Drawing is a form of visual expression and is one of the major forms within the visual arts.

Drawing is distinct from painting. The techniques of drawing and painting" when confused, are generally because similar tools can perform both tasks. But the operations are distinct in that painting generally involves the layering of pigments by means of a brush onto cloth or prepared surfaces, whereas drawing is generally concerned with the marking of dark lines onto paper.

The act of drawing also suggests a process that is distinct from the traditional act of painting. The drawing process is often explorative, with considerable emphasis on observation, problem solving and composition. In contrast, traditional painting is often a means of execution or finishing an artwork once a drawing has been completed.