Ghost Drawing

A ghost drawing typically depicts a translucent, ethereal figure with a flowing, sheet-like appearance, often featuring a rounded head and wispy, trailing edges.

This ghost drawing collection is hand-curated and made freely-available for use in your projects. To learn more, see the pages on license and attribution information for Kapwing.

Drawing a ghost can be a fun and creative way to explore the supernatural in art. One famous example is the painting "The Ghost of a Flea" by William Blake, created in 1819-1820. Blake's ghost is a muscular, imposing figure with a fierce expression, showcasing the artist's unique vision of the spiritual world. When drawing a ghost, artists often use wispy, translucent lines to convey a sense of etherealness. Techniques such as smudging, blending, and using light, airy strokes can help create the illusion of a ghostly presence. Artists may also play with the opacity of their medium, using lighter shades or even leaving parts of the paper untouched to suggest the ghost's intangible nature. The design of a ghost can vary greatly depending on the artist's interpretation and the cultural context. In Japanese folklore, for example, ghosts are often depicted as pale, floating figures with long, dark hair, as seen in the works of artists like Maruyama Ōkyo (1733-1795). In contrast, Western representations of ghosts, such as those in the paintings of Norwegian artist Edvard Munch (1863-1944), often feature more abstract, emotionally charged figures that reflect the artist's inner turmoil.

• The famous cartoon character Casper the Friendly Ghost first appeared in a 1945 animated short titled 'The Friendly Ghost'.
• In 1984, the iconic ghost logo for the movie 'Ghostbusters' was designed by Michael C. Gross, who was also the film's associate producer.
• The traditional depiction of a ghost as a white sheet with holes for eyes can be traced back to the 19th-century theater, where actors portrayed ghosts using this simple costume.
• The world's largest drawing of a ghost, measuring 4,039.86 square meters, was created by students and teachers in Nima, Peru, on June 15, 2019.
• In the 1995 film 'Casper', the friendly ghost was brought to life using a combination of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and live-action actors wearing prosthetic makeup.