The Story of Drawing

Drawing is at the heart of human creativity. It is the most democratic form of art-making, requiring nothing more than the stub of a pencil, piece of chalk or ink brush, and a surface. Our prehistoric ancestors drew with natural pigments on the walls of caves, and every subsequent culture has practised drawing—whether on papyrus, parchment, or paper. Virtually all artists have used drawing as part of the creative process. However, by stepping back and surveying the long history of drawing, Susan Owens reveals an alternative history of art. While art forms such as painting and sculpture have been shaped heavily by money and influence, drawing has always offered exceptional creative latitude. Drawing is where we can encounter the artist at his or her most unguarded. The Story of Drawing offers a glimpse over artists’ shoulders as they work, think, plan, innovate, and either scrutinise the world or retreat into their imaginations.