WHAT IS DRAWING?

Drawing is a form of visual art in which a person uses various drawing instruments to mark paper or
another two-dimensional medium. Instruments include graphite pencils, pen and ink, inked brushes,
wax color pencils, crayons, charcoal, chalk, pastels, various kinds of erasers, markers, styluses,
various metals (such as silverpoint) and electronic drawing.

HISTORY OF DRAWING
Drawing as a Form of Communication Drawing is one of the oldest forms of human expression,
with evidence for its existence preceding that of written communication. It is believed that drawing
was used as a specialized form of communication before the invent of the written
language, demonstrated by the production of cave and rock paintings created by Homo sapiens
sapiens around 30,000 years ago. These drawings, known as pictograms, depicted objects and
abstract concepts. The sketches and paintings produced in prehistoric times were eventually stylized
and simplified, leading to the development of the written language as we know it today.
Drawing in the Arts Drawing is used to express one's creativity, and therefore has been prominent
in the world of art. Throughout much of history, drawing was regarded as the foundation for artistic
practice. Initially, artists used and reused wooden tablets for the production of their
drawings. Following the widespread availability of paper in the 14th century, the use of drawing in
the arts increased. At this point, drawing was commonly used as a tool for thought and investigation,
acting as a study medium whilst artists were preparing for their final pieces of work. In a period of
artistic flourish, the Renaissance brought about drawings exhibiting realistic representational
qualities, where there was a lot of influence from geometry and philosophy.

TECHNIQUES OF DRAWING
Almost all draftsmen use their hands and fingers to apply the media, with the exception of some
handicapped individuals who draw with their mouth or feet.
Prior to working on an image, the artist typically explores how various media work. They may try
different drawing implements on practice sheets to determine value and texture, and how to apply
the implement to produce various effects.
The artist's choice of drawing strokes affects the appearance of the image. Pen and ink drawings
often use hatchinggroups of parallel lines.] Cross-hatching uses hatching in two or more different
directions to create a darker tone. Broken hatching, or lines with intermittent breaks, form lighter
tonesand controlling the density of the breaks achieves a gradation of tone. Stippling, uses dots to
produce tone, texture or shade. Different textures can be achieved depending on the method used to
build tone.

Drawings in dry media often use similar techniques, though pencils and drawing sticks can achieve
continuous variations in tone. Typically a drawing is filled in based on which hand the artist favors. A
right-handed artist draws from left to right to avoid smearing the image. Erasers can remove
unwanted lines, lighten tones, and clean up stray marks. In a sketch or outline drawing, lines drawn
often follow the contour of the subject, creating depth by looking like shadows cast from a light in the
artist's position.
Sometimes the artist leaves a section of the image untouched while filling in the remainder. The
shape of the area to preserve can be painted with masking fluid or cut out of a frisket and applied to
the drawing surface, protecting the surface from stray marks until the mask is removed.
Another method to preserve a section of the image is to apply a spray-on fixative to the surface. This
holds loose material more firmly to the sheet and prevents it from smearing. However the fixative
spray typically uses chemicals that can harm the respiratory system, so it should be employed in a
well-ventilated area such as outdoors.
Another technique is subtractive drawing in which the drawing surface is covered with graphite or
charcoal and then erased to make the image.

Materials

The medium is the means by which ink, pigment or color are delivered onto the drawing surface.
Most drawing media are either dry (e.g. graphite, charcoal, pastels, Cont, silverpoint), or use a fluid
solvent or carrier (marker, pen and ink). Watercolor pencils can be used dry like ordinary pencils,
then moistened with a wet brush to get various painterly effects. Very rarely, artists have drawn with
(usually decoded) invisible ink. Metal point drawing usually employs either of two metals: silver or
lead.] More rarely used are gold, platinum, copper, brass, bronze, and tin-point.
Paper comes in a variety of different sizes and qualities, ranging from newspaper grade up to high
quality and relatively expensive paper sold as individual sheets. Papers can vary in texture, hue,
acidity, and strength when wet. Smooth paper is good for rendering fine detail, but a more "toothy"
paper holds the drawing material better. Thus a coarser material is useful for producing deeper
contrast.
Newsprint and typing paper may be useful for practice and rough sketches. Tracing paper is used to
experiment over a half-finished drawing, and to transfer a design from one sheet to another.
Cartridge paper is the basic type of drawing paper sold in pads. Bristol board and even heavier acidfree boards, frequently with smooth finishes, are used for drawing fine detail and do not distort when
wet media (ink, washes) are applied. Vellum is extremely smooth and suitable for very fine detail.
Cold-pressed watercolor paper may be favored for ink drawing due to its texture.
Acid-free, archival quality paper keeps its color and texture far longer than wood pulp based paper
such as newsprint, which turns yellow and become brittle much sooner.
The basic tools are a drawing board or table, pencil sharpener and eraser, and for ink
drawing, blotting paper. Other tools used are circle compass, ruler, and set square. Fixative is used
to prevent pencil and crayon marks from smudging. Drafting tape is used to secure paper to drawing
surface, and also to mask an area to keep it free of accidental marks sprayed or spattered materials
and washes. An easel or slanted table is used to keep the drawing surface in a suitable position,
which is generally more horizontal than the position used in painting.