Exquisite Photorealistic Portraits Created Using a Ballpoint Pen

Ghana-based artist Enam Bosokah captures incredible likenesses using only a blue ballpoint pen. The stunningly-realistic portrait drawings depict world leaders, writers, as well as children and couples. Bosokah's work showcases emotional scenes in elaborate detail, and it's as if we're looking at cyan-toned photographs rather than hand-crafted creations.

The artist's drawings offer a glimpse into his process, and the exquisite images are produced with many layers of pen marks. Bosokah will start with wide, criss-crossing lines and refine the drawing with this repetitive motion. It allows him to add as much shading as necessary to make his subjects appear three dimensional. And, looking at every highlight, subtle shadow, and texture, it's awe-inspiring what you can do with an everyday office tool.


Enam Bosokah Behance page and Facebook page
via [Cross Connect]

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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