Scribble drawings are fun to do, they are perfect for a day at home activity with the family. Everybody can make it and kids will love it, you don’t need to know how to draw portraits as we are going to use translucent paper.
I did one of each of my kids, it took me about 10-15 minutes to draw each one.
The kid in me still gets pretty excited about scribbling 🙂
You might also like: Participate in the Big Picture Art Project with an easy monoprint technique
To make scribble drawings portraits you will need:
- Transparent paper, I used translucent yupo paper, but you could also use tracing paper
- Markers: If you want you drawing to be archival, I recommend Sakura pigma micron markers, if archival properties are not that important for you, you could use Sharpie fine line marker or any kind of marker
- A printer

Start by taping the portrait you printed at the back of your yupo paper or tracing paper.
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Yupo WatercolorPaper PadsYupo is a compelling and unique alternative to traditional art papers. It’s a synthetic paper, machine-made in the USA of 100% polypropylene. It is waterproof, stain resistant, and extremely strong and durable. |

For each portrait, I printed 2 black and white pictures, so I could keep one under the paper and one for reference.

Start by drawing the main features and contours, you can also outline a few areas of light and shade on the face.

I recommend you start by the darkest areas and then work from dark to light.
For dark areas make your scribbles quite tight and for light areas space them more.

On theface, start by scribbling on the areas in the shade.
I am a Blick Art Materials affiliate and I receive a small compensation for sales. That does not effect in any way the cost of the purchaser’s order but it helps me keeping the content of this blog free.
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Sakura Pigma Micron PenPigma Micron pens are acid-free and archival, making them ideal for any application requiring precision and permanance. Pigma ink is derived from a single pigment to ensure color consistency, and is fadeproof against sunlight or UV light. – Set of 6, Black |


You can leave some areas that are in the light un-scribbled.

For the background and the very light areas, you can use very light scribbles.
Gallery of scribble drawings portraits



Here are the three portraits I made of my 3 kids.
Sorry to disagree, but you most definitely don’t need transparent or tracing paper, just use your eyes and scribble onto normal paper, it is so much better for your technique and skills if you do it that way. I have my own art channel where I do this technique of scribbling:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOJcPzzyiG7TU9TTEpp6qBA
D o you leave the photocopied pic under the yupo?
Yes I did in this case.
I also used that technique without the picture underneath but it is a bit tricky with portraits.
I will remember this the next time our grandchildren visit!
Thank you Sandrine, it looks fun.
Happy New Year to you all.
Thanks Eddi! Happy new year to you too 🙂
Love this, Sandrine. You are amazing! Thank you so much for sharing your ideas ♡
Thanks Barbara, I am glad you liked it!
This is so cool! I like scribbles.
Thanks Aino 🙂
That’s a great idea ty
Thanks arebelred95063400, I am glad you liked it 🙂