EXH Thinking Through Drawing

Thinking Through Drawing

“Drawing is putting a line around an idea.”

– Henri Matisse

What determines when a piece of art is truly finished? We might think it’s clear when we see a painting on the wall of a museum, but for most artists, the moment of completion is anything but straightforward. Often, artists start by sketching or making preliminary studies on paper before moving on to more permanent mediums such as copper, canvas, bronze, marble or wood.

Not every artist follows the same creative process. Some artists choose to bypass sketching and work directly on canvas, while others specialize in creating intricate and detailed drawings. Furthermore, a significant number of drawings are powerful standalone pieces, often signed by the artist.

What is it about these initial sketches and studies that captivate us? Perhaps it’s the insight they offer into the creative process—the decisions and revisions that lead us to a “finished work” or the fact that they remind us that most art isn’t simply a stroke of genius from an inspired artist.

At SCMA, we collect and treasure preparatory drawings. These raw sketches reveal the hard work, trial and error, determination and inspiration that constitute the artist’s creative journey.

This exhibition is supported by the Suzannah J. Fabing Programs Fund for the Smith College Museum of Art.

We invite you to try your hand at drawing as well! Locate a work that captures your attention and let it inspire you. You’ll find all that you need to draw (stool, pencil, paper and drawing board) in the alcove of this gallery. Enjoy!