Portrait Drawing for Sale
Portraiture has existed for many centuries. The Greeks produced portraits for funeral and religious rituals; they aimed to “bring back to life those who have passed away." In the Roman era, portraits were often reserved for the ruling figures of society; for example, a warrior would have his portrait painted to illustrate his bravery during a battle. In Europe, it is only during the late Middle Ages and Renaissance that Italian and Flemish painters started to practice the art of portraiture.
In the 14th and 15th centuries, painters created works commissioned by wealthy patrons. Painters sketched out preliminary freehand drawings, which were often then approved by the patron, before beginning to work on their oil paint or, later, watercolor. Facial features were sometimes improved to the detriment of realism, although some painters were known for their ability to reproduce their models' expressions. Some artists worked in great detail while others focussed more heavily on trying to capture the real personality of their model.
For much of its history, portrait not only told a story but it also conveyed a message of power, promoting a well-controlled image to the wider population and establishing the sitter's authority through its circulation. For example, Florentine elites would use paintings and drawings as a mean of controlling their image and establishing their authority. Portraits were a way for someone to live on long after their death. Today we find the faces of aristocracies and the European bourgeoisie in many museums, immortalized by artists such as Leonardo da Vinci or Rembrandt.
The results obtained through drawing depended largely on the tools and materials used. Red chalk was very popular (especially at the beginning of the 16th century) to represent the facial features and the warmth of the skin, while charcoal produced harder lines and pastel created a softer, colorful touch. Artists adapted their technique depending on the subject and the emotion they wanted to convey. The commercialisation of pencils in the nineteenth century made it a popular medium for artists and amateurs alike. Pencil art became more popular and the tool was often used for sketching portraits.
One thing is certain; capturing facial expressions is a demanding art form and the art of portraiture requires a lot of practice. Drawing a face down to its finest details may take hours to obtain the desired result: a protruding jaw, the shape of a skull, thick brows, smiling eyes, dilated pupils… Even more difficult, are children's portraits? It can be difficult to get them to stay still for long. The artist has to be skilled enough to immortalise these men, women and children full of life.
Gradually, sketched portraits became less and less realistic but increasingly daring and experimental in terms of colour. On Artsper, discover drawings by Jean Cocteau, Julien Calot, Alice de Miramon, Philippe Pasqua, Sabine Danzé, Bahareh Navabi and Stéphanie Stindel.
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Alexander Daniloff
Fine Art Drawings - 28 x 19 x 0.4 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 7.5 x 0.2 inch
$181
Brian Calvin
Fine Art Drawings - 14.9 x 33.2 x 1.25 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.9 x 13.1 x 0.5 inch
$9,500
Aline Kominsky-Crumb
Fine Art Drawings - 27.9 x 20.3 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 8 x 0.1 inch
$2,963
Felix Treadwell
Fine Art Drawings - 14.6 x 20.32 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.7 x 8 x 0.4 inch
$3,950
Pierre Molinier
Fine Art Drawings - 39 x 29.8 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.4 x 11.7 x 0 inch
$7,258
Haibat Balaa Bawab
Fine Art Drawings - 70 x 100 x 4 cm Fine Art Drawings - 27.6 x 39.4 x 1.6 inch
$6,600
George Maskharashvili
Fine Art Drawings - 60 x 72 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.6 x 28.3 x 0 inch
$2,661
Fritz Zolnhofer
Fine Art Drawings - 52 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 20.5 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$1,693
Natalie Shiporina
Fine Art Drawings - 25 x 25 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.8 x 9.8 x 0 inch
$1,331
Catherine Carrée
Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 40 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch
$1,089
Michael Burgess
Fine Art Drawings - 74 x 65 x 2.54 cm Fine Art Drawings - 29.1 x 25.6 x 1 inch
$1,089
Montserrat Gudiol
Fine Art Drawings - 64 x 48 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.2 x 18.9 x 0 inch
$4,597
Ryan Mendoza
Fine Art Drawings - 70 x 100 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 27.6 x 39.4 x 0.1 inch
$6,653
Dominique Pourchet
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$236
Moustache Bleue
Fine Art Drawings - 100 x 81 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 39.4 x 31.9 x 0.8 inch
$1,028
Pierre Georges Jeanniot
Fine Art Drawings - 47 x 31 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 18.5 x 12.2 x 0 inch
$544
Jean-Louis Toutain
