Barrel Distortion (also called
Pincushion Distortion) -- there is a slight convex
curve that appears on straight lines in images -- it is
caused of a camera's convex lens shape.
Photos taken with lenses that have zoom capabilities
suffer from barrel distortion. Because barrel distortion
makes the outer areas of your image rounded, it's most
apparent when there's a straight edge in the image, near
the frame. See the original Basic Forms image from the
Interactive Art School's Lesson 1 in its original form
just below

Now below this is the same image with a simulation of a
lens caused barrel distortion (aka pin cushion
distortion):

You can minimize or eliminate this effect by shooting
from a greater distance (between your camera and the
drawing or object you are shooting. First below is
photo simulation of shooting tightly on the subject
(with very little space between the subject and the edge
of the photo (the black line represents the edge of a
drawing you are shooting and the red line the edge of
the photo:

Now, my suggested shooting leaving much more space between the drawing your are shooting and the edge of you photo framing (the red dotted line is the original framing above and the blue line my suggested framing (in other words step the camera back from the drawing:

More about camera distortion at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distortion_(optics)
The same framing issue (step your camera back from the drawing you are photographing) so that you don't cut off parts of the drawing. Most digital cameras have plenty of resolution so that the central area of the actual drawing will be well resolved for use in our online critiques
More details about convex lenses at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lens_(optics)
End Mini Online Lesson 18 Camera Distortion

