Paintings of People for Sale

Original figurative and portrait paintings of people, hand-painted and signed, in styles from expressive realism to contemporary abstraction, each one the only one of its kind.

What comes with an original figurative painting?

Every painting of people here arrives signed by the artist, with a Certificate of Authenticity, and it is the only one of its kind.

Shipping inside Canada and the USA is free and fully insured, 3 to 7 business days in Canada and 5 to 10 in the USA, and we pack the crates ourselves. If you are ordering from outside those two countries, write to us before you buy so we can confirm what we can do. You then have 14 days at home with the work. A painting of a person is harder to judge on a screen than a landscape, because the size of the face and the height you hang it at change how the whole room feels, so we would rather you test it on the wall. If it is wrong, we refund the full price and pay the return shipping. Years later, our Lifetime Trade-Back will take the piece back for store credit toward another work.

Where the Silence Rests: Original Oil on Canvas by Nahira | VanArtHub, an original painting in the People collection
Where the Silence Rests: Original Oil on Canvas by Nahira | VanArtHub · $561.00

What counts as figurative art?

Figurative art is any artwork built around the human body: a face, a full figure, a gesture, a crowd, or a quiet moment between two people. The word covers far more than portraits. A dancer mid-turn, a swimmer under green water, strangers waiting for a bus, a mother reading in lamplight, all of it is figurative work. This collection gathers every painting of people in our gallery, and each one is a hand-painted, signed original. There is only one of each, which feels right for a subject as particular as a human being.

How is a figure painting different from a portrait?

A portrait is about who the person is; a figure painting is about what a human presence does to a scene. In a figure painting the person may be anonymous, turned away, or half-dissolved in light, and that is the point. You are buying a mood, not an identity. If a specific face is what you want on the wall, our portrait paintings are chosen for exactly that, and the long tradition behind faces lives in our portraiture collection. Keep this page for bodies, gestures, and moments.

World in a Stranger's Hands: Original Colored Pencil on Artboard by Phaedra | VanArtHub, an original painting in the People collection
World in a Stranger's Hands: Original Colored Pencil on Artboard by Phaedra | VanArtHub · $568.00

How do paintings of people change a room's mood?

A painting of people changes a room's mood more than almost any other subject, because human beings look at other human beings before they look at anything else in an image. A landscape sets a tone; a figure sets a temperature. The type of figure painting decides which way it goes:

What the painting showsMood it bringsWhere it works
A single quiet figureStillness, reflectionBedroom, reading corner, study
A crowd or street sceneEnergy, companyDining room, kitchen, entryway
A gesture or movement studyDrama, motionStairwell, home gym, hallway
Two figures in an intimate momentWarmth, closenessBedroom, living room

How do you choose a painting of people for your home?

Start by deciding how much presence you want in the room, because a figure always asks for attention and a busy room may not have any to spare. That is the honest limit of this subject: it will not sit quietly in the background the way a neutral abstract does. Next, notice how the painting handles ambiguity. The figure paintings people keep for decades tend to leave something unresolved, a face in shadow, a gesture you can read two ways, so the story stays open. If the human form itself is what draws you, our feminine form collection goes deeper into figure studies. And if you hang the piece and the presence feels wrong for the room, our Lifetime Trade-Back lets you exchange it for store credit at any point, years later included. We would rather the painting find its right wall than sit on the wrong one.

Frequently asked questions

Do you have figure work that is not plain oil or acrylic?

Yes. Alongside oil and acrylic on canvas, this collection includes coloured pencil work on artboard and mixed media pieces built from acrylic, oil pastel and collage on canvas. The mixed media work has real physical layers you can see from the side, which changes how it looks under a lamp. If texture matters to you, say so and we will point you at those pieces first.

Which artists here paint people?

Figure and portrait work in this collection comes from Nahira, Phaedra, Elmira Hokmabadi, Nima Sayadian and Ziba Vishteh. They work in different ways, so this is not one house style, and two pieces at the same price can feel nothing alike on the wall. Tell us the mood you want in the room and we will name the two or three artists worth your time.

