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Realist Animal Drawings and Watercolors

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REALIST STYLE

Realist art attempts to portray its subject matter without artifice. Similar to naturalism, authentic realist paintings and prints see an integration of true-to-life colors, meticulous detail and linear perspectives for accurate portrayals of the world. 

Work that involves illusionistic techniques of realism dates back to the classical world, such as the deceptive trompe l’oeil used since ancient Greece. Art like this became especially popular in the 17th century when Dutch artists like Evert Collier painted objects that appeared real enough to touch. Realism as an artistic movement, however, usually refers to 19th-century French realist artists such as Honoré Daumier exploring social and political issues in biting lithographic prints, while the likes of Gustave Courbet and Jean-François Millet painting people — particularly the working class — with all their imperfections, navigating everyday urban life. This was a response to the dominant academic art tradition that favored grand paintings of myth and history. 

By the turn of the 20th century, European artists, such as the Pre-Raphaelites, were experimenting with nearly photographic realism in their work, as seen in the attention to every botanical attribute of the flowers surrounding the drowned Ophelia painted by English artist John Everett Millais.

Although abstraction was the guiding style of 20th-century art, the realism trend in American modern art endured in Edward Hopper, Andrew Wyeth and other artists’ depictions of the complexities of the human experience. In the late 1960s, Photorealism emerged with artists like Chuck Close and Richard Estes giving their paintings the precision of a frame of film.

Contemporary artists such as Jordan Casteel, LaToya Ruby Frazier and Aliza Nisenbaum are now using the unvarnished realist approach for honest representations of people and their worlds. Alongside traditional mediums, technology such as virtual reality, artificial intelligence and immersive installations are helping artists create new sensations of realism in art.

​​Find authentic realist paintings, sculptures, prints and more art on 1stDibs.

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Style: Realist
British Chalk Pencil Sketch of A Bull Lying Down
British Chalk Pencil Sketch of A Bull Lying Down

John Rabone HarveyBritish Chalk Pencil Sketch of A Bull Lying Down, 1966

$136

British Chalk Pencil Sketch of A Bull Lying Down

By John Rabone Harvey

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

John Rabone Harvey ( 1966 - 1922) graphic and chalk deep green artist paper , unframed artist paper : 5.5 x 7 inches Provenance: private collection Condition: very good condition Ha...

Category

Mid-19th Century Realist Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Chalk, Graphite

British Chalk Pencil Sketch of a Cow Posed Lying On The Ground
British Chalk Pencil Sketch of a Cow Posed Lying On The Ground

John Rabone HarveyBritish Chalk Pencil Sketch of a Cow Posed Lying On The Ground, 1966

$151

British Chalk Pencil Sketch of a Cow Posed Lying On The Ground

By John Rabone Harvey

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

John Rabone Harvey ( 1966 - 1922) graphic and chalk deep green artist paper , unframed artist paper : 5.5 x 7 inches Provenance: private collection Condition: very good condition Ha...

Category

Mid-19th Century Realist Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Chalk, Graphite

British Chalk Pencil Sketch of a Cow with Horns Stood in Lake Profile
British Chalk Pencil Sketch of a Cow with Horns Stood in Lake Profile

John Rabone HarveyBritish Chalk Pencil Sketch of a Cow with Horns Stood in Lake Profile, 1966

$151

British Chalk Pencil Sketch of a Cow with Horns Stood in Lake Profile

By John Rabone Harvey

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

John Rabone Harvey ( 1966 - 1922) graphic and chalk deep green artist paper , unframed artist paper : 5.5 x 7 inches Provenance: private collection Condition: very good condition Ha...

Category

Mid-19th Century Realist Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Chalk, Graphite

British Chalk Pencil Sketches of Four Sheep In Different Positions
British Chalk Pencil Sketches of Four Sheep In Different Positions

John Rabone HarveyBritish Chalk Pencil Sketches of Four Sheep In Different Positions, 1966

$136

British Chalk Pencil Sketches of Four Sheep In Different Positions

By John Rabone Harvey

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

John Rabone Harvey ( 1966 - 1922) graphic and chalk deep green artist paper , unframed artist paper : 5.5 x 7 inches Provenance: private collection Condition: very good condition Ha...

Category

Mid-19th Century Realist Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Chalk, Graphite

British Chalk Pencil Sketch of a Cow With Horns Resting on The Grass
British Chalk Pencil Sketch of a Cow With Horns Resting on The Grass

John Rabone HarveyBritish Chalk Pencil Sketch of a Cow With Horns Resting on The Grass, 1966

$151

British Chalk Pencil Sketch of a Cow With Horns Resting on The Grass

By John Rabone Harvey

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

John Rabone Harvey ( 1966 - 1922) graphic and chalk deep green artist paper , unframed artist paper : 5.5 x 7 inches Provenance: private collection Condition: very good condition Ha...

