If you’re new to the visual art world, or perhaps self-taught, you might be wondering what the difference is between sketching and drawing. Sometimes the words “sketching” and “drawing” are used interchangeably, but the term “sketching” is usually applied to a specific type of drawing.
The line between a sketch and a drawing is quite blurred, but generally, “sketching” refers to a less formal and faster process. A drawing might seek to produce a finished and polished piece, while a sketch does not typically aim to do this. Drawings typically have cleaner, well-defined lines, while sketches might have messier marks.
The Uses of Sketching vs. Drawing
While sketching might produce a less polished finished product (which you might be less inclined to share with others), sketching is still an incredibly useful process for visual artists. It serves several purposes for the budding or seasoned creative.
Practice
Suppose you’re working on capturing an unfamiliar form or looking to improve your skills by drawing something specific (animals, portraits, landscapes, etc.). In that case, sketching can allow you to practice multiple times in a shorter period while drawing might take significantly longer to produce the same number of pieces or practice the same number of skills.
Speed
Usually, sketching is done to capture a moment or image relatively quickly. Perhaps you’re studying an object in motion, or you’re venturing out into the world for a short time to capture an image and return home to do a more formal piece of art. Either way, a sketch is fast and can help preserve what you observe in a short time.
Typically, a sketch will take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour. If you only have a few minutes in the middle of your busy day, a quick sketch can be done between classes or meetings with a ballpoint pen and binder paper. Drawings, however, can take much longer to complete, days, or even weeks. How much time you spend on a drawing will depend on the size, style, medium, level of detail, and skill level.
Underdrawing
Sometimes a sketch is used as a guide underneath a painting or a more detailed drawing. This is usually done using more transparent, lighter, or erasable mediums, like pencils or watered-down paints. If you’re producing a sketch to go underneath your work, make sure you pay attention to what mediums are compatible and how they might show through the finished piece.
Fun and Relaxation!
Sketching and drawing can both bring great enjoyment and even stress relief. Sketching might help free you, as an artist, from the pressures of producing a polished piece. The quick, short strokes of sketching can also be an energetic and passionate process.
On the flip side, spending more time on a drawing can be very relaxing and satisfying. The act of paying attention to small details can be soothing. Hopefully, if you’re creating art, you’re doing it because you enjoy the process, but there is also great satisfaction and pride in a drawing, you have spent a lot of time perfecting.
Creating Something Awesome
The most important thing to remember is regardless of whether your finished piece might be described as a sketch or a drawing, it is art, and all art is beautiful!
A sketch is rough and produced with less detail than a drawing doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be shared. Plenty of sketches are fully-fledged and much-loved art pieces in their own right. Just think of Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man!
Sketching vs. Drawing Materials
Whether you plan on sketching or doing a more finished drawing may influence what materials you choose. Materials that are friendly or intended for sketching can vary slightly, though there is a lot of overlap between them.
Mediums
Sketches can be done with virtually any medium—including pencils, charcoal, ballpoint pen, pastels, pen and ink, and even a brush and paint—but some materials are more common than others.
Pencils make it easy to adjust their darkness by choosing a lighter color or applying less pressure. Graphite pencils can also be erased, though often sketches are done with little erasing. Instead, lines are approximated and corrected using multiple strokes to darken the correct line. Charcoal and pastels work in a similar (though more permanent) way.
These mediums make excellent sketching materials because they are movable, and the tips can change shape. Sharpening enables thinner lines, while the sides or a duller tip can be used for thicker lines and shading. Any of these mediums can be used for a polished drawing as well.
Interested in learning about using regular pencils as a medium? Check out our article Can You Draw and Color with a Regular Pencil? to learn more.
Color
Most sketching is done with a black or grey graphite pencil, charcoal, or pens. While sketches can be done with color, they are often done in one or only a small number of colors.
Drawings may also be done in simple monochrome or may bring in a wide array of colors. Colored pastels and paints are much more common in drawing than in sketching because they can help capture a closer likeness and detail.
Sketch Paper
Generally, the sketch paper is smooth and relatively inexpensive. The best weight for your sketch paper might depend on what medium you prefer to use. Thinner papers are acceptable for most dry mediums, but some wet mediums (such as ink and watercolor) might require a heavier weight.
Sketchbooks come in various sizes, including small varieties that are easy to tote around in a bag or even a pocket, the familiar 8.5 in. x 11 in., and much larger sizes like 24 in. x 36 in. for use on easels.
If you’re preparing for another drawing or painting, you’ll likely want to do your sketch on paper similarly sized, if not identical, to your final product. This will help you plan out your composition accurately.
Drawing Paper
Generally, drawing paper is a heavier weight than sketch paper because the finished product is meant to last and be presentable. Sometimes drawing paper will have more texture or “tooth,” which enables more significant tone varieties. For these reasons, drawing paper will typically be more expensive and will often come with fewer sheets when sold in a pad or book.
Digital Sketching and Drawing
For digital artists, most art programs for tablets, desktop computers, or laptops have brushes designed to mimic sketching mediums. These programs also typically allow you to create multiple layers.
Sketches may be done on their layer to block out basic shapes or designs. Usually, this is done with a digital tool similar to a pencil, sometimes with a lighter color or lower opacity. A final drawing with cleaner lines can be performed over the top, and the original sketch is either covered or the layer is deleted.
Digital sketches can also be done as preliminary drawings for traditional art. This allows the artist to make many studies and adjustments without eating up materials like traditional art mediums.
Overall, the process of digital sketching and drawing is quite similar to that of traditional art, just on a digital platform. Digital art can closely mimic traditional drawing and sketching or push those boundaries into smoother finishes, cleaner lines, or even motion graphics.
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