MindMatch
Drawing Sync · Difficulty ★★

mug Mug

Draw a mug with a big handle

How to draw a mug simple: a cup with a handle. But handle on the right or left, steam or no steam, an oval rim or a flat top — two mugs can come from different cupboards. With "a big handle" as the brief, it also turns into a contest of who draws the biggest one.

What the engine watches

A mug is a body plus a handle, so the shape dimension compares silhouette, proportions and stroke count. Which side the handle sits on affects symmetry and orientation, and every wisp of steam is another stroke. A drawing built from several strokes. Compares stroke count, aspect ratio and symmetry; a single short line doesn't count. Whether you build a house from a triangle plus a square or draw it in one go decides everything.

How people usually draw it

The most common is a tall rectangle (or a slightly tapered cup) with a big backwards-C handle on the right. Next come the oval-rim camp that shows the mouth of the mug, and the steam camp with two or three wavy lines. Some put the handle on the left or draw a line for the coffee level.

How to sync better

"Rectangle body, big handle on the right" in two strokes syncs best. Draw the body in one stroke, then the handle; steam and an oval rim only after checking with your partner.

A little trivia

The ☕ emoji originated in Japanese mobile emoji sets and was added to Unicode in 2010; its official Unicode name is simply "Hot Beverage", not coffee.

FAQ

Handle on the right or left?

Right is the majority, and so is the ☕ emoji. Left-handers often put it on the left, so remembering your partner's dominant hand is a hint.

Should I draw steam?

Slightly more people skip it. Steam adds two or three strokes and makes the drawing taller, so leave it out when you're going for sync.

Related prompts

Learn more