under your hand.

1. Use your ruler to draw a square 4 by 4 in (10.16 by 10.16 cm).

2. Use your ruler to measure the horizontal midpoint of your square at the top and bottom and mark each with a tiny dot (Figure 1).

Figure 1

3. Draw a very light vertical line down the center of the square, dividing it into two equal rectangles.

This line of symmetry serves as a reference to help keep both sides of your drawing symmetrical.

4. Draw a curved line in the upper half of the rectangle on the left (Figure 2).

Begin at a point on the line of symmetry near the top. Curve the line outward toward the left and then downward and toward the right until it meets the line of symmetry.

Figure 2

5. Draw a compound curved line that extends from the top side of the rectangle down to the bottom side (Figure 3).

This line doesn't touch the line of symmetry.

Figure 3

6. Add another curved line as in Figure 4.

Figure 4

7. Draw several straight lines inside the space created by the two lower curved lines (Figure 5).

These lines become progressively longer and farther apart the closer they are to the bottom of the rectangle.

Also, pay attention to the various directions in which the lines are angled.

Figure 5

In addition to drawing with symmetry, drawing upside down or sideways also exercises your brain.

Figures 6 to 9 show four different views of the drawing at this point of completion.

8. Rotate your paper in various directions and choose whichever one seems most challenging for drawing the second side.

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

9. Draw the mirror image of your drawing within the perimeter of the second rectangle (Figures 10 to 12).

Examine Figures 10 to 12 before you begin. Then, put these illustrations out of sight so you aren't tempted to refer back to them instead of your own drawing.

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Tip!

You can more quickly accelerate your overall artistic development by practicing the art of drawing with symmetry

Challenge!

Find a few minutes every day to design and draw your own symmetry exercises.