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How did preliminary drawings help artists create paintings and sculptures?

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Watercolor painting by Berthe Morisot showing Edma seated on a sofa in a floral dress with her young daughter Jeanne beside her, both facing slightly right. — Drawing *The Artist's Sister, Edma, with Her Daughter, Jeanne*, watercolor over graphite on paper by Berthe Morisot, 1872; in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

Preliminary drawings serve as the essential foundation for visual arts, acting as a guide for artists to develop their ideas before committing to a final work. These drawings help artists plan compositions, establish proportions, and explore artistic intentions.12

Role in Painting

In painting, preliminary sketches allow artists to map out main contours and structural elements. Artists often use cartoons—full-size drawings—to transfer designs onto a painting surface by pressing or perforating the lines with charcoal dust. This process ensures that the composition is precisely established before the application of paint. Sketches also serve as a space for "pentimenti," where artists record changes to their original formulations as they refine their vision.123

Role in Sculpture

For sculptors, drawings function as a means to visualize and plan a three-dimensional project. Artists may create drawings or small-scale models, known as maquettes, to present their design concepts to clients or to guide their own work. Additionally, sculptors may mark points and lines directly onto raw stone blocks as auxiliary drawings to guide the carving process.41