Introductory Visual Arts: Art Media and Techniques - Drawing Graphite Charcoal Pastel Chalk Conté Crayon PenInk Silverpoint Digital Drawing

What It Is

Drawing is a fundamental art form that involves creating images using various tools and techniques. It encompasses a range of mediums, from traditional graphite and charcoal to digital drawing. Drawing is essential for making and analyzing art, as it allows artists to express themselves, communicate ideas, and explore different styles and techniques.

Key Terms & Techniques

• Line: A continuous mark made on a surface by a drawing tool. Example: Vincent van Gogh's expressive lines in "The Starry Night" (1889).
• Value: The lightness or darkness of a color or area. Example: Leonardo da Vinci's use of value in "Mona Lisa" (1503-1506) creates depth and dimension.
• Texture: The surface quality or "feel" of a drawing. Example: The rough texture of charcoal in Rembrandt's "Self-Portrait" (1632).
• Hatching: A technique of creating shading by layering parallel lines. Example: Michelangelo's use of hatching in "The Creation of Adam" (1508-1512).
• Cross-hatching: A technique of creating shading by layering lines at different angles. Example: Leonardo da Vinci's use of cross-hatching in "The Virgin of the Rocks" (1483-1486).
• Graphite: A soft, black drawing material made from graphite. Example: The smooth, detailed drawings of Albrecht Dürer.
• Charcoal: A soft, black drawing material made from burnt wood or other organic materials. Example: The expressive, gestural drawings of Edgar Degas.
• Pastel: A soft, colored drawing material made from powdered pigments. Example: The delicate, dreamy drawings of J.M.W. Turner.
• Chalk: A soft, white drawing material made from calcium carbonate. Example: The rough, expressive drawings of Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres.
• Conté Crayon: A soft, colored drawing material made from a mixture of graphite and pigment. Example: The detailed, realistic drawings of Jean-Léon Gérôme.
• Pen/Ink: A drawing medium made from a liquid or gel ink applied to a surface using a pen or brush. Example: The bold, expressive lines of Francisco Goya's "The Disasters of War" (1810-1820).
• Silverpoint: A drawing medium made from a silver-tipped stylus applied to a surface coated with a layer of graphite or clay. Example: The delicate, detailed drawings of Albrecht Dürer.
• Digital Drawing: A drawing medium made using computer software and hardware. Example: The intricate, detailed drawings of digital artist, Ash Thorp.
• Perspective: A technique of creating the illusion of three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface. Example: The use of perspective in Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper" (1495-1498).
• Proportion: The relationship between the size and scale of different elements in a drawing. Example: The use of proportion in Michelangelo's "David" (1501-1504).
• Balance: The arrangement of visual elements in a drawing to create a sense of stability and harmony. Example: The use of balance in Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" (1503-1506).

Common Misunderstandings

• Misunderstanding: Graphite and charcoal are the same thing.
• Correction: Graphite is a soft, black drawing material made from graphite, while charcoal is a soft, black drawing material made from burnt wood or other organic materials. Example: Albrecht Dürer's use of graphite in his drawings is distinct from the expressive, gestural drawings of Edgar Degas, which were made with charcoal.
• Misunderstanding: Digital drawing is a new and innovative medium.
• Correction: Digital drawing has been around since the 1960s and has evolved over time to include a wide range of software and hardware. Example: The early digital drawings of artists like Georg Nees and Frieder Nake in the 1960s laid the groundwork for the digital art of today.
• Misunderstanding: Perspective is a technique used only in Renaissance art.
• Correction: Perspective has been used in various forms throughout art history, from ancient Greek and Roman art to modern and contemporary art. Example: The use of perspective in ancient Greek and Roman art, such as in the architecture of the Parthenon, predates the Renaissance.

Quick Identification

1. Describe the artwork: A drawing of a woman with a mysterious smile, created using oil paint on a wooden panel. Identify the concept: _____ Answer: Value. The use of value in the drawing creates a sense of depth and dimension.
2. Describe the technique: A method of creating shading by layering parallel lines. Identify the concept: _____ Answer: Hatching. Hatching is a technique used to create shading and texture in drawings.
3. Describe the historical situation: A group of artists in the 1960s experimenting with digital drawing using computer software and hardware. Identify the concept: _____ Answer: Digital Drawing. Digital drawing has been around since the 1960s and has evolved over time to include a wide range of software and hardware.

Last-Minute Revision

• Graphite vs. Charcoal: Graphite is a soft, black drawing material made from graphite, while charcoal is a soft, black drawing material made from burnt wood or other organic materials.
• Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" (1503-1506) is an example of a drawing that uses value and balance.
• Michelangelo's "David" (1501-1504) is an example of a drawing that uses proportion and perspective.
• Vincent van Gogh's "The Starry Night" (1889) is an example of a drawing that uses line and texture.
• Francisco Goya's "The Disasters of War" (1810-1820) is an example of a drawing that uses pen/ink and expressionism.
• Albrecht Dürer's "Melencolia I" (1514) is an example of a drawing that uses silverpoint and humanism.
• J.M.W. Turner's "The Blue Rigi" (1842) is an example of a drawing that uses pastel and romanticism.
• Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres' "Napoleon on his Imperial Throne" (1806) is an example of a drawing that uses chalk and neoclassicism.
• Jean-Léon Gérôme's "The Snake Charmer" (1867) is an example of a drawing that uses Conté Crayon and orientalism.
• Ash Thorp's digital drawings are an example of a drawing that uses digital drawing and contemporary art.