1.drawing的基本意思是“绘画,制图”,指用铅笔、钢笔或粉笔等在纸上或黑板上用线条来勾画图、图表,通常表示一种抽象的动作或技艺,是不可数名词。还可指一幅具体的“图画,图样”,此时drawing多用作可数名词。
2.在表示“用…画的画”时,多用介词in。

I am not good at drawing.我不善于画画。
She gives lessons in drawing.她教图画课。
The girl has an innate talent of drawing.这女孩有天生的绘画才能。
It’s just a rough drawing.这只是一张草图。
Never have I seen such a fine drawing!我从来没见过这么好的画。
This composite illustration was made by putting together a number of drawings.这本综合说明书是集若干图片汇合而成的。
The local school had two displays of children's drawings.那所地方学校举办过两次儿童画展。
He made drawings of some insects.他画了一些昆虫的图画。
He taught me how to read technical drawings.他教我看技术图纸。

drawing, painting, photo, picture, portrait
这组词的共同意思是“画”。其区别是:drawing指“素描”或“工程图纸”。例如:
This is a drawing in pencil.这是一幅铅笔素描。
We produced a working drawing.我们绘制了一幅施工图。
painting多指油画。例如:
There are many paintings in the room.这间屋子里有很多油画。
在表示水彩画时,用drawing或painting均可。例如:
This is a water-colour drawing〔painting〕.这是一幅水彩画。
photo指“照片”。例如:
I have some photos taken in my hometown.我有一些在家乡拍的照片。
picture指各种“画,照片或影片”。例如:
He has collected some famous pictures.他收集了一些名画。
May I take your picture?我可以为你拍张照片吗?
Let's go and see a good picture.我们去看一部好电影吧。
portrait指“(人物)肖像”。例如:
This portrait looks real.这幅肖像简直像真的。
下面两个短语意思不同:
a drawing by the child
是那个孩子画的画
a drawing of the child
画有那个孩子的画