The main difference between drawing and painting is the way, the forms are created. In drawing only lines are used to create forms with shading or cross-hatching while in painting you use a wide variety of mediums like acrylic paint or oil paints to create forms by filling in areas.
But is drawing harder than painting? The short answer is it depends. Some people learn drawing faster than painting and vise Versa. But generally, you can learn both drawing and painting with enough persistence and I would always suggest learning both.
There is no absolute answer. If you asked 10 people their opinions, that’s what you would get, with 10 different answers.
It takes skill, and knowledge to do either one. One might come easier to you than the other, but which one is harder is strictly a personal preference.
What Is Drawing?
The definition of drawing is representing an object, outline, sketch or plan by means of lines. A picture created with a pencil, pen, marker, crayon or other tools.
What Is Painting?
Painting is defined as the art of using paint, color or pigment for a picture, as decoration or a protective coating.
Basically, painting focuses on colors and forms, while drawing uses lines and shading.
The History Of Drawing and Painting and Where it All Started.
The art of drawing and painting dates back to prehistoric times. They were used for communication and history.
Abstract and animal artwork dates back to walls and caves in France and Spain as far back as 30,000 to 10,000 B. C.
Ancient Egyptians used pictures to communicate with the gods.
The art of China, made with a brush on silk or paper is as close to painting as to drawings. In the 14th century, drawing became something of its own kind.
Once paper became available, drawing became a totally different aspect of an artist’s skill. Drawings are so prized because a rapid sketch unleashes an artist’s genius in an exceptional manner.
The stories of drawing and painting mirror so close to each other.
Drawing Techniques
Since drawing doesn’t use brushes, paint or colors of any kind, it is considered to be dry art. Usually, a pencil, pen, charcoal or crayon is used to draw.
Drawing uses measurement and scale to achieve a result.
Painting Techniques
Painting is considered as a wet art because it uses brushes and colors A surface must be prepared before painting can be done.
Once the surface is complete, the choice is made for the tone of colors to be used. Afterwards, various techniques come into play, such as glazing with the paint, layering and so on. Paint ranges from charcoal to acrylic.
Types Of Drawings
• Portraits – usually represent a person to shoulder level.
• Landscapes – usually nature or a specific scene.
• Cartooning – a unique drawing technique that’s usually found in a fictional book. Mostly uses dry crayons or colored pencils.
• Sketching – a rough freehand drawing that’s considered not to be finished.
Types Of Paintings
There are 49 different types of paintings. The following are just a few:
• Oil – a slow drying medium that’s made from color pigments suspended in oil.
• Acrylic – a water-soluble paint that is non-toxic, cost-effective and dries quickly.
• Watercolor – made from pigments suspended on a water-based solution and typically used on paper.
• Pastel – known as dry painting. Pastels have chalk in them, oil pastels have a wax consistency, while water soluble pastels have a watercolor type effect.
Is Drawing/Painting A Skill Or Talent?
Some people believe that artists either have the gift or they don’t.
Scientists say that natural talent is born into individuals, but everyone can learn to draw.
I wrote an article about this topic that you can find here: ” Is Drawing a Talent or Skill? The truth about learning how to Draw.“
Practice really does make perfect, it was just never stated how much. Someone could become fairly skilled at drawing after about 10,000 hours.
There is more to drawing than putting pencil to paper. Visual skills are very important. To be good at drawing, you need a sharp perception of objects, without their surroundings, then be able to put that on the page.
If you are drawing to impress others, you will never have the skill or talent. That’s an awful lot of practice to please someone else.
What Does Science Say?
Studies have found that artist’s brains are structurally different compared to those that are not artists.
It seems that scans showed increased neural matter in areas relating to visual imagery and fine motor movements in artists brains.
So, according to research, it could be a talent born in the artist. However, environmental upbringing and training is crucial to obtain ability.
This would explain why drawing/painting seems to come easier to some folks.
If you sit and ponder on how much talent you have, you are wasting time. It takes more than ability to be creative. What makes a successful artist is persistence mixed with desire, then learn the techniques.
Is Drawing/Painting Easy?
Artists can certainly make it look easy.
However, there are years of practice and hard work behind every good artist.
If you begin any task believing it is easy, much less something as tedious as being an artist, you are setting yourself up for destruction.
It’s unrealistic to believe that every drawing/painting should be perfect. You have to learn from your mistakes, like everything else in life. Don’t be afraid to try new subjects, techniques or approaches.
With practice, you’ll master each one.
If You Don’t Draw, Can You Still Learn to Paint?
A drawing isn’t a painting that has been colored in and a painting is not a drawing that is colored.
If you are an expert at drawing, you still must learn to paint. Painting involves its own skills.
No rule states that drawing is needed before you paint, it is up to the artist.
Drawing is a totally different creation of art. Drawing skills might make painting easier, but they are not necessary to learn painting skills.
According to Leonardo da Vinci, “Painting embraces all 10 functions of the eye; that’s to say, darkness, light, body and color, shape and location, distance and closeness, motion and rest.”
Major Difference In Drawing And Painting
The language in drawing is linear, it’s all about lines.
If all paintings were close up, then there would be no difference between the two. However, paintings are all about the distance.
Should I Draw Before I Paint?
If painting realistically is your plan, you absolutely need to be able to draw.
There is no way that you could paint in color, having a medium that’s more difficult to control without drawing well first.
What Is Harder To Paint Than To Draw?
Anything that has lots of detail is harder to paint than to draw.
However, usually the subject that you draw most often will be the easiest thing for you to paint.
Hardest Painting Type
Using oil paint would probably be on the top of the list. Painting with oil requires a lot of patience. You will need more technical skills than with other paints.
You have two options when painting with oil. Since oil can take weeks to dry, you can choose to wait a long time between painting layers or paint alla prima, meaning you must paint everything in one layer.
Painting Styles
There are many painting styles that artists use. You use the different styles to tell your story as you paint.
Some styles are defined by the era in which you are painting. Others, define the area of the world. Then, there are the ones describing your mood.
Here are the eight most popular styles of painting.
• Abstract – Colors and shapes are used to convey certain emotions. This style doesn’t focus on reality, but spontaneity.
• Surrealism – This particular style tries to empathize your subconscious. The imagery is surreal and has dream-like qualities.
• Pop Art – You will see depicted objects found in daily living from the mid-50s. Colors are usually added to bland art making it stand out and look modern.
• Minimalism – Characterized by simplicity. Focuses on the subject, sticks to plain neutral colors. It’s a form that only some can appreciate.
• Futurism – Focuses on technology, speed and future of the world. There’s lots of color, emotion and realism. It usually foreshadows the future. There’s a theme of movement.
• Impressionism – This style originated in France and features light. Artists usually print outside to capture the actual appearance of their objects in the sunlight.
• Photorealism – Exactly as it sounds, painting a picture of a photo that was taken. The realism of the photo has to be captured in the painting.
• Hyperrealism – These artists use high resolution cameras to capture images to paint onto canvas. They usually feature random objects that are lifeless. Some say it’s a false reality, so it gives it a modern feel.
Final Thoughts
Is drawing harder than painting? Every medium and style is different and requires different skills. Does it make one harder than the other? No, it’s just different.
Since you begin by drawing, painting just seems like it’s more advanced. That is simply a stereotype.
Hi, I am a passionate maker and professional prop maker for the entertainment industry. I use my woodworking, programming, electronics, and illustration know-how to create interactive props and puzzles for Escape Games and marketing agencies. And I share my knowledge and my experience on this blog with you so that you can become a maker yourself.
Saved as a favorite, I like your website!
Thanks Justina.