Is it a bad idea to hang a large figure painting where people eat?

Often, yes. A large face or body at close range in a dining room can feel like another person sitting at the table, and guests notice it in a way they do not notice a landscape. We usually move figure work to a hallway, a stairwell or a bedroom and keep the dining wall quieter. If you love the piece, hang it behind the host seat instead of facing the table.

What do the smallest and largest figure pieces here cost and measure?

Prices in this collection run from about $72 to about $1,800, with the middle near $450. Sizes go from about 30 by 40 cm up to about 120 cm wide and 145 cm tall. The tall end suits a stairwell or a hallway where you see the piece from a few steps back, and the small end works beside a door or above a bedside table.

My partner is not sure about figure art. How do we test one at home?

Hang it for the full 14 days before either of you decides. Figure work is the category people change their mind about most, in both directions, and a week of walking past it answers the question better than talking about a photo. If it still does not work, return it within 14 days for a full refund and we pay the return shipping.

Is your fine art photography of people the same kind of thing as these paintings?

No. Everything in this collection is a one of a kind original, hand painted and signed, with only one of each in the world. Our photography collection is the single exception to that rule, sold as signed limited edition prints, so more than one copy of those images exists. If being the only owner matters to you, stay with the paintings on this page.

What is the difference between a figure painting and a portrait?

A figure painting shows the body, the pose, and the mood, while a portrait sets out to capture one particular person's face and character. Figure work often hides or turns the face on purpose so the gesture carries the meaning. If you want a likeness of someone, look at our portrait paintings instead of this collection.

How much do original figure paintings cost?

Original figure paintings here start around 72 dollars for small studies and rise to several thousand for large finished canvases. The human body is one of the hardest subjects to paint well, so skilled figure work carries a premium over decorative pieces of the same size. Charcoal and ink studies cost less than fully worked oil paintings.

What size figure painting works in a hallway?

In a hallway, choose a tall narrow figure painting around 40 to 60 cm (16 to 24 inches) wide, because you see it from close range and at an angle. A single standing figure suits the shape of a corridor. Hang it on the wall you face as you walk in, not on the wall you walk along.

How can I tell if the anatomy in a figure painting is well done?

Check the joints, the hands, and the weight: shoulders and hips should sit at believable angles, hands should have five fingers that make sense, and the body should look like it is standing on something. Cover the face and see if the pose still reads. Weak figure work falls apart at the wrists and ankles.

Are nude figure paintings suitable for a family home?

Many nude paintings are calm studies of form and hang without comment in a hallway or a bedroom, but you know your household better than we do. Ask yourself who sees that wall every day, and how often. If you are unsure, choose a clothed or partly turned figure, or keep the nude in a private room.

How do I know a figure painting is an original and not a print of a drawing?

Look for pressure marks in charcoal and pencil work, and raised paint in oil or acrylic figures, because printed reproductions are flat and evenly toned. Real graphite and charcoal catch the light differently across the sheet. We sell originals only, each one signed, with a Certificate of Authenticity that names the artist and the year.

Do figure paintings on paper need glass over them?

Yes, works on paper such as charcoal, ink, and pencil figures need glazing, because the surface can smudge and paper reacts to humidity. Use UV filtering glass or acrylic with a mat, so the paper never touches the glazing. Figures painted on canvas need no glass at all. Frame paper pieces before you hang them.

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Figurative and portrait art puts the human form at the centre. These original paintings and drawings explore faces, bodies, and quiet moments, each signed and sold with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Frequently asked questions

What is figurative art?

Figurative art shows recognisable people or the human form, from full portraits to suggested figures. It brings a human focus to a room.

Are these originals?

Yes. Every figurative work is an original, signed, and sold with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Can I commission a portrait or figure painting?

Yes, through our collaboration page. Share what you have in mind and we match you with the right artist.