Have you ever looked at a stain on a wall, a crack in the sidewalk, or a random splash of paint and suddenly seen a face, a figure, an animal—or something that may not even have a name?
Leonardo da Vinci believed artists could use exactly this kind of accidental mark to stimulate their imagination.
So, naturally, I wanted to try it.
In this episode of my Creativity Experiments series, I again put this centuries-old idea to the test by creating random ink blots and then using those chance shapes as the starting point for drawings.
Rather than treating the exercise as a traditional drawing lesson or tutorial, I wanted to see what would happen if I simply responded to whatever I saw in the marks.
🎥 Watch the experiment on YouTube and decide for yourself!
From Accidental Marks to Intentional Drawings
The interesting thing about a blot drawing is that the first mark isn’t really under your control. The ink, paper movement, breezes, etc., makes the decisions.
Our job as artists, comes afterward.
Look at the random shapes and decide what can be seen, or perhaps more importantly, what we allow ourselves to see.
A shape might suggest a figure. Another might become a face. A strange edge might turn into a hand, an animal, a landscape, or something completely unexpected.
I’VE PROVIDED A FREE PDF OF 12 INK BLOTS YOU CAN USE FOR YOUR OWN CREATIVE PLAY EXERCISES:
This PDF is free to use and share! You are welcome to download, print, and share this PDF for free. You may use the blots for personal art-making, teaching, workshops, and creative exercises. Please don’t sell, repackage, or redistribute the blots or this PDF as your own.
12 Ink Blots for Creative Exploration
Materials Used (affiliate link below)
Speedball Super Black India Ink
Affiliate Disclosure: I’ve included an affiliate link to the art supplies I used in this video. If you choose to purchase through that link, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. It helps support future videos and creativity experiments, and I truly appreciate your support.