blind contour portraits

drawn with a single line without looking down at the paper

watch the process

This 3 minute short film is a great way to get familiar with the process of blind contour drawing, the creative and connective benefits of this style, and why it is so special to me.

Abstract line drawing of a woman's face with long hair.
Abstract line drawing of a face and people
Abstract line drawing of a person's face with detailed features, set against a black background.
Continuous line drawing of a person's face with abstract features.
Side view of a male blackbird with an orange beak, perched on a branch with a blurred background.
Silhouette of a person scratching their head, appearing confused.
Football player in white and red uniform throwing a football on a field.
Abstract line drawing of a person's face with intricate details and flowing lines.
Continuous line drawing of a person's face with curly hair and large eyes, showcasing an artistic style. The name 'Danielle' is written below.
Abstract line drawing of a person's face.
Silhouette of a mystical creature with horns.
Continuous line drawing of a woman's face with flowing hair and jewelry.
Continuous line drawing of a person's face with long hair, wearing a top or dress, and showing a calm expression.
Continuous line drawing of a face, black background
Abstract line drawing of a man's face with stylized features and geometric shapes on a black background.
Abstract line drawing of a person's face with prominent features and minimal detail on a black background.
Continuous line drawing of a person wearing glasses and holding a rose.
Line drawing of a woman's face with long hair
Abstract one-line drawing of a man's face on a black background.
Young woman smiling, sitting on a staircase in a casual outfit with a black top and jeans, hand on her knee.
Continuous line drawing of a man's face on a black background.
Contour drawing of a person's face wearing a hat, with abstract lines on a black background.
One-line drawing of a person's face with glasses and a mustache, featuring abstract lines and intricate details.
Continuous line drawing of a man's face, focusing on eyes and lips, with "Renee" signature at the bottom.
Continuous line drawing of a person wearing glasses with the name 'Ryan' signed at the bottom.
Continuous line drawing of a person's face, abstract style with intricate lines and details, signature "Spencer" at the bottom.
Abstract line drawing of a person's face, featuring exaggerated and overlapping shapes, with a hat and expressive eyes.
Abstract line drawing of a human face with exaggerated features, curly hair, and closed eyes.
Continuous line drawing of a man's face with stylized features and abstract lines.
Single-line portrait of a man wearing a baseball cap, drawn by Los Angeles artist Allison Kunath
Single-line portrait artist sits with a woman in Los Angeles while drawing her blind contour portrait
Single-line portrait artist sits with a woman in Los Angeles while drawing her blind contour portrait
Live portrait artist Allison Kunath sits with a man in Venice Beach, CA while drawing his blind contour portrait
Live portrait artist Allison Kunath sits with a womman in Venice Beach, CA while drawing her blind contour portrait
Live portrait artist Allison Kunath sits with a man in Venice Beach, CA while drawing his blind contour portrait
LA portrait artist Allison Kunath smiles while drawing a single line portrait with her notebook in her lap
Live portrait artist Allison Kunath sits with a man in Venice Beach, CA while drawing his blind contour portrait
Live portrait artist Allison Kunath sits with a man in Venice Beach, CA while drawing his blind contour portrait

about the process

I start by taking a good look at the person sitting in front of me. After choosing a feature to begin with, I place my pen to the paper and begin. My eyes remain fixed on the subject as I trace the contours of their face without lifting the pen from the paper.

The process is short (~2-3 minutes of drawing) and sweet (a present and connected experience). The end result is a unique, organic portrait that aims to capture the essence of the person I’m sitting with.

California live portrait artist Allison Kunath reveals her single-line blind contour portrait to a man wearing a fedora
Blind Contour artist Allison Kunath sits with her back to the camera while she draws a single-line portrait of a man wearing glasses and a beanie
Portrait artist for hire (Allison Kunath) draws a single line blind contour portrait with her sketchbook on her lap
Live artist Allison Kunath sits with a woman in Venice Beach, CA while drawing her blind contour portrait
Los Angeles blind contour portrait artist Allison Kunath hands a sketchbook to a woman sitting across from her, revealing the single-line portrait that she just created
A man sits in front of Los Angeles based live portrait artist Allison Kunath while she draws a single-line contour portrait of him

the results

whimsical, abstract, and expressive

a portrait that celebrates imperfection & captures essence of the subject in a truly unique way

  • Abstract line drawing of a person's face with overlapping lines and minimal detail.

    “Allison Kunath SEES you. While steadily holding your gaze she traces your angles, contours, shapes, and, light. It’s a joy to be seen in this way and a delight to discover what she has created when she finally lifts her pen. I treasure my Allison Kunath blind contour portraits more than any photograph or painting that has been made of me.”

    - Alua A.

  • A regal pink flower blossom with a yellow center against a blurred green background.

    "It is truly bizarre and magical to experience someone capture your essence with simply a few squiggles and deep concentration."

    - Jessey W.

  • Abstract line drawing of a woman's face with flowing hair.