Fine Art Drawings - 33 x 25 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13 x 9.8 x 0 inch
$2,056
Artemisia Fine Art
Fine Art Drawings - 54.9 x 54.9 x 5.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 21.6 x 21.6 x 2 inch
$1,180
Djess Erdeven
Fine Art Drawings - 35.5 x 42.5 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14 x 16.7 x 0.4 inch
$1,452
José María Mijares
Fine Art Drawings - 21.75 x 47.625 x 2.54 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.6 x 18.8 x 1 inch
$6,000
Edouard Eugène Vallet
Fine Art Drawings - 37 x 23 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14.6 x 9.1 x 0.1 inch
$1,268
Isabelle Floch
Fine Art Drawings - 130 x 90 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 51.2 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch
$4,234
Nicolas V Sanchez
Fine Art Drawings - 43.2 x 35.6 x 3.8 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17 x 14 x 1.5 inch
$5,000
Heike Lydia Grüß
Fine Art Drawings - 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$2,177
Natalya Mougenot
Fine Art Drawings - 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch
$302
Jean-Pierre Velly
Fine Art Drawings - 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$6,048
Claudine Loquen
Fine Art Drawings - 14.8 x 10.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.8 x 4.1 x 0 inch
$218
Nina Khemchyan
Fine Art Drawings - 17.5 x 17.5 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 6.9 x 6.9 x 0.1 inch
$1,331
Jacqueline Gainon
Fine Art Drawings - 43 x 39.5 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.9 x 15.6 x 0.4 inch
$1,573
José Fernández Morán
Fine Art Drawings - 67 x 48 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 26.4 x 18.9 x 0.1 inch
$1,210
Salvador Vasquez del Rio
Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 12 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.9 x 4.7 x 0 inch
$387
Dimitri Godycki Cwirko
Fine Art Drawings - 41.5 x 26.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.3 x 10.4 x 0 inch
$1,198
Wale Ajayi
Fine Art Drawings - 119.9 x 89.9 x 2.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 47.2 x 35.4 x 1 inch
$3,550
Oyewumi Oyindamola
Fine Art Drawings - 61 x 50.8 x 2.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 24 x 20 x 1 inch
$3,500
Tadeusz Kantor
Fine Art Drawings - 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch
$5,080
Clemens Briels
Fine Art Drawings - 27.9 x 26.7 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 10.5 x 0.2 inch
$1,200
Cesare Bentivoglio
Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 39 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 15.4 x 0 inch
$2,782
Gustave Francois
Fine Art Drawings - 15.5 x 17.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 6.1 x 6.9 x 0.1 inch
$1,204
Edward Zelinsky
Fine Art Drawings - 50.8 x 38.1 x 0.8 cm Fine Art Drawings - 20 x 15 x 0.3 inch
$325
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Need help with Portrait Drawing ?
What are some tips for drawing a realistic portrait?
To draw a realistic portrait, start with a good reference photo, pay attention to proportions, use shading to create depth, and focus on capturing the subject's unique features. Practice regularly and don't be afraid to make mistakes.
How do you choose the right materials for portrait drawing?
When choosing materials for portrait drawing, consider the surface texture, color, and weight of the paper, as well as the type and quality of the pencils or charcoal. Opt for high-quality materials that allow for precision and detail, and experiment with different combinations to find what works best for your style and technique.
What are some common mistakes to avoid when drawing a portrait?
When drawing a portrait, it's important to avoid common mistakes such as not paying attention to proportions, neglecting to capture the subject's unique features, and using too much or too little shading. Additionally, it's important to take breaks and step back to assess the overall composition.
How to draw a portrait?
To create a portrait, start by sketching the main shapes of the face, respecting the proportions, then gradually detail the features and shadows. Use guidelines like the lines of the eyes, nose, and mouth for greater realism.
What is a drawing portrait?
A drawing portrait is an artistic representation of a person, focusing on their face and expression, created using drawing techniques such as pencil, charcoal, or ink. It captures the subject’s likeness, personality, and mood through line and shading.
What is the 4 8 8 method of drawing?
The 4 8 8 method of drawing involves dividing your subject into four main shapes, then breaking each into eight smaller parts, and refining each section in eight steps. This structured approach helps artists build accurate proportions and details progressively.
How to take a good portrait?
To create a good portrait, you need to capture the subject's expression and personality by paying attention to composition, lighting, and facial details. Choose an expressive gaze and a simple background to highlight the subject.