Category

Mid-19th Century Realist Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Chalk, Graphite

Winter Pheasants, British Wildlife Realism, Sporting Art
Winter Pheasants, British Wildlife Realism, Sporting Art

John Cyril HarrisonWinter Pheasants, British Wildlife Realism, Sporting Art, circa 1925-1930

$4,600

Winter Pheasants, British Wildlife Realism, Sporting Art

By John Cyril Harrison

Located in Grand Rapids, MI

John Cyril Harrison (British, 1898 - 1985) Signed: J.C. Harrison. (Lower, Right) " Winter Pheasants ", circa 1925-1930 (Titled in pencil on verso by the artist) Watercolor on Pape...

Category

1920s Realist Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Antique English Watercolor - Countryside Landscape with Cows
Antique English Watercolor - Countryside Landscape with Cows

J.M. MyallAntique English Watercolor - Countryside Landscape with Cows, 1910

$1,150

Antique English Watercolor - Countryside Landscape with Cows

Located in Soquel, CA

Antique English Watercolor - Countryside Landscape with Cows Miniature landscape with two cows in the foreground, signed "J.M. Myall 1910." One cow sits on the ground of a rolling h...

Category

1910s Realist Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

British Chalk Pencil Sketches of Different Posed Cows
British Chalk Pencil Sketches of Different Posed Cows

John Rabone HarveyBritish Chalk Pencil Sketches of Different Posed Cows, 1966

$136

British Chalk Pencil Sketches of Different Posed Cows

By John Rabone Harvey

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

John Rabone Harvey ( 1966 - 1922) graphic and chalk deep green artist paper , unframed artist paper : 5.5 x 7 inches Provenance: private collection Condition: very good condition Ha...

Category

Mid-19th Century Realist Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Chalk, Graphite

Butterfly Watercolor on Silk, Signed, Handmade Paper, 31x40.5cm
Butterfly Watercolor on Silk, Signed, Handmade Paper, 31x40.5cm

La Roche LaffitteButterfly Watercolor on Silk, Signed, Handmade Paper, 31x40.5cm

$781Sale Price|43% Off

Butterfly Watercolor on Silk, Signed, Handmade Paper, 31x40.5cm

By La Roche Laffitte

Located in Cotignac, FR

One from a set of four watercolours of butterflies on silk, applied to handmade paper, with hand cut edges, by French artist La Roche Laffitte. Signed bottom left. (The other 3 items are available separately) A beautifully observed and detailed study of a butterfly painted...

Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Silk, Watercolor, Gouache, Handmade Paper, Carbon Pencil

British Chalk Pencil Sketches of Two Sheep Standing and Lying on the Grass
British Chalk Pencil Sketches of Two Sheep Standing and Lying on the Grass

John Rabone HarveyBritish Chalk Pencil Sketches of Two Sheep Standing and Lying on the Grass, 1966

$136

British Chalk Pencil Sketches of Two Sheep Standing and Lying on the Grass

By John Rabone Harvey

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

John Rabone Harvey ( 1966 - 1922) graphic and chalk deep green artist paper , unframed artist paper : 5.5 x 7 inches Provenance: private collection Condition: very good condition Ha...

Category

Mid-19th Century Realist Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Chalk, Graphite

British Chalk Pencil Sketch of Small Sheep Laying in the Grass
British Chalk Pencil Sketch of Small Sheep Laying in the Grass

John Rabone HarveyBritish Chalk Pencil Sketch of Small Sheep Laying in the Grass, 1966

$136

British Chalk Pencil Sketch of Small Sheep Laying in the Grass

By John Rabone Harvey

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

John Rabone Harvey ( 1966 - 1922) graphic and chalk deep green artist paper , unframed artist paper : 5.5 x 7 inches Provenance: private collection Condition: very good condition Ha...

Category

Mid-19th Century Realist Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Chalk, Graphite

British Chalk Pencil Unfinished Sketch of a Cow's Body and Calf
British Chalk Pencil Unfinished Sketch of a Cow's Body and Calf

John Rabone HarveyBritish Chalk Pencil Unfinished Sketch of a Cow's Body and Calf, 1966

$151

British Chalk Pencil Unfinished Sketch of a Cow's Body and Calf

By John Rabone Harvey

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

John Rabone Harvey ( 1966 - 1922) graphic and chalk deep green artist paper , unframed artist paper : 5.5 x 7 inches Provenance: private collection Condition: very good condition Ha...

