Sketching: meaning, definitions and examples

Sketching is often used when creating quick, rough drawings or plans. It is commonly used by artists and designers to capture initial ideas or concepts.

• She was sketching the layout for her new garden.
• He spent the afternoon sketching the cityscape from the park.

Drawing is a general term for making images with lines on a surface. It can range from detailed and realistic to simple and abstract, and is often more deliberate and polished than sketching.

• She took up drawing as a hobby and quickly filled several sketchbooks.
• The art class focused on drawing different types of plants and flowers.

Doodling refers to drawing randomly and often without much thought, usually while the mind is occupied with other things. It is often done absentmindedly or during idle moments.

• She found herself doodling in the margins of her notebook during the meeting.
• While talking on the phone, he doodled little stars and flowers on a scrap of paper.

Outlining is used when creating the main lines or outer shape of a design without including much detail. It is often the first step in a more detailed artwork or plan.

• The architect began by outlining the basic structure of the building.
• He spent the lesson outlining the key forms of the portrait before adding details.

Used when creating a quick or preliminary drawing to capture the essentials of an idea, scene, or object. Often used by artists to brainstorm.

• She loves sketching landscapes in her notebook during her travels.
• The architect spent the afternoon sketching ideas for the new building.

Typically used in a more formal setting, implying a preliminary version of a detailed document, plan, or drawing that may undergo revisions.

• He submitted the first draft of his research paper to the professor.
• The design team presented the draft of the project proposal to the client.

Refers to a basic framework or structure of a plan, speech, or piece of writing. Highlights the main points without going into fine details.

• Before writing her novel, she created a detailed outline of the plot and characters.
• The teacher asked the students to prepare an outline of their essays before writing the full version.

Implying a less polished and detailed version of a drawing; usually used in the early stages of conceptualization. Carries a notion of something temporary or preliminary.

• He showed me a rough drawing of the invention he had in mind.
• The artists shared their rough drawings for the new animation characters.