Final answer:
A mark made by a pencil, pen, stick, or other similar tools is a trace left on a surface reflecting the tool's interaction with the medium. Different tools and techniques create unique qualities in marks, from the tarnishing line of metalpoint to the velvety darkness of soft charcoal. The choice of paper and the use of erasers can also influence the final artwork.
Step-by-step explanation:
A mark made by a pencil, pen, stick, or similar tool is a visible trace left on a surface as the tool is moved across it. These tools have been used throughout history for various forms of expression and communication. For instance, metalpoint was a historical drawing method where a metal wire, typically silver, was used to create marks on a prepared surface. The silver traces would tarnish over time, creating a distinctive look exclusive to this medium. In contrast, the modern graphite pencil is composed of graphite mixed with clay, and it comes in various hardness levels to produce different line qualities, with B indicating a softer lead for darker marks, and H or HB indicating a harder lead for lighter, sharper lines.
When it comes to ink-based drawing, the invention of the metal pen nib in the 19th century revolutionized writing and drawing. These nibs, along with artists' brushes, allow for precision and variation in line width when creating artworks. The choice of paper is also integral to the outcome, as seen in calligraphy where rice, mulberry, or similar papers are preferred. Erasers play a role not just in correcting but also as a creative tool, exemplified by the artist Robert Rauschenberg who used an eraser to create an entire work.
Each drawing material, from charcoal to brush and ink, has its own characteristics and applications, and the artist's technique and the materials' inherent qualities determine the resulting mark, be it a simple line or complex imagery. The type of mark, whether a contour line or a shade, defines the drawn object's visual representation, creating the illusion of a hat on a horseman or texture on a surface.