Category

Mid-19th Century Realist Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Chalk, Graphite

Sparrow hawk, Bird, Watercolor on Paper, Handmade Painting, One of a Kind

Artyom AbrahamyanSparrow hawk, Bird, Watercolor on Paper, Handmade Painting, One of a Kind, 2024

$130

Sparrow hawk, Bird, Watercolor on Paper, Handmade Painting, One of a Kind

By Artyom Abrahamyan

Located in Granada Hills, CA

325 Artist: Artyom Abrahamyan, Work: Original Painting, Handmade artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Watercolor on Paper Year: 2024 Style: Classic Art Title: Sparrow Hawk Size: 12 x 16 i...

Category

2010s Realist Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Puissance, Horse Drawing, Charcoal and graphite on Fabriano paper, white frame
Puissance, Horse Drawing, Charcoal and graphite on Fabriano paper, white frame

Patsy McArthurPuissance, Horse Drawing, Charcoal and graphite on Fabriano paper, white frame, 2016

$3,900

Puissance, Horse Drawing, Charcoal and graphite on Fabriano paper, white frame

By Patsy McArthur

Located in Dallas, TX

Puissance is a beautiful and unique charcoal drawing on paper of a dynamic horse. The Fabriano paper is a high quality watercolor grade set in a custom white wood frame, all archival...

Category

2010s Realist Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Charcoal, Archival Paper, Graphite

Late 20th-century Central Asian Sport Watercolor by Asan Raimkulov
Late 20th-century Central Asian Sport Watercolor by Asan Raimkulov

Late 20th-century Central Asian Sport Watercolor by Asan Raimkulov, Circa 1991-2000

$425

Late 20th-century Central Asian Sport Watercolor by Asan Raimkulov

Located in San Francisco, CA

On offer is a dramatic sporting watercolor of a traditional Central Asian equestrian game, "Ulak Tartysh" or "Kokbaru", depending on whether it’s being played in Kyrgyzstan or Kazakh...

Category

Late 20th Century Realist Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Majestic lion
Majestic lion

Valentine PetportraitMajestic lion, 2026

$430

Majestic lion

Located in Edinburgh, GB

A portrait of a majestic lion — an image that combines strength, calmness, and the distinctive character of this animal. Particular attention in the work is drawn to the lion’s ga...

Category

2010s Realist Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Pencil

Serengeti Wildlife African Animals
Serengeti Wildlife African Animals

John HigginbothamSerengeti Wildlife African Animals, 1984

$700

Serengeti Wildlife African Animals

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

John Higginbotham (b.1963). Serengeti, 1984. Pencil on paper, image measures 15 x 21 inches. Framed measurement: 23 x 29 inches. Signed and dated by artist lower right.

Category

1980s Realist Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Pencil

British Chalk Pencil Sketch of a Two Cow's Facing Away Lying On The Ground
British Chalk Pencil Sketch of a Two Cow's Facing Away Lying On The Ground

John Rabone HarveyBritish Chalk Pencil Sketch of a Two Cow's Facing Away Lying On The Ground, 1966

$151

British Chalk Pencil Sketch of a Two Cow's Facing Away Lying On The Ground

By John Rabone Harvey

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

John Rabone Harvey ( 1966 - 1922) graphic and chalk deep green artist paper , unframed artist paper : 5.5 x 7 inches Provenance: private collection Condition: very good condition Ha...

Category

Mid-19th Century Realist Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Chalk, Graphite

Raven Portrait, Realist, Scratchboard Drawing, Signed, 21st Century
Raven Portrait, Realist, Scratchboard Drawing, Signed, 21st Century

Matt AtkinsonRaven Portrait, Realist, Scratchboard Drawing, Signed, 21st Century, 2026

$2,000

Raven Portrait, Realist, Scratchboard Drawing, Signed, 21st Century

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

Matt Atkinson’s striking scratchboard work captures a detailed, close-up portrait of a raven rendered in high-contrast black and white. His precise etching technique illuminates the ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Other Medium

Realist animal drawings and watercolors for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Realist animal drawings and watercolors available for sale on 1stDibs. Works in this style were very popular during the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artists have continued to produce works inspired by this movement. If you’re looking to add animal drawings and watercolors created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of orange and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Dina Brodsky, Clifford Ellis, Edward Bawden, and Margaret Sweet Johnson. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Watercolor and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Realist animal drawings and watercolors, so small editions measuring 3 inches across are also available. Prices for animal drawings and watercolors made by famous or emerging artists can differ depending on medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $61 and tops out at $100,123, while the average work sells for $99.

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