Exquisite Corpse is a folded-paper drawing game where each artist draws one part of a figure without seeing the others, and the mashed-up result is usually silly or strange.
Here you get two ways to play: the classic fold-and-pass version, and a mix-and-match flap book you can open in any combination. It takes a sheet of paper, scissors and a pencil, and it works for ages 5 and up, with an adult doing the cutting for younger kids.
The game began with the surrealists in the 1920s as a parlor game, adapted from an older paper game called Consequences. The name came from a sentence the first players produced in the writing version: “The exquisite corpse shall drink the new wine.” You can play it with words or drawings. Read more about Exquisite Corpse on Wikipedia.
Which Exquisite Corpse Version Should You Try?
| Idea | Best for | Time | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic fold-and-pass | Groups of 3+, ages 5+ | 10 minutes | Paper, pencils |
| Flap book (this tutorial) | Solo or kids, ages 6+ (adult cuts for under 8) | 30 to 45 minutes | Card stock, scissors, pencil, optional color |
| Kid group flap game | Three kids, ages 5+ | 15 minutes | One pre-cut flap sheet, pencil |
| Animal or monster version | Any age | 10 to 15 minutes | Paper, pencils or markers |
| Writing version | Older kids and adults | 10 minutes | Paper, pen |
What You Need
For the flap book, you need paper (white card stock
Safety: kids should use blunt-tip scissors, and an adult should do any cutting with a craft knife.
How Do You Make an Exquisite Corpse Flap Book?
1. Fold a sheet of paper in half, then in half again, to make fourths. Unfold it, then cut off the fourth piece (save it for a bookmark craft).
2. Measure each side flap into thirds and cut along the lines, stopping at the fold. Make the top section a little smaller than the other two.
Pro tip: lightly draw pencil lines on the back panel where the flaps open, so you know where to place your first drawing.
3. Draw a figure on the back panel: the head and neck in the top area, shoulders and torso in the middle, and legs and feet at the bottom.
4. Close the left flaps and draw a different head, torso and legs on them.
5. Close the right flaps and repeat. You may need to erase and reposition a few times, but soon you can open or close any combination of flaps and get a new figure.
Try drawing random body sections, then color them with colored pencils.
How Do Kids Play Exquisite Corpse as a Group?
Give one kid the folded and cut paper and a pencil. That kid draws a figure on the middle inside panel. Cover it with the right flaps, and a second kid draws on the outside of the right flaps. A third kid draws on the outside of the left flaps. Open it up to see the surprise.
Kids can also make their own flap book from a pre-cut sheet. Here is one made as a book project:
Ways to Change the Game
- Draw animals or monsters instead of people: head, body, then legs or tail.
- Add color, collage scraps or extra pages once you’re hooked. You might get as addicted to these as tangle drawings.
- Play the writing version: each player adds a phrase to the sentence, then folds the paper before passing it on.
It also makes a good New Year’s Eve or rainy-day activity for kids. Check out lots more drawing games for kids here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an exquisite corpse drawing?
It is a collaborative drawing made in sections. Each person draws one part, usually head, torso or legs, without seeing what came before, then the paper is unfolded to reveal an odd combined figure. It began as a surrealist game in the 1920s.
What is that one drawing game called where you fold the paper?
Most likely Exquisite Corpse, also called picture consequences, since it comes from the older written game Consequences. Other drawing games with passing turns exist too, but folded-paper figure games are almost always some version of this one.
What is the art of drawing bodies called?
Figure drawing, or life drawing when you draw from a live model. Exquisite Corpse is a game that mixes up body parts, not a figure drawing technique.
How many people do you need to play?
Three is the classic number for head, torso and legs, but you can add sections for more players. You can also play alone with the flap book version.
Do you have to cut the paper?
No. For the classic game, just fold a plain sheet into three sections and pass it around, folding each section over before the next player draws. Cutting is only for the flap book that lets you remix figures.
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I love this, I will be doing this with kinder and 1-5 grades can’t wait
Yippee! They’ll dig it. I would love to see some of the finished products! How cool it must be to see a bunch of kids all coming up with different variations of one project.