Drawing and Sketching: Art, Psychology, and Computer Graphics

Abstract

Sketching is a fundamental form of expression that supports visual thinking, conceptual exploration, and communication across cultures, generations, and disciplines [Fan et al. 2023; Goel 1995; Hertzmann 2021; Tversky 2002; 2011; Tversky et al. 2003]. Whether through quick marks or detailed renderings, it externalizes ideas into tangible visual form, serving as both a creative act and a cognitive tool. For example, designers use sketches to explore new ideas [Goldschmidt 1992; Tversky et al. 2003], scientists employ them to formulate problems [Kaiser 2019; Nasim 2019], and children engage in sketching to learn and express themselves [Fiorella and Kuhlmann 2020; Forbus et al. 2011]. This central role has made drawing and sketching a long-standing topic of interest in computer graphics, computer vision, and machine learning [Bénard and Hertzmann 2018; Berger et al. 2013; Canny 1986; DeCarlo et al. 2003; Ha and Eck 2017; Hertzmann 2003; Judd et al. 2007; Vinker et al. 2022; Winnemöller et al. 2012; Xie and Tu 2017; Xu et al. 2020].