Colored Pencil Sketch of a Common Dolphin
Works on Paper / Original Art

Colored Pencil Sketch of a Common Dolphin

This original hand-drawn artwork depicts a dolphin breaching, rendered on a white, textured artist-grade paper. The medium appears to be colored pencil or a similar wax-based crayon, utilizing a layered technique to create depth and shading. Centrally located, the dolphin is illustrated with a color palette of charcoal grey, deep blacks, and subtle ochre or yellow highlights along the dorsal ridge and fins. The artist has employed fine, cross-hatched strokes to mimic the sleek, light-reflective skin of a marine mammal. Notable features include a faint horizontal pencil line in the background suggesting a horizon and a faint circular graphite marking above the dolphin's head, which may be an unfinished element or a guide mark. The condition is generally good, though the paper shows slight undulations consistent with hand-sketching and age. No artist signature or date is immediately visible on the face of the work. The style is representational with an emphasis on naturalistic anatomy and play of light, likely produced in the late 20th or early 21st century by an amateur or student hobbist. The paper shows a heavy tooth, which suggests it was part of a sketchbook or drawing pad.

Estimated Value

$45.00 - $75.00

Basic Information

Category

Works on Paper / Original Art

Appraised On

February 14, 2026

Estimated Value

$45.00 - $75.00

Item Description

This original hand-drawn artwork depicts a dolphin breaching, rendered on a white, textured artist-grade paper. The medium appears to be colored pencil or a similar wax-based crayon, utilizing a layered technique to create depth and shading. Centrally located, the dolphin is illustrated with a color palette of charcoal grey, deep blacks, and subtle ochre or yellow highlights along the dorsal ridge and fins. The artist has employed fine, cross-hatched strokes to mimic the sleek, light-reflective skin of a marine mammal. Notable features include a faint horizontal pencil line in the background suggesting a horizon and a faint circular graphite marking above the dolphin's head, which may be an unfinished element or a guide mark. The condition is generally good, though the paper shows slight undulations consistent with hand-sketching and age. No artist signature or date is immediately visible on the face of the work. The style is representational with an emphasis on naturalistic anatomy and play of light, likely produced in the late 20th or early 21st century by an amateur or student hobbist. The paper shows a heavy tooth, which suggests it was part of a sketchbook or drawing pad.

Get Your Items Appraised

Instant estimates of your treasures with AI-powered instant appraisals

Browse More Appraisals