intended outcome. Primarily, drawing is seen to be any form of marking a
surface with a view to creating a two-dimensional image. Common tools
used for drawing upon a two-dimensional surface include pencil, coloured
pencils, graphite, charcoal, compressed charcoal, ink, pastel, wax crayon
and oil pastel. Drawing is sometimes used as a preparation for a painting,
either as an observational sketchbook exercise or as a preliminary to
painting upon canvas, as a means of mapping out where different areas of
colour will go.
For this reason it has a close relationship with painting, and even crosses
over with it, as some ink and brush techniques differ little from painting at all:
In these instances it becomes clear that drawing is generally seen to be a
process of drawing with 'line' using an implement that creates friction with
the surface, thus leaving a mark on that surface.
The principle aim of drawing is to record events, images or ideas using the
friction between the drawing implement and the draw-upon surface to leave
a mark that can be referred to in the future for reference or entertainment.
There are several broadly differing types of drawing that all employ the
above means of recording phenomena. Principally they do not differ that
much and some forms even cross over into one another. For example,
graphic design, whilst being methodical in its approach and having a defined
purpose can be appreciated as art. Similarly, art can be used to inspire
design, as can often be seen in fashion and architecture.
Drawing is principally comprised of tone, line and (sometimes) an
awareness of 'perspective' (the illusion of three-dimensional space). It
sometimes utilises colour, although this is seen as a secondary component
of drawing, as colour is the principle domain of painting, and now colour
photography.
Using the elements of tone, line and perspective attempts are made by
artists to convey 'reality' in a manner that is 'expressive' or in a way that is
more realistic (often called 'academic drawing' or 'realist' drawing. In both
cases an attempt is made to convey an existing reality. In many cases an
attempt is made in this way to affect the viewer and to in some way change
reality through political and social comment, or just by making the viewer
stop and stare.