draw pictures about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "draw pictures about" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when referring to creating illustrations or images related to a specific topic or theme. Example: "In art class, we were asked to draw pictures about our favorite animals."

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In Chingoe, for example, children are asked to draw pictures about their lives — their mothers' cooking and cleaning chores, for example.

The New York Times

They can draw pictures about it or whatever they want.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

They tell stories, draw pictures and muck about.

The Guardian

Donnell Library Center, 20 West 53rd Street, [phone] or [phone], at 3 p.m., "Meet the Author-Illustrator: Bernard Waber," the author of "Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile," who will draw pictures and talk about his books.

The New York Times - Arts

Still others draw pictures or sing songs about cleanliness.

Unicef

Encourage your child to talk about or draw pictures of anything they think they can see in the dark.

WikiHow

Some play football or dance and sing along to an Italian song about sardines, others draw pictures.

The Guardian

While we talked, we provided paper and pens and invited children to draw pictures that would tell us something about their lives.

The Guardian - Opinion

"You can get arts and creative stuff on screen so that children who find it hard to talk about bereavement can draw pictures for the therapist and open up lines of communication and conversation, which helps therapeutically with their grief," says Nicola Tongue, director of innovation and governance at the hospice.

The Guardian

Have them write about it and draw pictures.

WikiHow

You can draw pictures of your animal, or write stories about it, or build one with Play-Doh or LEGO.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing art assignments, consider using more common phrases like "draw pictures of" or "create illustrations about" for better clarity and naturalness.

Common error

Avoid chaining prepositions; instead of saying "draw pictures about a story", opt for "illustrate a story" or "draw pictures based on a story" for clearer, more direct phrasing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "draw pictures about" functions primarily as a verb phrase indicating the action of creating visual representations related to a specific subject. Ludwig suggests that while usable, it is not the most common or preferred phrasing. More common alternatives include using "draw pictures of" or "create illustrations about".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "draw pictures about" refers to creating visual representations related to a specific topic. While grammatically understandable, Ludwig indicates it's less common than alternatives like "draw pictures of" or "create illustrations about". Usage leans towards neutral and informal contexts, as seen in news and general websites. For enhanced clarity and impact, writers should prefer more conventional phrasing when describing art-related activities. The relatively low frequency suggests that while comprehensible, better alternatives exist.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

create drawings of

Uses "create drawings" instead of "draw pictures" and "of" instead of "about".

illustrate topics

Replaces "draw pictures" with "illustrate" for a more formal tone and omits "about".

draft figures illustrating

Employs "draft figures" and "illustrating" for a more concise, action-oriented expression.

make illustrations concerning

Replaces "draw pictures" with "make illustrations" and "about" with the more formal "concerning".

sketch scenes regarding

Uses "sketch scenes" instead of "draw pictures" and the formal "regarding" instead of "about".

depict subjects through drawings

Uses a more descriptive structure, emphasizing the act of depicting subjects.

produce artwork concerning

Replaces "draw pictures" with "produce artwork" for a broader artistic scope and "about" with "concerning".

render images related to

Employs "render images" for a more technical or artistic feel, and "related to" instead of "about".

design images pertaining to

Uses "design images" to suggest a more deliberate and planned creation, replacing "about" with "pertaining to".

create visual representations of

Offers a more elaborate and descriptive alternative to "draw pictures about".

FAQs

What's a more common way to say "draw pictures about"?

Alternatives include "draw pictures of" or "create illustrations about", which are generally more widely accepted.

Is "draw pictures about" grammatically incorrect?

While not strictly incorrect, "draw pictures about" is less common and can sound slightly awkward. Standard English prefers "draw pictures of".

When is it appropriate to use "draw pictures about"?

You might use "draw pictures about" when emphasizing the theme or topic the pictures relate to, but even then, "draw pictures of" is usually a better choice.

How can I improve my sentence using "draw pictures about"?

Consider replacing "draw pictures about" with a stronger verb like "illustrate" or rephrasing to use "draw pictures of" for improved clarity and conciseness.