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Illustrator Doodles Photorealistic Ballpoint Pen Portraits

English artist Everett Jacob creates intricately crafted large-scale portraits using a simple ballpoint pen. What separates his ink drawings from others is his pattern of scribbles coupled with an intriguing gridded method. At times, his process involves loops, much like a person idly doodling, while other times he practices a technique similar to pointillism. In either case, the 23-year-old illustrator manages to meticulously concentrate and disperse his scribbles to accentuate a sense of photorealism.

Jacob says, “I am interested in the contrast between the minute, repetitive mark-making and the highly personal image that is created. The process is similar to mass production. I work from photographs, concentrating on one section of the face at a time. Over several shifts spent in this way, the work culminates in a finished product which is, paradoxically, an authentic and personal portrait.”

The artist reveals his time-consuming gridded method in a time lapsed video, which can be seen, below.










Jacob Everett website
via [Visual News]

Pinar

Pinar Noorata is the Managing Editor at My Modern Met. She is a writer, editor, and content creator based in Brooklyn, NY. She earned her BA in Film and Media Studies from CUNY Hunter College and is an alumni of the Center for Arts Education’s Career Development Program in NYC. She has worked at major TV, film, and publishing companies as well as other independent media businesses. When she isn’t writing, editing, or creating videos herself, Pinar enjoys watching movies, reading, crafting, drawing, and volunteering at her local animal shelter.
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