    "There is something so tender and vulnerable to have someone pay such close attention to every detail that makes you, you."

    - Marci M.

  • Continuous line drawing of a man's portrait with abstract features and textured hair.

    “I felt witnessed and appreciated. It’s intimate in the sense that there's vulnerability between the artist and the subject. There’s fun in it too, because neither person knows how it's going to turn out. It’s a few minutes journey that we go on together, and the destination is a surprise.”

    - David L.

  • Continuous line drawing of a person with glasses and flowers

    "My time sitting with Allison was serene, it was at once satisfying to see the image come together from her hands, and offered me a chance to breathe and connect with myself, surrendering and allowing myself to be perceived."

    - Maceo K.

A woman stands smiling, holding a sketchbook that features a single-line blind contour portrait of herself that was drawn by Los Angeles live portrait artist Allison Kunath
A woman in a black tee shirt stands in front of a textured blue wall, holding a sketchbook that features a single-line blind contour portrait of herself that was drawn by Los Angeles live portrait artist Allison Kunath
A woman in a purple turtleneck stands in front of a textured blue wall, holding a sketchbook that features a single-line blind contour portrait of herself that was drawn by Los Angeles live portrait artist Allison Kunath
A woman in a gray long sleeved shirt stands in front of a textured blue wall, holding a sketchbook that features a single-line blind contour portrait of herself that was drawn by Los Angeles live portrait artist Allison Kunath
A woman in a yellow tee shirt stands in front of a textured blue wall, holding a sketchbook that features a single-line blind contour portrait of herself that was drawn by Los Angeles live portrait artist Allison Kunath
A man in a black tee shirt stands in front of a textured blue wall, holding a sketchbook that features a single-line blind contour portrait of herself that was drawn by Los Angeles live portrait artist Allison Kunath
A young girl in a white tank-top stands in front of a textured blue wall, holding a sketchbook that features a single-line blind contour portrait of herself that was drawn by Los Angeles live portrait artist Allison Kunath
A man wearing glasses, and a beanie stands in front of a textured blue wall, holding a sketchbook that features a single-line blind contour portrait of herself that was drawn by Los Angeles live portrait artist Allison Kunath
A woman stands in front of a textured blue wall, holding a sketchbook that features a single-line blind contour portrait of herself that was drawn by Los Angeles live portrait artist Allison Kunath
A man stands in front of a textured blue wall, holding up an open sketchbook that features a single-line blind contour portrait of herself that was drawn by Los Angeles live portrait artist Allison Kunath
A woman stands in front of a textured blue wall, holding up an open sketchbook that features a single-line blind contour portrait of herself that was drawn by California live portrait artist Allison Kunath
Kassia Meador stands wearing sunglasses in front of a textured blue wall, holding up an open sketchbook that features a single-line blind contour portrait of herself that was drawn by Los Angeles live portrait artist Allison Kunath

unique offerings

live event portrait experiences and personalized individual sittings

Los Angeles live-artist Allison Kunath sits with a smiling subject while drawing a blind contour portrait

  • Give your guests a truly unique 1-on-1 art experience, and send them home with a frame-worthy gift.

  • Elevate your next off-site event with an art experience that sparks connection and leaves team members with a one-of-a-kind keepsake.

  • Blind Contour drawing is fun, easy to learn and a great bonding activity for all ages. No previous art experience necessary.

portrait booth for live events

portrait booth details

  • Live sittings are available via zoom. Each portrait takes between 3-5 minutes to draw.

    If you’re ordering a portrait of a pet, or as a surprise, I’ll work off of reference photos and videos provided by you. I’ll follow the same process and achieve the similar results as an in-person sitting.

  • Visit my studio in Ventura, California for a unique and intimate portrait session.

    Each portrait takes between 3-5 minutes to draw, but plan for an hour so we have time to settle In a bit before beginning.

    Most convenient for Southern California / Ventura / Ojai / Santa Barbara / Los Angeles residents

individual portraits

request a portrait
California-based portrait artist Allison Kunath stares at her subject while drawing a single-line portrait at a live event

portrait options

a variety of portrait delivery options for individual portraits & live events

individual portraits

  • Your choice: a live sitting in my studio in Ventura, CA or a remote sitting via zoom

    (Ordering as a surprise gift? I’m happy to work from photo references.)

  • High resolution digital scan

  • Ink on 9×12” archival paper

  • Ink on 9×12” archival paper
    Presented in a beautiful custom oak frame

  • Your portrait integrated into a custom email signature and business card design

Order a Portrait

live events

  • Your guests leave with their custom 5×7” portrait on archival paper

  • Original portraits are drawn in one 7×11” leather bound sketchbook for the host to keep.

  • High resolution scans of each guests’ portrait

  • High resolution scans of your guests’ portraits are printed on custom thank you cards for you to send out after your event

  • Combines high-resolution scans of your guests' portraits, professional photography capturing the live drawing process, and elegant headshot-style photos of each person drawn. Optional: add select images captured by your event photographer.

Explore Live Events

a single line can say so much