The desire to draw is as natural as the desire to walk. It is a way of seeing and communicating, a way of paying attention.
3 Categories or reasons for drawing. We will look at each of these categories in more detail. Later we will look at some different types of drawing media.
Here we see that Rembrandt has made a sketch based on his observation of Leonardo da Vinci’s last supper.
A very sparse, loose, simple sketch. This is just a starting point.
In the upper image you can see another preliminary sketch, but his idea and imagery is much more developed (9.5” x 18”). The lower image is the finished painting. The oil on canvas is quite large, 11’5.5” x 25’5.25”.
This can be an interesting comparison. Two drawings by the same student. On the left, a drawing that is a verbally dominated preconception. On the right, pure visual awareness.
We can see something similar in these two drawings by Vincent van Gogh. On the left, we see him drawing what he thinks exists. On the right he draws what he sees exists.
To draw means to pull, push or drag a marking tool across a surface to leave a line or mark. Let us take a closer look at different drawing mediums, there differences and applications.
Silverpoint is the oldest drawing media. Silverpoint drawings are created by dragging a silver-tipped implement over a surface that has been coated with a ground of bone dust or chalk mixed with gum, water, and pigment. The silverpoint ground is sufficiently coarse to allow small flecks of silver from the instrument to adhere to the prepared surface as the implement is drawn across. These bits of metal from the lines of the drawing. As the bits oxidize, they become tarnished and make the image visible. This is a very delicate process and allows for little or no changes or corrections.
Pencil drawings are created using a thin rod of graphite encased within wood or paper. The graphite is ground to dust and mixed with clay, and the mixture is baked to harden the clay. The quantity of clay in the mixture determines the relative hardness or softness of the implement. Because of different densities of graphite, a wide variety of marks are achieved.
Charcoal is burnt wood and varies from hard to soft. Charcoal sticks are available in a number of textures. When charcoal is dragged across a surface, bits of the material adhere to that surface. Because charcoal particles rub off more easily, though, the completed drawings must be sprayed with a solution of thinned varnish to keep them affixed.
Chalk and pastel consist of pigment and a binder (such as gum arabic) shaped into workable sticks.
The term crayon includes any drawing material in stick form.
Wax crayons, with which we are most familiar, combine ground pigment with a binder (wax). The harder texture makes possible a greater clarity.
Ink is the primary fluid medium used in drawing.
Pen and brush are the instruments used to carry the medium.
Pen and ink are used to create drawings that are essentially linear.
Many artists use a metal nib that is slipped into a wooden stylus.
Pen and wash technique involves combining fine, clear lines of pure ink with wash-diluted ink that is applied with a brush.
Wash provides a tonal emphasis absent in pen-and-ink drawings.
The nature of a line in brush and ink depends on whether the brush is bristle or nylon, thin or thick, pointed or flat tipped.
Similarly, characteristics of the support-such as texture and absorbency-influence the character of the completed drawing.
Brush and wash provides more versatility than brush and ink.
The ink can be diluted to varying degrees to provide a wide tonal range.
Different effects can be achieved either by adding water directly to the ink or by moistening the support before drawing.
Originally, cartoons were full-scale preliminary drawings done on paper for projects such a fresco painting, stained glass, or tapestries.
The word eventually became associated with humorous and satirical drawings.
Many modern cartoons rely on caricature-the gross exaggeration and distortion of natural features to ridicule a social or political target.