Drawing duplication mentalism is one of the most popular types of tricks because of its simplicity and ease.
Many mentalists use it during one-on-one performances or shows with smaller crowds. It’s a famous crowd-pleaser, and absolutely anyone can learn how to do it — including you.
If you’re looking to impress your friends at your next party, or are simply looking for new ways to pass the time, then learning drawing duplication should be a fun experience.
But how is drawing duplication done?
Let’s find out!
Drawing Duplication Mentalism: First Thing’s First
Before we begin breaking down the steps on how to perform duplication drawing tricks, we should first establish a few things.
One, you need to decide on a context in which you want to do the trick. This could be as a card trick, remote viewing trick, or prediction trick — it’s all up to you.
After you’ve decided on a context, it’s time to gather your materials.
Drawing Duplication Mentalism: What You’ll Need
In this tutorial, we’ll be using double-blank playing cards, which you can buy for as cheap as $3-6 a pack. You can find them on Amazon or any magic shop that’s closest to you.
You’ll also need a marker; you can use any type you like, but we prefer black Sharpies because they dry quickly and don’t stain. You can get a whole box for as little as $14.
Once you have everything you need, it’s time to hit the streets!
Drawing Duplication Metalism: The Secret Explained
To start this trick is simple; pick a random person out of your audience and have them step forward to where you’re standing.
Show your subject and the audience your deck of double-blank playing cards. (Make sure to point out that none of these cards have anything written on them.) Have your subject take a card from the deck and hold it out on their hand.
Now, grab your black Sharpie and hand it over to your subject. Using this marker, ask them to draw an object on the blank card in their hand.
You can give them a little context to add a little more pizzazz or depth to your trick. Maybe ask them to draw something sentimental to them, like a favorite item or the last thing their parent gave them.
Once they’re done drawing, have them return their card into the deck you have in your hands.
Now, this is where the fun begins.
There are a variety of ways for a mentalist to perform a drawing duplication trick, but the simplest and most famous one is through the method called the “Secret Peek.”
The method entails exactly what its name suggests — you secretly take a peek at your subject’s drawing without them noticing or your audience.
However, if you’re performing this in front of a crowd, even if it’s a small crowd, how can you possibly get away with a peek without anyone getting suspicious?
Well, that’s easy enough.
You can do it through a technique called the “Convincing Control.”
What is Convincing Control?
Convincing Control is a card control or “cull”, invented by magician Ed Marlo, to achieve tricks exactly like drawing duplication. This technique is an easy, convincing method for secretly placing a selected card to the bottom of the deck.
Here’s a tutorial on how to properly execute the Convincing Control technique:
How to Master Convincing Control?
Convincing Control can be a little tricky to execute, but once you get used to the movements, it will eventually come naturally to you.
Meanwhile, here’s how you can start using the Convincing Control technique:
Step 1: Cut the deck in half and have your subject place their card on top of the left-hand portion of the deck.
Step 2: Bring your hands together and with your left thumb, carefully slide your subject’s card beneath your middle and ring finger on your other hand. Your index finger should be touching the card behind the one with the drawing.
Step 3: Once the card is secure and the audience has seen it, bring both halves back together in a downward motion.
Step 4: Use your index finger to slide the card behind the one with the drawing up, so it sticks out of the deck. (So your audience and your subject think this is the one with the drawing.)
While this is happening, your middle and ring finger will be sliding the real card underneath the deck.
Step 5: Take the bottom half of the deck to push the protruding cards back in. Now you can take a peek at what your subject drew!
The steps after this are pretty straightforward.
Once you’ve taken a peek at your subject’s card, take a blank card from your deck and simply duplicate the drawing you saw from your subject’s card.
Pro Tip: Be careful not to make your drawing look too similar to your subject’s. This could make them and your audience suspicious about your trick.
You can use the convincing technique in other tricks involving cards, too! It’s the simplest mind-reading method around, but it still doesn’t fail to amaze when you crack it out during parties.
Final Thoughts
It takes a certain level of dedication and practice to master mentalism and perform tricks flawlessly.
The good news is, we don’t ALL have to be experts. We can just do it for the sake of doing it!
The Convincing Control technique is one that you can use for a variety of card tricks, and mastering it can open you up to so much more opportunities to show off your skills and explore new avenues of mentalism.
If you liked this article or if it helped you at all, please don’t forget to share it with your friends and family.
Think there’s a better way to do drawing duplication? If so, we’d like to hear about it!
Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Have a magical day, mentalists!