A DIFFERENT ANGLE · DRAWING GUIDE
How to draw upside down: a beginner’s guide
A simple upside-down drawing exercise for beginners: keep the reference upside down, start at the bottom, and follow one line at a time.
By Katie3 min read · Free guide
Upside-down drawing means copying a reference while the reference is turned upside down. Your blank page stays in a comfortable position. You draw the lines as you see them, so your drawing takes shape upside down too. Turn your finished work around at the end to reveal the subject.
You need a pencil, a blank sheet of paper, and a line drawing to use as your reference. A clearly recognizable subject with a top and bottom is a useful starting point. Choose a drawing with a manageable amount of detail. If you use a Drawn to Different worksheet, the reference is already upside down—leave it that way.
In our practice, start at the bottom of the upside-down reference and work upward. Set aside about 12 minutes if that suits you, or use a shorter session and return later. There is no required speed, and you do not need to finish in one sitting.
1. Set the pages side by side
Put the upside-down reference beside your blank drawing page. Keep the reference visible without covering it with your drawing hand. For the free one-page practice sheet, print in landscape orientation and use its blank drawing space.
2. Begin at the bottom
Find a small line or corner near the bottom of the reference. Notice where it begins, which way it slopes, and how long it is compared with the nearby shapes. Draw that small section on your own page.
3. Build upward, one small section at a time
Compare each new line with a line you have already drawn. Look at the spaces between lines as well as the lines themselves. Let the reference guide you without needing to name every part of the subject.
4. Leave the reference upside down
Keep its orientation the same as you work. If a section feels complicated, break it into a shorter curve, angle, or gap. Erase if you want to; a slightly different line is also fine.
5. Turn your drawing and notice what you made
When you are ready to stop, turn both pages right side up. Notice a detail you observed closely or a part that surprised you. You can return to an unfinished drawing later.
6. Try it alongside your child
Choose separate references at comfortable levels of detail. Each person draws on their own page. A child can try a few lines or one shape while an adult works on a more detailed subject. The Grow Together kits pair simpler child references with more detailed parent versions.
Once you feel comfortable with the exercise yourself, explore how to share the practice with another adult or a child.