Some drawings ask to be seen...
This one asks to be flipped.
“The Yeas Man” isn’t just a face—it’s a conversation between two possibilities. Turn it one way, and you see a character trying to hold it together. Turn it upside down, and suddenly the same shapes rearrange themselves into something new, equally valid, and just as expressive.
That’s not a gimmick. That’s a lesson.
When a Face Isn’t Fixed
Most people approach drawing like there’s a “correct” version hiding somewhere. Eyes go here. Nose goes here. Mouth goes here.
This piece ignores all of that.
The nose floats above the eyes. Eyebrows double as a mustache. Hair becomes eyelashes, fingernails, texture, rhythm. Every element is doing more than one job depending on how you look at it.
And yet—it still works.
That’s the part worth paying attention to.
Because it proves something important: structure in art isn’t about rules. It’s about relationships.
The Real Skill Being Built Here
This kind of drawing trains a different muscle than copying what you see.
It trains flexibility.
- Seeing multiple possibilities in the same shape
- Letting go of “right vs. wrong” placement
- Allowing a drawing to evolve instead of forcing it to behave
That’s where confident artists come from—not from perfection, but from adaptability.
If a face can exist in two orientations and still feel alive, then maybe your drawing doesn’t need to be “fixed”… it might just be becoming something else.
Why This Matters for Young Artists
Kids instinctively understand this kind of play.
They flip paper. They turn shapes into new things. They experiment without asking permission.
Then somewhere along the way, they start asking: “Is this right?”
This kind of drawing answers that question clearly: It depends on how you look at it.
And that’s a far more powerful place to create from.
Want to Build This Skill?
If you’re looking for a way to help your child (or yourself) develop real creative confidence—not just technical skill—this is exactly the kind of thinking we practice every day.
You can learn more here:
https://outschool.com/teachers/Dustin-Carlton?signup=true&usid=qA1G7fA1
You can also join my ongoing class, Draw Every Day: A Calm Daily Drawing Club to Build Confidence, where students practice drawing regularly while developing skills, focus, and creative independence:
https://outschool.com/classes/draw-every-day-a-calm-daily-drawing-club-to-build-confidence-prNDyUXM
These classes are designed to help young artists feel successful, take creative risks, and grow through consistent, joyful practice.
Final Thought
Try this:
Take one of your drawings and turn it upside down.
Don’t fix it.
Don’t judge it.
Just ask: What else could this be?
That question changes everything.
