Drawing is often sidelined as merely a preparatory process before the painting begins, but it's an admirable and comparable talent in its own right. To recognise some of its most talented exponents Jerwood Visual Arts holds an annual competition to celebrate the diversity and excellence in this medium. The Jerwood Drawing Prize is the oldest and largest drawing competition in the UK.
This year's shortlisted artists are extremely varied and stretch the boundaries of what can be considered a drawing. They range from Aishan Yu's photoreal works to Katy Shepherd's stop motion animation of a dying crow. Other favourites include Richard Galloway's nightmarish city and the humorous Artist vs Drawing series by Alexander Costello. We also admired Tanya Wood's pillow for showing us that even the most mundane of items can be full of intricate shadows.
The exhibition is awash with works that will divide people, and the winners are always a hot subject of debate. This year's pieces are no exception. Whether you agree with the winners or not, this award and exhibition are a great advertisement for drawing as an art form.
The Jerwood Drawing Prize 2012 is on at the Jerwood Space, 171 Union St, SE1 0LN until 28 October. Admission is free.
