Paintings and Drawings

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For the longest time, I used to think that the terms, painting and drawing, could be used interchangeably. However, after speaking to more painters, I found that grouping those two terms takes away the special nuances they have to offer. Hence, I'd like to distinguish between painting, drawing, and photography. To me, all three are concerned with constructing compelling compositions within a plane. However, photography is instantaneous and mechanical, which sets it apart.

Now, let’s differentiate painting from drawing. Painting is about building up and layering shapes—two-dimensional forms. It’s an exploration of sets, a collection of points that define a flat shape. Drawing, on the other hand, is about manipulating the singular line—a one-dimensional parametric equation. While grouped lines can create the illusion of a plane, they do not make a painting.

One more distinction: I typically draw on a flat surface, whereas I paint on a propped-up canvas.