How to Draw What You See (Rather Than What You Think You See)

Jul 17, 2025

Have you ever looked at your drawing and thought, “That doesn’t look quite right”? You were sure you drew the eyes, the vase, or the tree exactly the way it looked—yet somehow, it came out distorted or off-balance. That’s not a lack of talent. It’s something every artist, beginner or experienced, struggles with: the habit of drawing what we think we see, rather than what’s actually in front of us.

Learning to draw what you see is one of the most fundamental shifts in becoming a skilled artist. It’s not about developing better technique first—it’s about changing how you observe.

Here’s how you can begin training your eye to really see:

1. Slow Down and Really Look

Our brains are hardwired to recognize symbols: eyes are ovals, trees are green with brown trunks, faces are symmetrical. But when you’re drawing, those shortcuts get in the way. Instead of drawing the symbol for “eye,” look at the shapes, shadows, angles, and relationships.

What direction does the eyelid curve?
Where does the shadow fall under the brow?
Is the eye really “oval,” or more almond-shaped with angles?

Practice Tip: Spend 5–10 minutes observing your subject before you draw. Notice everything you can without picking up your pencil.

2. Use a Viewfinder or Frame

Try making a simple viewfinder with a cut-out square in a piece of cardstock. When you look through it, your brain stops trying to interpret the whole object and starts to notice the abstract shapes inside the frame. This helps you break down complex images into lines and contours rather than “objects.”

Why it helps: You’re focusing on form and proportion, not labels like “arm,” “nose,” or “leaf.”

3. Draw Upside Down

This classic technique trains your brain to stop recognizing the subject and instead see the shapes. Choose a photo or reference, turn it upside down, and then draw what you see. You’ll be surprised at how much more accurate your drawing becomes—simply because you’re no longer relying on assumptions.

4. Look for Negative Space

Negative space is the area around and between the subject. When you draw the space between two fingers or around a chair’s legs, you’re seeing in a whole new way. Suddenly, you’re no longer trapped by the idea of what a “hand” or “chair” looks like.

Practice Tip: Trace the outlines of the space around your subject first, then fill in the subject itself.

5. Measure Relationships with Your Pencil

Hold your pencil at arm’s length and use it to measure angles, lengths, and distances. Compare one part of your drawing to another—how many “eye-widths” is the distance between the eyes? How far is the nose from the chin?

This builds accuracy and helps you correct your proportions before you’ve gone too far.

6. Train with Blind Contour Drawing

Blind contour drawing is a technique where you draw the edges of your subject without looking at your paper. It’s awkward at first, but it sharpens your hand-eye connection and teaches you to trust your observation more than your memory.

7. Let Go of the Outcome

One of the biggest blocks to seeing clearly is fear—fear of making a mistake, of not getting it “right.” When you let go of perfection and let your drawing be an exploration, you’ll find yourself noticing more, correcting more easily, and growing more quickly.

Remember: drawing is a practice in observation, not just execution.

Change the Story You Tell Yourself

If you’ve ever said:

“I’m not good at drawing.”
“I always mess this part up.”
“I wish I were more creative…”

…it’s time to rewrite that narrative.

Each time you sit down to create, try this:

Creative Reminder: Use an affirmation like:
“I see with fresh eyes. I trust the process unfolding.”
Mini Journal Prompt:
What do I want to notice more of today? Where can I be more gentle with my inner artist?

This isn’t just about art—it’s about how you see yourself.

With practice, you’ll begin to notice not only more accuracy in your drawing, but more peace in the process. You’ll stop pushing and start witnessing. And that changes everything.

Final Thoughts

When you draw what you think you see, you're working from memory and mental shortcuts. But when you draw what you actually see, you begin to train your brain to observe the world more honestly—and your art transforms.

It’s not about talent. It’s about seeing differently.

So next time you sit down to sketch, pause. Look again. Then draw.