Painting and drawing
Sketch what is on the table
Look at one everyday object on the table, then draw its outline with any marks you like.
Who might enjoy it: People who like drawing, looking closely at objects, or enjoy still-life painting and sketchbooks. Good for an unhurried moment of quiet looking, with no skill needed.
- Setup
- About 5 minutes
- Activity
- 10–30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Mess
- No mess
- Where
- At a table, seated-friendly, bedside
- Help
- Someone nearby
Materials: 4 everyday things, listed below
What you need
- One simple object, such as a cup, a piece of fruit or a flower in a small vase
- Plain paper, about letter size
- A soft pencil or a thick marker
- A soft eraser, optional
No need to buy anything special
- No flower? Use a leaf, a shell or a wooden spoon.
- No pencil? Use a crayon or a felt-tip pen.
What to do
- Place the object on the table in front of the person, where the light falls well on it.
- Look at it together for a moment, and talk about its color, shape or size if they like.
- Put the paper down and place the pencil in their hand, or within easy reach.
- Draw the outline with a few slow lines, starting from the bottom edge. Any line is a good line.
- Add a few marks inside, such as a line for a handle, a dot for a seed or a stroke for a stem.
- Draw your own version beside theirs if you like, without comparing the two.
- Stop when they put the pencil down, then look at the drawing together.
It is okay to stop or change it
It is fine to stop after a few lines. Leave the paper where it is and look at the object again later, or simply enjoy it together for a while.
Make it easier or different
- Make it easier
- Draw only the outline, and offer to hold the object still while they draw.
- For low vision
- Use a thick black marker and a large object that contrasts with the table, and describe its shape aloud.
- In bed or an armchair
- Use an object from the bedside table, such as a cup or a brush, and draw on a clipboard.
- Without words
- Offer a choice of two objects, and watch which one they look at or reach toward.
- With children
- Each draws the same object side by side, then swap pages and add one line to each other's drawing. Neither drawing is the right one.
Safety
- If the object is a plant, check that it is not poisonous or an allergen, and do not let anyone taste it.
- Keep pencils and erasers away from the mouth if the person may chew or taste things.
- Choose a sturdy cup or soft fruit, and avoid glass or anything sharp on the table.
These are practical suggestions, not medical advice. You know the person best.
Drawing from something in front of you asks for looking, not for skill. The object stays put, so there is no wrong shape to get right, and any mark made after a good look counts as a drawing.