Fake Artist in New York
Fake Artist in New York is a collaborative drawing game that reveals a 'fake artist' who doesn't know the secret prompt. It's a fun way to encourage observation, communication, and a bit of playful deception.
Use this method to kick off a workshop or meeting with a lighthearted activity that encourages interaction and observation skills. It's particularly effective for teams that need to improve communication and collaboration.
Solves: Teams that are too serious or lack a sense of playfulness; difficulty building rapport among team members.
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Step 1: (2 min) Secretly assign one person as the 'fake artist'. Everyone else is a real artist. Write down a simple object or scene (e.g., a cat, a house, a tree) on slips of paper. Give one blank slip to the fake artist.
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Step 2: (1 min) Explain the rules: Each person takes turns adding one line or stroke to the drawing, without revealing the subject. The fake artist must try to blend in and guess what the group is drawing.
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Step 3: (10-15 min) Go around the circle, each person adding one stroke at a time. Repeat until the drawing is complete or time runs out.
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Step 4: (2 min) The group votes on who they think the fake artist is.
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Step 5: (5 min) Reveal the fake artist and discuss the experience. What clues gave them away? How did it feel to be the fake artist?
- Ensure the drawing prompt is simple enough for everyone to contribute, but not so obvious that the fake artist can guess it immediately.
- Encourage the 'real' artists to be subtle in their contributions to avoid giving the game away too easily.
- Use different drawing mediums (e.g., crayons, paint).
- Introduce a theme for the drawings (e.g., 'things that make us happy').
- Play multiple rounds with different fake artists.