Is this too difficult for adult beginners?

[Thinky]

Hi Everyone,

Do you think the "Upside down" drawing exercise by Picasso is too difficult for adult absolute beginners?

I'm about to teach adult beginners (aged 50-70) for the first time in my life.

I was planning to teach the "upside down" drawing as a fun exercise for the first lesson, then move on to real drawings of still life, etc.

I tried to teach the "Upside down" drawing exercise to my parents as a rehearsal, and they complained that it's "too complicated", they said surely my students would give up, feel cheated and hate my class for giving them something so difficult for the first lesson.






I was really counting on teaching this as my first lesson, to help students realize they draw better when focusing only on the lines, not subject matter.

Should I teach a less complicated upside down drawing? Would a simple upside down horse be too recognizable and defeat the purpose of it?


The lesson will be 1.5 hours and the introduction/ theory part would take probably 30- 40 mins so that leaves an hour to draw.

Thank you for your advice! Would love to hear about your experience with adult beginners.

[ckb]

I'm not a teacher, but I am an adult who is considering taking an adult drawing course this fall and I honestly have to say, I think I'd feel cheated. I understand the theory here, but I think I'd be happier with the more simple drawing that could be completed quickly as an example of this theory and then maybe move on to something else? Just my own opinion though.

[Gardavkra]

I've used this method with students from 7 to 100 years old. What I usually do is give them the image upside down and I tell them not to turn it right side up. I make sure that they understand why. If you are worried about time then I would probably go with something with fewer lines and less to draw but, I wouldn't worry about them not finishing or that it's difficult. I've never had a student complain because, they felt cheated. They are usually surprised that they are able to draw as well as they can.

One other thought is that I never use the words difficult or hard with my students because, I don't want to plant that seed in their minds. After all I don't want the left side of the brain jumping in there a mucking things up.
I'm not saying that you do this but, it's just something that I'm careful not to do and I thought that it might be worth mentioning.

[Pprouty]

I have taught visual art for 22 years and used this exercise for many age levels. This is a good exercise in learning how to see. I emphasized it as an exercise and the process being more important than the result.

[WFMartin]

I think most adult students would accept the challenge gladly, if you explain to them the goals involved in it, and the left-brain concept which it exemplifies, before you present the exercise to them. Adults are quite understanding, especially if it can be presented as a technique that is likely to improve their ability to "see" as an artist, and to draw "shapes" instead of "things".

[Daisygirl]

It is not that it is difficult but as an adult who is still learning to see.These exercises while always helpful usually cause a lot of mental tension for me. I have learned this type of exercise is good for me but not fun and I get a little whiny when I have to do one. It just means my brain is learning something that is counter intuitive and the left side is trying to stay in control. In any class when I teach beginner adults I always let them know that a little tension is just a sign they are learning something new and to expect some. Otherwise the left brain tells them they just aren't artist material and talks them out of coming back.

[creativechrissy]

I think the Picasso drawing is too difficult for a first off warm up exercise for beginners. Go the horse and get harder. If students finish the horse quickly great...give them the next challenge, the Picasso portrait.

[beautifulfreak]

I teach beginning drawing to adults, I start off with a simple shaped still life which they need to draw and shade. The still life i've been using currently is a styrofoam ball and cone and I light it from one side.

[tippy2]

A drawing is a puzzle of lines shapes and spaces. Allowing the right side of the brain to kick in and the left side to be left out is the purpose of this exercise.The horse as the picture of Stravinsky are both lines , shapes and spaces.The objective is to see the relationship in them . Drawing is about learning how to see. Go for the Stravinsky by Picasso.

[Thinky]

Everyone, I extremely appreciate your help! Every answer here is helpful, and even now I am still reading your replies over to learn from you. Thank you so much!