The broadest word for someone who draws is “artist,” but a more specific term may be better. An “illustrator” creates images to accompany ideas or text, a “cartoonist” draws cartoons, and a “concept artist” develops visual ideas for media and design.
Choose the Role by the Type of Drawing
- Artist
- Illustrator
- Sketch artist
- Cartoonist
- Drafter
- Visual artist
- Concept artist
- Portrait artist
Artist
The broadest everyday term for someone who creates visual art, including drawings, paintings, and work in other media.
Example: She is an artist whose work focuses mainly on charcoal drawings.
Illustrator
Someone who creates images to explain, decorate, or accompany books, articles, products, advertising, or other content.
Example: The publisher hired an illustrator for the children’s book.
Sketch artist
A person who specializes in sketches, often working quickly from observation, description, or an initial idea.
Example: A sketch artist drew the street scene in a few minutes.
Cartoonist
Someone who creates cartoons, comic strips, caricatures, or humorous drawn commentary.
Example: The cartoonist publishes a weekly political strip.
Drafter
A technical role focused on precise drawings and plans, often for engineering, architecture, or manufacturing.
Example: The drafter prepared detailed drawings for the new component.
Visual artist
A broad professional label covering artists who work visually; drawing may be one medium among several.
Example: He is a visual artist working in drawing, printmaking, and collage.
Concept artist
Someone who develops visual ideas for characters, environments, objects, or scenes, especially for games, film, and animation.
Example: The concept artist produced early designs for the game’s main city.
Portrait artist
An artist who specializes in representing people, whether through drawing, painting, or another visual medium.
Example: The portrait artist made a detailed pencil drawing from the photograph.
Artist Is Usually the Safest General Term
If you do not know what kind of drawing the person does, “artist” is usually the most natural choice. More specific labels such as “illustrator,” “cartoonist,” and “drafter” imply a particular type or purpose of drawing.