Pen Drawing

February 14, 2024

Incredible Ballpoint Drawings Breathe New Life Into Vintage Envelopes, Maps, and More

Artist Mark Powell’s talent with a ballpoint pen is unquestionable. When the Brighton-based creative picks up a Bic Biro pen—his chosen instrument—he breathes new life into anything he draws on. And as skilled as Powell is with a pen, one of the most striking things about his sketches are his canvases of choice—a variety of unconventional, vintage surfaces.

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April 22, 2023

Vintage Ephemera Is Given a Second Life With Exquisite Ballpoint Pen Drawings

When beginning a drawing, most creatives will naturally seek out a new sheet of paper. UK-based artist Mark Powell, however, finds materials that have lived once or twice before. His series Ephemera features exquisite pen and ink drawings that are rendered on top of vintage postcards, playing cards, and more to fuse the past with the present. Powell carefully renders each of his subjects, which range from human figures to animals, using a ballpoint pen.

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November 7, 2022

Artist Uses Geometry To Create a Japanese Family Crest With Three Cranes

It's not always easy to understand how certain drawings are made. Unless you're watching the artist at work, it can seem daunting to try and replicate it for yourself. Fortunately, many creatives will offer “behind-the-scenes” looks into how they achieve striking and sometimes “perfect-looking” effects, using traditional methods. Peru-based artist Zak Korvin shared his process for creating a beautiful three-crane design, utilizing a compass, a pen, and some geometry.

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August 6, 2022

Artist Reimagines Topographical Maps With Detailed Hand-Drawn Portraits

UK-based artist Ed Fairburn commemorates the connection between people and places in his unconventional illustrations. Using hand-picked maps from his collection, he carefully adds hand-drawn portraits to the topography of cities and landscapes, merging human figures with the environment. “At its core, my work is loosely about coexistence,” he tells My Modern Met.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.