- a simple picture that is drawn quickly and does not have many details
- The artist is making sketches for his next painting.
- She drew a sketch map of the area to show us the way.
Collocations Fine artsFine artsCreating art- make a work of art/a drawing/a sketch/a sculpture/a statue/engravings/etchings/prints
- do an oil painting/a self-portrait/a line drawing/a rough sketch
- create a work of art/an artwork/paintings and sculptures
- produce paintings/portraits/oil sketches/her most celebrated work/a series of prints
- paint a picture/landscape/portrait/mural/in oils/in watercolours/(US English) in watercolors/on canvas
- draw a picture/a portrait/a cartoon/a sketch/a line/a figure/the human form/in charcoal/in ink
- sketch a preliminary drawing/a figure/a shape
- carve a figure/an image/a sculpture/reliefs/a block of wood
- sculpt a portrait bust/a statue/an abstract figure
- etch a line/a pattern/a design/a name into the glass
- mix colours/(US English) colors/pigments/paints
- add/apply thin/thick layers of paint/colour/(US English) color/pigment
- use oil pastels/charcoal/acrylic paint/a can of spray paint
- work in bronze/ceramics/stone/oils/pastels/watercolour/a wide variety of media
- paint/depict a female figure/a rural scene/a pastoral landscape/a domestic interior
- depict/illustrate a traditional/mythological/historical/religious theme
- create an abstract composition/a richly textured surface/a distorted perspective
- paint dark/rich/skin/flesh tones
- use broad brush strokes/loose brushwork/vibrant colours/a limited palette/simple geometric forms
- develop/adopt/paint in a stylized manner/an abstract style
- commission a new piece/a bronze bust of somebody/a portrait/a religious work/an artist to paint something
- frame a painting/portrait
- hang art/a picture/a painting
- display/exhibit modern art/somebody’s work/a collection/original artwork/drawings/sculptures/a piece/a painting
- be displayed/hung in a gallery/museum
- install/place a sculpture in/at/on something
- erect/unveil a bronze/marble/life-size statue
- hold/host/mount/open/curate/see an exhibition (especially British English)/(North American English usually) an exhibit
- be/go on (British English) exhibition/(North American English) exhibit
- feature/promote/showcase a conceptual artist/contemporary works
- collect contemporary art/modern British paintings/Japanese prints
- restore/preserve a fresco/great works of art
Synonyms picturepicturepainting ▪ drawing ▪ portrait ▪ print ▪ sketchThese are all words for a scene, person or thing that has been represented on paper by drawing, painting, etc.picture a scene, person or thing that has been represented on paper using a pencil, a pen or paint:- The children were drawing pictures of their pets.
- a collection of paintings by American artists
- a pencil/charcoal drawing
- Vermeer’s ‘Portrait of the artist in his studio’
- a self-portrait (= a painting that you do of yourself)
- a Renoir print
- I usually do a few very rough sketches before I start on a painting.
- to draw a picture/portrait/sketch
- to paint a picture/portrait
- to make a painting/drawing/portrait/print/sketch
- to do a painting/drawing/portrait/sketch
Extra ExamplesTopics Artc1- He did some rough sketches of the costumes.
- Police released a composite sketch of the suspect.
- The family house appears in several of her sketches.
- The judge will ban sketch artists from the courtroom.
- a series of sketches by John Constable
- the artist's original sketch
- He drew me a quick sketch.
- I usually do a few very rough sketches before I start on a painting.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- lightning
- quick
- rough
- …
- do
- draw
- make
- …
- book
- pad
- map
- …
- in a/the sketch
- sketch by
- sketch for
- …
Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
- a short funny scene on television, in the theatre, etc.
- The drama group did a sketch about a couple buying a new car.
Extra ExamplesTopics Film and theatrec1, TV, radio and newsc1- The show sometimes feels like a university revue sketch.
- a comic sketch about a talking cat
- a one-hour TV sketch show
- My favourite sketch is the one about the dead parrot.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- short
- comedy
- comic
- …
- do
- perform
- write
- …
- comedy
- comedy show
- show
- …
- sketch about
- a short report or story that gives only basic details about something
- a biographical sketch of the prime minister
Extra ExamplesTopics Literature and writingb2- He gave us character sketches of all his eccentric relations.
- The talk began with a thumbnail sketch of the political situation at that time.
- In 1842 he wrote out a short sketch of his theory.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- brief
- thumbnail
- biographical
- …
- give somebody
- sketch of
Word Originmid 17th cent.: from Dutch schets or German Skizze, from Italian schizzo, from schizzare ‘make a sketch’, based on Greek skhedios ‘done without preparation’.
Check pronunciation:
sketch