Pencil Drawings For Sale

Discover pencil drawings for sale online today. Our carefully curated online gallery offers a range of contemporary pencil art by emerging artists for sale and rental.

Whether you’re looking for a sketch, a study, or a more detailed work, why not start your search with our selection of botanical studies – detailed drawings of plant life.

Our curated selection of pencil drawings and sketches also contains portraits – painstakingly captured drawings of people, which evoke the essence of their subjects.

The History of Pencil Drawings

Drawing is one of the earliest forms of art, having been found on the walls of French and Spanish caves dating back 30,000 BC. In the 17th century, graphite pencils were introduced as a replacement for metallic styluses, which had been used by draftsmen of the Medieval and Renaissance periods.

In 1795, modern pencil lead, or ‘Plumbago’, was invented by French painter Nicolas-Jacques. This allowed artists better control over shade and density and the tool became popular amongst painters, architects and designers.

By the 19th century, pencil drawings existed primarily as a means for artists to sketch preliminary compositions and studies for paintings and sculptures. The medium became increasingly versatile as other fine art pencils were introduced, such as charcoal, coloured watercolour pencils and crayons.

The development of the pencil provided artists with a portable, precise tool for sketching outdoors (en plein air). It allowed for quick, detailed studies of landscapes and fleeting light conditions, which were later used as references for studio paintings, fostering the rise of Impressionistic art.

To this day, pencil drawing is one of the most popular forms of art. With the development of the camera, the photorealistic style of drawing has become popularised – aiming to trick the eye with meticulous attention to detail.

Styles and Techniques of Pencil Drawings

Techniques in pencil drawing include hatching, cross hatching, blending shades together and scumbling – a technique whereby the artist moves the pencil along the surface of the paper in tiny circular motions. These techniques build up depth to create greater realism.

Graphite lead is praised for its versatility: harder and darker leads produce fine lines which make for sharp precision in detailed drawings, while soft and light lead is excellent for modelling and shading. Graphite is sometimes combined with other mediums such as pastels, watercolours and gouache in order to add colourful flair to monochromatic images.

Learn more in our Guide to Drawings.

Pencil drawings for sale on Rise Art

Rise Art’s collection includes pencil drawings from some of the most talented artists around the world. Known for his impeccable realism, Kevin Okafor’s drawings, such as Jasmin’s Interlude (2015), capture the likeness of his subjects with such precision that they are often mistaken for photographs.

For more figural pieces, consider exploring the work of Abbi Torrance. The artist’s deceptively simple works pack a political punch. Using graph paper as canvas, Torrance questions how people are increasingly seen as data, markets and demographics. Artworks such as Totem (2022) also have a spiritual inflection, combining animal, human and botanical parts as a commentary on humanity’s departure from nature.

Finally, the work of Zoe Moss humorously combines traditional realist drawing styles with popular culture and a satirical edge. Her tongue-in-cheek pop-art style drawings offers commentary on contemporary society – such as ”Wonderwoman” (2016), featuring the superhero in a comical workaday pose, carrying shopping bags.

Discover more contemporary artists and buy original pencil drawings online at Rise Art.

Size
Height
Width
Price
Orientation
    No mediums available
    No styles available
    No subjects available
    No countries available
    No colors available
    sort
    All Art
    showing 630 pieces
    Chasing Rabbits by Birgit Fechner
    View in a room interior
    Chasing Rabbits by Birgit Fechner
    Chasing Rabbits
    Drawings - 70x50 cm
    Raton-laveur by MagLM
    View in a room interior
    Raton-laveur by MagLM
    Raton-laveur
    Drawings - 40x30 cm
    Encounter 2 by Philip Tyler
    View in a room interior
    Encounter 2 by Philip Tyler
    Encounter 2
    Drawings - 42x59 cmRent for €65 /mo
    Léopard by MagLM
    View in a room interior
    Léopard by MagLM
    Léopard
    Drawings - 50x70 cm
     Heel toe or walk your own way by Ellie Wang
    View in a room interior
     Heel toe or walk your own way by Ellie Wang
    Heel toe or walk your own way
    Drawings - 61x44 cmRent for €80 /mo
    Tapetum Lucidum  by Emmanuelle Mason
    View in a room interior
    Tapetum Lucidum  by Emmanuelle Mason
    Tapetum Lucidum
    Drawings - 50x120 cm
    The Clearing by Michael Darling
    View in a room interior
    The Clearing by Michael Darling
    The Clearing
    Drawings - 84x60 cm
    Click to discover similar artworks

    Use visual search to find art with a similar style

    View in a room interior
    Nu 5 by Benjamin Receveur
    Nu 5
    Drawings - 30x21 cm
    View in a room interior
    Woman at her Puzzle by Randy Klinger
    Woman at her Puzzle
    Drawings - 46x56 cmRent for €170 /mo
    View in a room interior
    Dark fences 4 by Altone Mishino
    Dark fences 4
    Drawings - 59x50 cm
    View in a room interior
    Impérial by MagLM
    Impérial
    Drawings - 30x30 cm
    View in a room interior
    Shark by Dr. Draw
    Shark
    Drawings - 76x65 cm
    View in a room interior
    Céleste by MagLM
    Céleste
    Drawings - 35x25 cm
    View in a room interior
    Tennis Club by Poppelen
    Tennis Club
    Drawings - 19x19 cm
    Free and easy 14 days returns
    View in a room interior
    ICC. Berlin by Jean-Baptiste Monnin
    ICC. Berlin
    Drawings - 84x119 cm
    View in a room interior
    Woman at her Puzzle II by Randy Klinger
    Woman at her Puzzle II
    Drawings - 46x56 cmRent for €225 /mo
    View in a room interior
    Orchidée by MagLM
    Orchidée
    Drawings - 35x25 cm
    View in a room interior
    Dans l'atelier by nicholas coss
    Dans l'atelier
    Drawings - 120x80 cm
    View in a room interior
    Pivoine by MagLM
    Pivoine
    Drawings - 35x25 cm
    View in a room interior
    Woman/Boat 18 by Susannah Douglas
    Woman/Boat 18
    Drawings - 26x26 cmRent for €62 /mo
    View in a room interior
    Dark fences 2 by Altone Mishino
    Dark fences 2
    Drawings - 59x50 cm
    View in a room interior
    Self Portrait 66 by Randy Klinger
    Self Portrait 66
    Drawings - 46x56 cmRent for €140 /mo
    Trusted by collectors and leading brands

    See our latest collaboration with Soho Home

    View in a room interior
    Girl/Eating (repeat) 2 by Susannah Douglas
    Girl/Eating (repeat) 2
    Drawings - 20x28 cmRent for €65 /mo
    View in a room interior
    Woman/Boat 5 by Susannah Douglas
    Woman/Boat 5
    Drawings - 26x26 cmRent for €65 /mo
    View in a room interior
    Self Portrait 71 by Randy Klinger
    Self Portrait 71
    Drawings - 46x56 cmRent for €135 /mo
    Refine your search. find the perfect artwork

    Filter by size, medium, price and more

    Regional Settings
    English
    EU (EUR)
    Germany
    Metric (cm, kg)