Drawing Tutorials

Opposite Hand Drawing

Opposite hand drawing is a fun beginner exercise that helps improve your skills and shake off creative ruts. Using your non-dominant hand forces you to slow down, observe closely, and discover a more expressive, playful line quality in your drawings.

Robert Joyner

30 Aug 2023 — 1 min read

When I feel stuck in my studio, I change gears. I might switch from watercolor to acrylic, shift to a different subject, or shake things up with a fresh drawing practice.

That’s where opposite hand drawing comes in. Using your non-dominant hand to sketch feels awkward and clumsy at first, but it’s a surefire way to break routine. It puts you in a different mindset, forces you to slow down, and brings a sense of play back into the process.

I’m big on the feeling of creating art — am I exploring and carefree, or am I just repeating old patterns? Opposite hand drawing helps me reset, and I hope this exercise gives you a fresh spark too. You can even combine it with other drills: try a blind contour with your opposite hand, flip your paper upside down, or mix multiple exercises together. The sky’s the limit.

Try These Fun Drawing Exercises to Improve Your Skills

Motivational Reminder

At first, it’ll feel clumsy — like learning to write again. But that’s the point. Opposite hand drawing isn’t about making a masterpiece; it’s about training yourself to see differently. Keep at it, and you’ll find your dominant-hand drawings get sharper, freer, and more alive.