Drawing and Sketching

History

Since the discovery of cave petroglyphs near Angoulême, France in 2006, drawing can be traced back to at least 25,000 BCE. A human portrait drawn with calcium carbonate, a cobalt blue hand, and the drawings of horses found at Lascaux, France in the mid-twentieth century, are among most intriguing artifacts of prehistoric life.

Although these illustrations survived, the majority of drawings throughout history either disintegrated or were deliberately discarded. In many cultures, drawing was given little respect. Illustrations done with charcoal or pen and ink were simply sketches or preliminary steps leading to greater forms of art, especially sculpture and painting. When the artwork was completed, the sketches were discarded.

Exceptions may be found in ancient China and other Eastern cultures where brush drawing, which dates to 300 BCE, was elevated to fine art. At first performed on silk until the Chinese invented paper in 105 CE, brush drawings were originally made with lampblack, black carbon ink obtained from burning vegetables or pine, then mixed with glue.

Many drawings were created with brushes in ancient Greece and Rome and throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance in Europe; gradually, the quill pen and ink became the preferred medium. The Lindisfarne Gospels, an illuminated manuscript from the eighth century, is the oldest example of pen and ink drawing from Western civilization. The colorful patterns and designs were drawn with ink made from oak gulls and iron sulfate, and embellished with powdered gold.

The Lindisfarne Gospels also demonstrates the early use of lead pencil, which was replaced by graphite after 1564, the year it was discovered in Borrowdale, England. Pure graphite is fragile, so artists and writers learned quickly that the material needed to be contained. The familiar wood casings were originally hollowed by hand.

In 1795, Nicolas Conté, a French chemist, mixed clay with powdered graphite and fired it in a kiln. The resulting mixture could be altered to produce either harder pencils, which contained larger amounts of clay, or softer pencils, formed by increasing the amount of graphite. Conté's invention provides the basis for the series of B and H drawing pencils that have been used for centuries.

Pastels took hold in the art world during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Rosalba Carreira, a French artist, is credited with embracing the medium. Her drawings demonstrate how the technique of blending pastels can be used to depict softness.

During the past two centuries, drawing has become accepted as a legitimate art, as rich and significant as painting.

Although computer programs now offer vast illustrative capabilities, traditional techniques and materials continue to attract artists and hobbyists. Caricatures, graphic novels, medical illustration, and portraiture are just some of the forms in which the art of drawing is preserved.

Other basic drawing supplies

• Drawing board
• Charcoal
• Pastels
• Crayons
• Chalk
• Markers
• Watercolors
• Acrylic paint
• Brushes
• Mixing palette
• Jars
• Erasers
• Pencil sharpeners, sandpaper
• Masking tape
• Blending stumps
• Brushes
• Craft knife
• Turpentine
• Fixative (hairspray will work, too)
• Soft cloth
• Frames and framing supplies
• Easel

Techniques

Artists should wash their hands before beginning to draw and frequently throughout, so that oil and dirt do not contaminate the paper. Some artists wear thin white gloves for this reason.

Drawing pencils in the H series, which represent "hardness," are used for details; pencils in the B series, which represent "blackness," are good for creating tone, shading, and texture. The most commonly used pencils are #2B-6B and #2H-6H.

Contour drawing, or drawing just the outlines of shapes or features, can be a useful exercise for novices. The goal is to draw the subject without glancing at the paper, in a very slow, deliberate motion in which the pen attempts to follow the contours of the model or object.

Gestural drawing, which seeks to depict movement or emotion, is performed quickly. Lines and even scribbles are used to represent this quality while ignoring the outline and shading. Both exercises are best done with a pen or a #3B pencil.

Shading can be accomplished by smudging with blending stumps and other materials, and incorporating various tones into a drawing using hatching, cross-hatching, and other techniques.

Rapidographs are the standard pens preferred by technical, comic book, and graphic novel artists.

To prevent unwanted smudges, especially on charcoal drawings, fixative may be sprayed on the surface.

Trends

In 1989, Betty Edwards presented a new theory of drawing that continues to attract many followers. Her book, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, suggests techniques to help one reach the "inner artist" in the subconscious, to enhance one's creativity. Many teachers have used the book as the basis for instruction, and new editions, workbooks, and videos have been published. The book may represent the most prominent trend in visual arts in the last century.

A more recent trend is the tendency for individuals to join together and form drawing clubs. Such groups offer both inspiration and the opportunity to share costs for live models and supplies.

Otherwise, drawing tends to lean toward traditional techniques and tools. Idealistic portraits, landscapes that evoke an emotional sense of place, whimsical comic strips, and detailed illustrations for scientific and medical applications are just some of the projects that continue to be rendered in simple pen and ink, pencil, pastels, charcoal, and crayon.

Drawing & Sketching for Fun vs. Profit

Drawing can be a lucrative side business as well as a rewarding full-time career. Although the portrait industry is dominated by photography, many people appreciate a hand-drawn portrait in charcoal, ink, colored pencil, or other media. In addition to being able to earn an income in portraiture, there are opportunities for artists to sell custom drawings of houses, pets, favorite vacation landscapes, and more. Caricatures are a quick way to earn money, especially at tourist sites and special events where people are seeking souvenirs.

Graphic, book, and medical illustration offer other possibilities for careers, although professional positions typically require advanced degrees.

Learning More

Organizations

Colored Pencil Society of America <http://www.cpsa.org/>

National Caricaturist Network <http://www.caricature.org/>

Pastel Society of America <http://www.pastelsocietyofamerica.org/>

Books

Edwards, Betty. Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. 4th ed. New York: Penguin, 2012.

Garcia, Claire Watson. Drawing for the Absolute and Utter Beginner. New York: Watson-Guptill, 2003.

Nicolaides, Kimon. The Natural Way to Draw: A Working Plan for Art Study. 1941. Boston: Mariner, 1990.

Partington, Peter et al., Drawing for Beginners. London: Harper Collins, 1998.