Drawing as a focus of the creative process for artists of Europe began to be common during the 15th century.  Most of these drawings were done as studies for painting, architecture, practice exercises or sculpture, although some were created as art work in their own strength. 

By the 14th and 15th century, paper had usually replaced parchment of animal skins.

The range of materials available were quite limited during this time.  A fine tipped brush ,ink, charcoal and a metalpoint or soft metal stylus were about the extent of the materials available to draw.  Red and black chalks were discovered around 1500 which pretty much eliminated further use of the metalpoint.  Gradually chalks and pastels were fabricated in other colors  By the 18th century, the most common drawing tool was a graphite pencil. 

Diluted ink washes led to the development of the watercolor as a separate and independent medium.  During the 20th century drawing inventions included the wax crayon, felt-tip pen, and ballpoint pen.

Various kinds of materials have been used prior to the 15th century to form the support for the drawing, but since that time, paper is the generally accepted medium for drawing.

Originally, the very finest writing surface was called vellum.  It is made from calf skin and is very fine pored and soft.  The best and most valuable documents from history were carefully preserved on vellum

The first paper as we think of it today came into common use in the 1400s.  Paper was originally manufactured from rags of linen or cotton made into pulp.  The raw material was easily processed and readily available.  Wood pulp paper was a much later development--in fact not until the 1800s and was considered to be inferior to rag-pulp paper..  Even today, many artists continue to use rag-pulp paper for drawings and some other forms of artistic expression.

Prepared paper was a type used basically for metalpoint drawing which is seldom seen today.  The paper was prepared by brushing a mixture of ground bone and water over the surface of the page.  When dry, the surface had enough texture that a trace of metal from a stylus of copper, silver or gold would be scraped off as the stylus was moved over the page.

Much of the drawing in early times was done as part of the embellished artwork that was attached to manuscripts.  These 'illuminated' manuscripts are beautiful examples of drawing, with gilt and scarlet, as well as other colors forming part of the decoration. Other forms of drawing other than formal artwork included coats of arms and heraldry devices.  Some of these drawing are fairly elaborate.

Today, another type of drawing is replacing much of the earlier types. Sophisticated software allows you to draw pictures during the information developed through your own artistic endeavors but translated by the computer.  Of course, this means mastering a much different set of controls and processes.