The careers of history’s most famous painters and sculptors began with a sketch and were eventually punctuated by an artistic observation on the act of drawing itself as the following quotes for drawing illustrate.

“Pure drawing is an abstraction.” Paul Cezanne

“Drawing is the skeleton of what you do and color is its flesh.” Nicolas Poussin

“It is not bright colors but good drawing that makes figures beautiful.” Titian

“Rough sketches, which are born in an instant in the heat of inspiration, express the idea of their author in a few strokes, while too much effort and diligence sometimes sops the vitality and powers of those who never know when to leave off.” Giorgio Vasari

“Drawing is the honesty of the art. There is no possibility of cheating. It is either good or bad.” Salvador Dali

“A good drawing has immense vitality because it is explanatory. In a good drawing even its faults have become virtues.” John Sloan

“Drawing is the probity of art.” J. Alden Weir

“Originality depends only on the character of the drawing and the vision peculiar to each artist.” Georges Seurat

“Drawing is based upon perspective, which is nothing else than a thorough knowledge of the function of the eye.” Leonardo da Vinci

“Open your eyes and draw. Look, look, look.” George Alexis Weymouth

“To draw, you must close your eyes and sing.” Pablo Picasso

“I sometimes draw just for its own enjoyment.” Henry Moore

“My drawings are the result of my sculpture.” Auguste Rodin

“Draw on both sides of the line, not just what you’re enclosing. The shape you’re making on the outside is as important as the one you’re making on the inside.” Leon Polk Smith

“It is only by drawing often, drawing everything, drawing incessantly, that one fine day you discover to your surprise that you have rendered something in its true character.” Camille Pissarro

“You can never do too much drawing.” Tintoretto

To make drawing a part of your daily routine, add Whiteyboard’s Clear Dry Erase Paint (paint kit $35; markers $0.99 each) to your home, office, or art studio. This will enable aspiring, emerging and established artists to come up with countless sketches and perhaps a few memorable drawing quotes inspiration.