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.

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    Mémoire Gravée by MagLM
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    Mémoire Gravée by MagLM
    Mémoire Gravée
    Drawings - 30x40 cm
    Raton-laveur by MagLM
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    Raton-laveur by MagLM
    Raton-laveur
    Drawings - 40x30 cm
    Laroque 2 by Poppelen
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    Laroque 2 by Poppelen
    Laroque 2
    Drawings - 13x13 cm
    Team (fragment) 1 by Susannah Douglas
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    Team (fragment) 1 by Susannah Douglas
    Team (fragment) 1
    Drawings - 18x18 cmRent for €56 /mo
    Douceur Sauvage by MagLM
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    Douceur Sauvage by MagLM
    Douceur Sauvage
    Drawings - 40x30 cm
    Macaque by MagLM
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    Macaque by MagLM
    Macaque
    Drawings - 40x30 cm
    Dendrobatidae by Sarah Goldbart
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    Dendrobatidae by Sarah Goldbart
    Dendrobatidae
    Drawings - 24x24 cm
    Le roi lion by MagLM
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    Le roi lion by MagLM
    Le roi lion
    Drawings - 90x60 cm
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    Ballerine inspirée by Etienne Eczet
    Ballerine inspirée
    Drawings - 28x21 cm
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    Dessin 3 by Tanya Angelova
    Dessin 3
    Drawings - 29x21 cm
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    Tapetum Lucidum  by Emmanuelle Mason
    Tapetum Lucidum
    Drawings - 50x120 cm
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    Emilie pose 1 by François Sahuc
    Emilie pose 1
    Drawings - 30x30 cm
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    Léopard by MagLM
    Léopard
    Drawings - 50x70 cm
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    Ascent (wall drawing) by Pak Keung Wan
    Ascent (wall drawing)
    Drawings - 218x375 cm
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    Dark fences 3 by Altone Mishino
    Dark fences 3
    Drawings - 59x50 cm
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    Mathilde by François Sahuc
    Mathilde
    Drawings - 80x65 cm
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    Gecko Study II by Sarah Goldbart
    Gecko Study II
    Drawings - 23x31 cm
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    Untitled No. 3724 by Alessio Lucarini
    Untitled No. 3724
    Drawings - 33x24 cm
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    NU by Igor Bitman
    NU
    Drawings - 50x65 cm
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    Dark fences 4 by Altone Mishino
    Dark fences 4
    Drawings - 59x50 cm
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    Le penseur (03) by EVIAL
    Le penseur (03)
    Drawings - 42x30 cm
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    Magnolia in pencil II by Héloïse O'Keeffe
    Magnolia in pencil II
    Drawings - 30x21 cmRent for €72 /mo
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    Girl/Eating (repeat) 1 by Susannah Douglas
    Girl/Eating (repeat) 1
    Drawings - 20x28 cmRent for €65 /mo
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    Jardin des plantes by Poppelen
    Jardin des plantes
    Drawings - 15x10 cm
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    Nu 5 by Benjamin Receveur
    Nu 5
    Drawings - 30x21 cm
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    Camouflage by Missy
    Camouflage
    Drawings - 50x40 cm
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