Black and White Portraits 101: History and How They Are Made

History of Black and White Portraits

The history of black and white portrait drawing is complicated. The first portrait paintings date back to around 5,000 years ago to ancient Egypt. But if we want to look at more recent history, around the 1820s, we start to see the first black and white portraits taken with a camera.

The very first back and white photos were taken by a French developer named Joseph Nicephore Niepce. He tried to make copies of the photos, but they were destroyed. It took him another five years to produce a black and white image of a window.

Black and white photographs gained popularity, and soon people were memorializing their families with this modern technology.

Although in 1891 a man named Lippman Gabriel developed a way to make naturally colored photographs, black and white portraits remained popular for many more decades. That is because they had a classic appearance with a striking difference in their tonal appearance. They were also more cost effective.

Black and white portraits remain timeless and classic to this day. That is why many people are deciding to get their black and white portrait drawing created.

Real-live artists can take a photo of you or your family, and turn you into classic black and white art to hang in your home or use as your online profile picture.

How to Create a Black and White Portrait Drawing

Now that you understand a little about the history of black and white portrait photography and painting, perhaps you are curious about how to draw a portrait or portraits in black and white.

Whether it's a woman portrait drawing, or a black and white rendition of an entire family, artists create skillful drawings using a number of mediums.

Some use graphite or charcoal, while others use Conte crayons or colored pencils. There is a wide variety of mediums that an artist can use to create a black and white portrait drawing.

It may seem like black and white portrait drawing or other artful creation is just another piece of art. But, they are not. In fact, it takes a lot of skill to create something in black and white that can produce the same amount of expression as a colorful art piece.

While creating a black and white piece only requires someone to worry about tone, which is the dark to light values that help create depth in a piece, it does not necessarily mean it is easier to create than something with color.

That is because the artist has to be even more careful about getting the subject's proportions even more accurate than when using color. There is nothing to distract the viewer from the subject. If they are not drawn correctly, then you will be able to easily see the mistake.

So, are you curious about how to draw a portrait or portraits like these?

Step 1: Start with a Monochrome Photograph

If the artist is working from a color photograph, then they will change it to a monochrome photograph. That helps the artist see where to use the correct tone.

Step 2: Sketching

Next, the artist will make preliminary sketches. This helps the artist plan out the piece by practicing how the subjects are placed on the page, and where the shadowing needs to be concentrated.

In some cases, the artist may want to use a grid to help sketch out the subjects. More skilled artists may not need to do this. But for early creators, this is helpful because it can help them get the subject's proportions correct.

In portrait drawing it is extremely important that the proportions match the likeness of the subject. If they do not, then the piece will not turn out correctly.

At Cartoonely, we care so much about getting your art to look like you (or your neighbor's cat!), that we provide you with unlimited revisions. That's right! We will not stop revising your art until you are 100% satisfied with how it looks. If we draw your son's tattoo too big, we will change it until you like it (we cannot do that in real life, though!).

Step 3: Add Contour Outline of Shadows

After making a basic sketch, the artist will then add in the contour of shadows that help bring the drawing to life. Shadowing on the subject will help identify the person's features, truly bringing them to life. If the shadowing and contouring is not done correctly, the portrait will not take on the true likeness of the person being drawn.

Manytimes, the artist will leave the face until last. This is the part of the body that truly brings the person to life, and can easily identify the subject being drawn. This is the most skillful part of the piece.

Step 4: Adding in A Light Background

The next step is to add a light background. Since in a portrait drawing the main focus is a person or people, the background is usually kept minimal.

However, at Cartoonely, we will make your background be whatever you want! If you can draw it, we can create it!

Step 5: Final Touches

In the final stage, the artist will add and twerk the drawing's tone. If any of the subject's features are off, the artist will adjust contouring and shadowing to make the likeness of the person truly shine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are you ready for a custom digital illustration or portrait, but have a few more questions? Don't worry, we love to talk about ourselves and don't mind answering a few questions!

Can you draw anything?

We sure can! Whatever you have in mind, we can make it happen. If you can dream it, we can draw it!

Is it made using digital software?

Everything is custom-drawn by a real artist! We do not use AI!

Can I request revisions?

Yup! We provide as many revisions as you like. Our main goal is to get it right and make you happy.

Are You Ready to Order Your Custom Portrait?

Are you ready to order a custom woman portrait drawing for your mom, sister (or female cat)? Or perhaps a different black and white portrait drawing?

Cartoonely can help! Our epic artists are waiting to create an original, detailed work of art that will capture your likeness down to the last of your features! If you still have questions, don't worry! We will happily answer anything you need to know. Contact us today!