Drawing
As with paintings, drawings are one of the oldest art forms around and can be traced back to prehistoric times. Before the advent of paper in the 14th century, drawings were made on parchment and silver was also used to make under-drawings.
Drawing was and still is a popular method for artists to create preparatory studies. Examples of preparatory work are often a good way to see the artist’s initial observations and ideas before they commit to the final markings in their work.
A drawing is defined as a two-dimensional medium where an image is depicted on a flat surface by making lines and areas of tone through shading. Artists generally use pencil, ink, pastels, crayon, chalk and charcoal to create line and shading. A more painterly effect can be created in a drawing by using watercolour pencils.
A rarer method is metal point drawing which involves using a stylus with a point made from gold, silver, cooper or lead pressed on a paper/parchment surface, which has been coated with a paste of crushed eggshell or bone. When drawing across the surface with the stylus tiny particles are left and these naturally tarnish, turning the indentations in the paper into darker lines.
The idea and execution of drawing has remained unchanged for a thousand years. As such, it is an activity that connects us directly in an unbroken line with the first human who sketched in dirt or scratched on the wall of a cave…
Emma Dexter – Curator of Contemporary Art, Tate Modern, London
Owning Art: The Contemporary Art Collector’s Handbook by Louisa Buck and Judith Greer, Cultureshock Media, 2006
Looking for galleries who stock this artform?
Why not explore our member galleries
The Royal Cambrian Academy of Art, Crown Lane, Conwy, CONWY, LL32 8AN
The Arts Shop & Chapel, No 8 Cross Street, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5EH
Plas Glyn y Weddw Gallery, Llanbedrog, Pwllheli, Gwynedd, LL53 7TT
Canfas Gallery, Grosvenor Hill, Grovesnor Hill, Cardigan, Ceredigion, SA43 1HY
Shetland Museum & Archives, Hays Dock, Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0WP
South Gate Gallery & Specialist Picture Framers, 64 South Street, Exeter, Devon, EX1 1EE
National Trust, Cotehele House, Cotehele, Saltash, Cornwall, PL12 6TA
Milton Art Gallery, Milton of Crathes, Banchory, Aberdeenshire, AB31 5QH
Liberation Art Gallery, 38 Meeting House Lane, Brighton, East Sussex, BN11HB
The Rutland Gallery, 27 High Street East, Uppingham, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 9PY
Southwark Park Galleries, 1 Park Approach, Southwark Park, London, London, SE16 2UA
Danby Lodge National Park Centre, Lodge Lane, Danby, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 2NB
Laura I.Gallery, Icehouse Court, Abbey Road, Barking, Essex, IG11 7BT
Railway Cottage, Behind Bass Warehouse, Off Castle Street, Manchester, M3 4LZ
Unit 3C, Mardleybury Farm, Mardleybury Road, Datchworth, Hertfordshire, SG36SG
Art of Protest Gallery, 11 Walmgate, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 9TX
The Ropewalk, Maltkiln Road, Barton upon Humber, North Lincolnshire, DN18 5LT
24 Church Street, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 3EG
St Anne's Court, 59 North Street, BT1 1NB, Belfast, Antrim, BT1 1NB
The Paragon Gallery, 4 Rotunda Terrace, Montpellier Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1SW
Hang-Up Pictures Ltd, 10D Branch Place, Regents Canal, Hoxton, London, N1 5PH
Outside In, PO Box 810,, Chichester,, PO19 9WF, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 9WF
83-85 Town Street, Sandsgate Building, Farsley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS28 5UJ
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, 75 Belford Road, Edinburgh, EH2 2EL
45 Eldon Garden Shopping Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE1 7RA
Royal West of England Academy, Queens Road, Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1PX
Gallery Q Dundee, Queens Hotel Buildings, 160 Nethergate, Dundee, Angus, DD1 4DU
30 Gray Street, Broughty Ferry, Dundee, Broughty Ferry Dundee, Angus, DD5 2BJ
Edinburgh Printmakers, Castle Mills, 1 Dundee Street, Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH3 9FP
Art Forms
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