Drawings and renderings that capture the beauty of life.
Finely detailed representational portraits in graphite and charcoal by fine artist Kelly Bahr.
“Art is not a thing it is a way.”
—Elbert Hubbard
Portrait Commissions
Accepting select commissions for family and pet portraits drawn from photo in graphite or charcoal.
Family portraits
- Single subject or multi-subject portraits
- Finely detailed graphite drawings or charcoal sketch
- Drawn from quality photograph
Pet Portraits
- Dogs, cats, birds and horses
- Finely detailed graphite drawings or charcoal sketch
- Hand drawn from quality photograph
About the process
I appreciate a photo realistic view from a distance, but love to see the sketched lines when viewed up close. Often times my favorite works of art are found in an artist’s sketch book rather than the finished pieces. I consider my process to be simply scribbling in a pattern.
The initial sketch
Either drawn from life or from a photograph, I lightly sketch the whole subject to get all the pieces in the right place. My eraser is my friend at this stage as I will draw and re-draw until it looks right. This sketch is more about seeing and recording than drawing.
Adding detail
After the initial sketch, I layer in the graphite or charcoal and add detail.
Finishing
Finishing a piece mostly involves deciding to be done. There’s always something more to be added, so I typically get to a point where I decide: that’s good enough. And then I do one more round of touch ups with fresh eyes after letting it sit for a day or two.
Commissions Welcome
Are you looking for something specific? Click below to inquire about commissions and collaborations.