Most hobbies or professions have a specific title: a swimmer, a runner, a cyclist, a gamer. But is there a specific title for someone who puts pencil to paper?
Below, we’ve compiled a list of great terms for someone who loves to sketch and create using all kinds of mediums. So, keep reading to learn what to call someone who draws!
Words for Someone Who Draws
- Artist
- Illustrator
- Drawer
- Sketcher
- Designer
- Cartoonist
- Caricaturist
- Creator
- Draughtsman
- Draftsman
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Anyone who creates art using any medium can call themself an “artist,” including someone who draws.
- An “illustrator” draws pictures for storybooks or scientific and technical texts.
- A person who draws can also call themself a “drawer,” although this term also refers to a piece of furniture.
Keep reading! In the next section, we’ll discuss our top three terms for someone who draws in greater detail. Moreover, we’ll show you how to use our favorite terms in some useful example sentences.
Artist
Merriam-Webster defines an “artist” as “a person who creates art (such as painting, sculpture, music, or writing) using conscious skill and creative imagination.”
Therefore, anyone who uses a medium to create art can call themselves an “artist,” including someone who draws.
To be more specific, a person can describe what kind of art they create in their title. For example, a person who draws anime can call themselves a “manga artist.”
Likewise, an “artist” can work in any medium, so a person who loves painting can call themselves an “artist” or a “painter” or both. Similarly, a person who draws portraits can go with “artist” or “portraitist.”
Now that we know a good term for someone who draws or creates any form of art, let’s see the word “artist” in a couple of example sentences:
My name is Boikanyo, and I am a pen and ink artist.
My granddaughter is a brilliant artist; I’ll show you one of the sketchbooks she gifted me.
Illustrator
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, an “illustrator” is “a person who draws pictures, especially for books.”
Therefore, this is a more precise term for someone who draws, as it cannot refer to someone who paints or sculpts like the word “artist.” However, the word “illustrator” usually refers to someone’s profession.
In other words, someone who sketches pictures for fun would probably not call themselves an “illustrator” unless they specifically draw pictures in a book.
“Illustration” can include pleasant drawings in a storybook or complex diagrams in a textbook, among other things.
Have a look at how we’ve used the word “illustrator” in some example sentences:
Godfrey was the illustrator for a series of famous children’s books.
She pursued a career as an illustrator and cartoonist but soon found herself drawn to 2D animation.
Drawer
Also the term for a square storage container in your bedroom, the final word for someone who draws is “drawer.”
Merriam-Webster defines a “drawer” as “one that draws.” Simple. Elegant.
However, a “drawer” is also defined as “a sliding boxlike compartment (as in a desk)” and “an undergarment for the lower part of the body.”
Therefore “drawer” is not the most popular choice of title amongst aspiring artists, since they may feel a bit silly using a word with so many meanings to describe their craft.
Nevertheless, if you enjoy drawing pictures either as a hobby or in a professional capacity, this is technically a correct term to go with.
Therefore, let’s see it in a couple of example sentences:
I’ll need to hire a drawer to sketch these interior plans.
Ashley is a terrific drawer; perhaps you should ask her to make a portrait for your mum.