most people's understanding of sketch often stays at the first impression, that is, a monochrome painting. The second understanding of sketch is Xu Beihong's proposition that "sketch is the basis of all painting". After years of hard work in education, no one pays attention to the origin of sketch. I don't know why textbooks are always like this. They like to cut out interesting processes and then simplify the content to the point of "pure knowledge". But then again, the fun of life often comes from personal experience. The knowledge you dig up is interesting. Once written into the textbook, perhaps those interesting things will become part of the examination questions.

Let me make up a story here and guess the origin of the word "sketch". Let's assume that the word sketch is translated from the English word sketch.

in the late Qing dynasty, the government finally opened its doors under pressure, and people with lofty ideals flew across the sea to learn advanced western knowledge. History says, the second time western learning went eastward. Art is a pioneer of cultural progress. In particular, the realistic oil paintings of foreigners are exquisite and vivid, which is shocking. So, our predecessors began to learn painting from foreigners.

in the process of learning painting, we should first learn "Mr. De" and "Mr. Sai", democracy &; Science, namely "democracy" and "science". Not to mention democracy, science, how can you learn such a profound thing? You can only learn by sketching. It is not until the advanced theories such as perspective, light and shadow, anatomy and so on are scientifically expressed with pencils that they can be considered as successful.

Anyone who has sketched knows how difficult it is to integrate those theories into the picture. The sketch of human body is even worse. Think about what kind of sensation sketching and "painting naked" will cause in society under the background of that era. I drew it and learned it. Then, the next step is to learn impressionism and master the knowledge about the color theory of light.

as we all know, no matter when you study abroad, you must report the learning content to the leaders. It's okay to meet knowledgeable leaders, but there are always laymen in the process of reporting step by step. Therefore, there is such a problem in the study report. "How can we explain to the leaders that after several years, we spent a lot of money, but we only learned the draft that Westerners call sketch?" If you say it directly, it is small for the leaders not to give funds, but it is big for the wrong country! " As a result, these international students have to change sketch to a high-end Chinese noun. It doesn't matter if you look for it, you will find it directly in The Analects of Confucius. Confucius said, "Painting after the event". At that time, "painting after the event" was common sense, and "Zhou Li Kao Gong Ji" said: "Everything that is painted is done after the event." Painting and painting are synonymous with each other, and Confucius' quotation is more general.

As we all know, often the first person to translate a foreign work will have the naming right. And those who have the right to name are often learned people. Even if the translation is not good, it is authoritative, and later people can only use it according to his translation. For example, the program called "program" in mainland China is used in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Besides, the word "sketch" can be quoted from the classics. Who can say it is not good? As a result, with the continuous efforts of predecessors, the drawing process of western paintings has become no longer mysterious, and the word "sketch" has been called out all over the world.

well, that's all for the story of "sketch".

During the period when I devoted my energy to sketching, I read several foreign sketching books, such as The Tips of Sketching, Drawing from Masters, Burman's Body and so on. When reading foreign books, it will be very confusing. There is an obvious feeling that this is not a "sketch" taught in class. It's clearly a draft. But who can say that the draft is not important? Not the foundation? It is said that the last 4 chapters of A Dream of Red Mansions were also completed according to Cao Xueqin's manuscript. Preface to Lanting and Sacrifice to My Nephew are drafts. Bill Gates bought the Da Vinci Manuscript for $3.8 million, which fully shows that the "draft" is very important. "Draft" has the advantages of draft, which can be exquisite, simple, casual, cautious, purposeful, auxiliary and fast.

let's take a look at the explanation of "sketch" in Longman Ying Ying dictionary, "A simple, quickly made drawing that does not show much detail". As it happens, I know all these words, so translate it, "a simple and quick way to draw pictures that don't need to show too much detail."

Coincidentally, I once read a casual book. After reading some articles about Li Shutong and Feng Zikai promoting art education, I probably got the above story. After all, Li Shutong was the first art educator who initiated nude sketching in China and the founder of the May 4th New Culture Movement. In the years when western learning spread to the east, science, that is, "Mr. Sai", changed the art and education circles at that time through the two courses of "sketch" and "color".

The times are constantly advancing, and those who promote the development of fine arts are gradually hiding behind the "sketch". When I vaguely realize what sketch is, I feel that everything is not so important. China owes much to the May 4th generation. Living in peacetime, lucky people like me can only digest those painting theories bit by bit, receive their legacy and gradually discover the treasure hidden under the term "sketch".

Having said that, what is a sketch? In my opinion, sketch is a draft, which is a kind of painting technique with "scientific spirit" introduced into China. I think someone will ask, what can sketch bring? Science. If you don't believe me, please pick up the brush immediately and try to describe anything in front of you. I believe your painting must be enough to prove that the shape left on the paper is not what you really see, but the illusion given by your brain. I think this is enough to make you know Socrates' famous saying again: "I know I don't know". The rest is up to you to find out.

Then why does the brain "cheat" us? I can only say that this belongs to the category of psychology and cognition. If you need to remember to leave a message, I can recommend relevant books.