What is the name of the process by which an artist uses a tool to create marks on a surface?

The process by which an artist uses a tool to create marks on a surface is known as drawing. Drawing is a foundational artistic skill that involves using various tools, such as pencils, pens, charcoal, or markers, to make marks on a medium like paper or canvas. This technique can be used to produce images, outline shapes, or express ideas, making it essential for visual communication in art.

While sketching is a form of drawing, often involving quicker and more spontaneous marks, it is more specific in purpose and typically focused on capturing ideas or studies rather than finished works. Painting, on the other hand, involves applying color to a surface, which diverges from the mark-making focused specifically on drawing. Carving refers to removing material from a solid object, which is a different process entirely that results in three-dimensional works rather than two-dimensional marks on a surface. Thus, drawing comprehensively captures the essence of creating lines and marks with a tool, making it the correct choice.