The practice of drawing has been fundamental to western art. Drawing was used as a systematic study of subject and form, toward major paintings or sculpture. Occasionally though, a drawing expressed everything that the artist sought, and he or she realised that this could not be added to. Modern painters like Picasso and Matisse continued this tradition. In this topic you will find selections of drawings by modern New Zealand painters like Toss Woollaston, Rita Angus and Charles Tole who were influenced by Picasso and Matisse.

Drawing is now not as widely practised by today's contemporary artists, largely because traditional media like oil painting are not as prevalent as they once were. Many artists are now using digital media, film and video. However, there are young painters like Matthew Hunt, who use drawing as an imaginative tool and as a way of 'processing' the media culture which is his 'landscape'. In this topic you will see the role that drawing plays in his art.